James Young Whitted

He was a tobacco manufacturer in Hillsborough before the War, starting the firm Webb & Whitted in 1859, and is credited with originating the blend known as Bull Durham. Enrolled as 3rd Lieutenant in Company G on 20 April 1861. Promoted to First Lieutenant on 17 August 1861.

He was in command of Company G as senior officer present at Sharpsburg. He was wounded in the knee and captured in action there on 17 September 1862.

Paroled on 5 November 1862, transferred to Aiken's Landing, VA, and exchanged on 10 November 1862. Promoted to Captain on 5 December 1862. He was discharged in 7 April 1863 on disability from his Sharpsburg wound.

In 1867 he started another chewing-tobacco firm: J.Y. Whitted & Company, in Hillsborough. He moved his company to Durham in 1884. He later retired to Greensboro and lived with his daughter.

Basic information from Wilson1. Some detail from the US Park Service's Soldiers and Sailors Database. Further information from anecdotes posted by the Museum of Durham History, and from family genealogists; his parents were Henry and Annie Faucette Whitted.

His brothers Jehu and Thomas were also in Company G and wounded at Sharpsburg.

See an illustrated feature on his Durham factory building from Endangered/Open Durham.

05/15/1836; Orange County, NC

05/11/1926; Greensboro, NC; burial in Maplewood Cemetery, Durham, NC