| BIO OF JAMES SINCLAIR |
James Sinclair was born on July 9, 1841 and died on June 2, 1926. He was born in the Hickory
Head section of Lancaster County, SC. James was a son of John Sinclair and Temperance (Tempy)
Stephens. James was poor and was listed in the home of James Braham during the 1860 Census as a
laborer. He lived next to his sweetheart, Bethany Barnes who was born in 1837. James was also
living near his mother and half-uncle, Colin Jordan.
On November 14, 1861, James anc Colin Jordan enlisted in the Confederate Army.. They
were to become part of Company A of the 7th SC Batt'n under General Johnson Hagood and
Captain James Rion. James father, John Sinclair, followed the call on January 17, 1862 and enlisted at
Camp Walsh in Adams Run, SC. He was also in Company A, 7th Battalion (Enfield Rifles). James
Sinclair, his uncle, Colin Jordan, and his father and many Kershaw county friends in the same Company.
The 7th SC Battalion was mostly assigned on the coast of South Carolina until it went to Virginia
in 1864. However, from December 15, 1862 to February 8, 1863 they were temporarily deployed as
part of reinforcements sent from the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florda to Wilmington,
NC. They were in a temporary brigade commanded by Colonel Peyton H. Colquitt in a temporary
division commanded by Brigadier General States Rights Gist.
It became part of Brigadier General Hagood's Brigade on September 20, 1863. James
Sinclair's first engagement was at Edisto Island on March 29, 1862. Then at the Battle of Pocotaligo on
October 22-23, 1862 James was shot in the thigh breaking his bone. The injury is listed on his muster
papers and Confederate Pension application. His father, John, was a company nurse and refused to let
James leg by removed. Instead he managed a furlough and took James back to Camden to heal. It
took 5 months and James had a good limp to remind him of his injuries. James and John were present
at the March and April 1863 muster and was at Battery Wagner when the 54th made history on July
18, 1863. James states in his notes that that the 7th Batt'n was the only Batt'n in fighting order.
On April 28, 1864 Hagoods Brigade began moving to Virginia. Near Petersburg, VA they
became part of Hoke's Division and was detached to reinforce the Army of Northern Virgina at Cold
Harbor. The SC 7th Batt'n was heavily engaged there with the Brigade suffering 120 casualties,
including a substantial number of killed and wounded in the 7th SC Batt'n. James was one of the
wounded as he was shot through both hips on June 3, 1864. James appears on a register of Stuart
Hospital, Richmond, Virginia with Vulrius Sclopet. John Sinclair (James Father) and his uncle, Colin
Jordan were both at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on May 12 and 16 of 1864. Here the fighting was
very fierce. The following quote from Captain Moody Hough was found in the family papers of
Captain Lovick William Rochelle Blair. Capt. Blair was from Bethune, SC area and orgainzed and
outfitted Companies A and F.
On May 16, 1864, at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, the Seventh Battalion was exposed and
complelled to hold it's positon. The color bearer being killed (J.H. Outz), the colors were taken up by
one (John B. Robertson age 19) and then another. Both being killed. Colin Jordan who deserves
special mention, took up the colors, which never touched the ground. Pvt. Jorday waved our sacred
flag until Preston Cooper could take it up and pring it out. The flag had 47 bullet holes and the shaft
was shot in two pieces. Pvt. Jordon later fell ill with typhoid fever and died in July, a beloved and
much lamented comrade. Colin Jordan is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
The 7th was also involved with the Siege of Petersburg. On August 21, 1864 the 7th Batt'n was
engaged in it's bloodiest battle. It is also where General Hagood broke through the Union lines and
shot a young Union Captain who had taken the 7th's Flag. There is a monument at the Battle of
Weldon Railroad, south of Pettersburg which reads. "Here A Brigade Composed of the 7th Battalioon,
The 11th, 21st, 25th and 27th Regiments South Carolina Volunteers Commanded by Brig. Gen.
Johnson Hagood Charged Warren's Federal Army Corps On the 21st Day of August, 1864 Taking
Into the Fight 740 Men Returning With 273 - No Prouder Fate Than Theirs Who Gave Their Lives To
Liberty.
The 7th Batt'n was then sent to the Coast of NC to Fort Fisher. They were to be reinforcements
for Fort Fisher but the Steamboat got stranded and they were to late as the fort fell on January 15,
1865. The 7th wrapped up it's fighting with fighting around Smithsville and the final conflict at
Bentonville on March 19 - 21, 1865. General Hagood states in his Memoirs that during the last few
months of the Carolinas Compaign that more of his men were being shot for desertion than being killed
by the Union Army. James and John Sinclair were present at the surrender at Greensboro, NC.
The 7th Battn' then Marched back to the Lancaster, SC Courthouse and each may was given $1
in silver and sent home. John and James home had been burned by Shermans troops as recorded in
records at the Camden, SC courthouse. John and James both received a Confederate Pension. John
died at the age of 88 during 1902 and James was 87 but was confined to a walking cane .
