James R. Lark, Jr.

A 15 year old student, he enlisted as Private, Company I, 17th South Carolina Infantry, on 9 December 1861 at Camp Hampton near Columbia, SC.

He was captured (listed as missing) in action at Turner's Gap on South Mountain, MD on 14 September 1862.

He was held briefly at Fort Delaware, sent to Aikens' Landing, VA on 2 October, and declared exchanged on 10 November 1862. He was admitted to a hospital in Richmond, VA on 25 October and was medically discharged on 29 October for chronic ulcers of his left leg - which he'd had for three years - and a feeble constitution. He was probably 16 years old and appeared younger to examining surgeon H.T. Barton, who commented

In my opinion he should not have been received as a recruit.

His service from his Compiled Service Records, with his status at "Boonsboro" from Colonel McMaster's list for the 17th South Carolina (Confederate States Army Casualty Lists and Narrative Reports, RG 109, NARA), online from fold3.

c. 1846; Lancaster District, SC