Head section of Lancaster County, SC. James was a son of John Sinclair and Temperance (Tempy)
Stephens. James was poor and was listed in the home of James Braham during the 1860 Census as a
laborer. He lived next to his sweetheart, Bethany Barnes who was born in 1837. James was also
living near his mother and half-uncle, Colin Jordan.
On November 14, 1861, James anc Colin Jordan enlisted in the Confederate Army.. They
were to become part of Company A of the 7th SC Batt'n under General Johnson Hagood and
Captain James Rion. James father, John Sinclair, followed the call on January 17, 1862 and enlisted at
Camp Walsh in Adams Run, SC. He was also in Company A, 7th Battalion (Enfield Rifles). James
Sinclair, his uncle, Colin Jordan, and his father and many Kershaw county friends in the same Company.
The 7th SC Battalion was mostly assigned on the coast of South Carolina until it went to Virginia
in 1864. However, from December 15, 1862 to February 8, 1863 they were temporarily deployed as
part of reinforcements sent from the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florda to Wilmington,
NC. They were in a temporary brigade commanded by Colonel Peyton H. Colquitt in a temporary
division commanded by Brigadier General States Rights Gist.
It became part of Brigadier General Hagood's Brigade on September 20, 1863. James
Sinclair's first engagement was at Edisto Island on March 29, 1862. Then at the Battle of Pocotaligo on
October 22-23, 1862 James was shot in the thigh breaking his bone. The injury is listed on his muster
papers and Confederate Pension application. His father, John, was a company nurse and refused to let
James leg by removed. Instead he managed a furlough and took James back to Camden to heal. It
took 5 months and James had a good limp to remind him of his injuries. James and John were present
at the March and April 1863 muster and was at Battery Wagner when the 54th made history on July
18, 1863. James states in his notes that that the 7th Batt'n was the only Batt'n in fighting order.
On April 28, 1864 Hagoods Brigade began moving to Virginia. Near Petersburg, VA they
became part of Hoke's Division and was detached to reinforce the Army of Northern Virgina at Cold
Harbor. The SC 7th Batt'n was heavily engaged there with the Brigade suffering 120 casualties,
including a substantial number of killed and wounded in the 7th SC Batt'n. James was one of the
wounded as he was shot through both hips on June 3, 1864. James appears on a register of Stuart
Hospital, Richmond, Virginia with Vulrius Sclopet. John Sinclair (James Father) and his uncle, Colin
Jordan were both at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on May 12 and 16 of 1864. Here the fighting was
very fierce. The following quote from Captain Moody Hough was found in the family papers of
Captain Lovick William Rochelle Blair. Capt. Blair was from Bethune, SC area and orgainzed and
outfitted Companies A and F.
On May 16, 1864, at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, the Seventh Battalion was exposed and
complelled to hold it's positon. The color bearer being killed (J.H. Outz), the colors were taken up by
one (John B. Robertson age 19) and then another. Both being killed. Colin Jordan who deserves
special mention, took up the colors, which never touched the ground. Pvt. Jorday waved our sacred
flag until Preston Cooper could take it up and pring it out. The flag had 47 bullet holes and the shaft
was shot in two pieces. Pvt. Jordon later fell ill with typhoid fever and died in July, a beloved and
much lamented comrade. Colin Jordan is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.
The 7th was also involved with the Siege of Petersburg. On August 21, 1864 the 7th Batt'n was
engaged in it's bloodiest battle. It is also where General Hagood broke through the Union lines and
shot a young Union Captain who had taken the 7th's Flag. There is a monument at the Battle of
Weldon Railroad, south of Pettersburg which reads. "Here A Brigade Composed of the 7th Battalioon,
The 11th, 21st, 25th and 27th Regiments South Carolina Volunteers Commanded by Brig. Gen.
Johnson Hagood Charged Warren's Federal Army Corps On the 21st Day of August, 1864 Taking
Into the Fight 740 Men Returning With 273 - No Prouder Fate Than Theirs Who Gave Their Lives To
Liberty.
The 7th Batt'n was then sent to the Coast of NC to Fort Fisher. They were to be reinforcements
for Fort Fisher but the Steamboat got stranded and they were to late as the fort fell on January 15,
1865. The 7th wrapped up it's fighting with fighting around Smithsville and the final conflict at
Bentonville on March 19 - 21, 1865. General Hagood states in his Memoirs that during the last few
months of the Carolinas Compaign that more of his men were being shot for desertion than being killed
by the Union Army. James and John Sinclair were present at the surrender at Greensboro, NC.
The 7th Battn' then Marched back to the Lancaster, SC Courthouse and each may was given $1
in silver and sent home. John and James home had been burned by Shermans troops as recorded in
records at the Camden, SC courthouse. John and James both received a Confederate Pension. John
died at the age of 88 during 1902 and James was 87 but was confined to a walking cane .
The Family of James Sinclair
showing his second wife,
Francis Watkins during the
1920's
showing his second wife,
Francis Watkins during the
1920's
Frances Watkins Sinclair