Historical Rosters Database

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James Walton Thomson

Roster ID 1739
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
First Name:James
Middle Name:Walton
Last Name:Thomson
Suffix:
Affiliation:Class of 1864
Biography & Genealogy:James Walton Thomson, Class of 1864: Geneaology: Born- Oct. 28, 1843 in Berryville, Clarke Co. Va. Father- John A. Thomson; Mother- Mary Scott of Bedford Co. Va. Pat. Grandfather- Dr. John Thomson of Clarke Co. Va. Mat. Grandfather- Beverly R. Scott of Bedford Co. Va. No information on grandmothers. Never married, no children. VMI Record: Entered VMI- July 31, 1860; Left after one year to join Confederate Army; Made Honorary Graduate of the Class of 1864. Civil War Record: Drill master for VMI Corps of Cadets in Richmond and Harper's Ferry in spring of 1861; volunteer Aide-de-Camp to then Brig. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson at First Manassas; elected 1st Lieut. of Capt. J.W. Carter's Company in the Va. Horse Artillery around Nov. of 1861; promoted to Captain Mar. 20, 1864; promoted to Major March 1, 1865; Chief of Artillery on staff of then Brig. Gen. T.L. Rosser. Died- April 6, 1865. Killed in action at High Bridge leading the cavalry charge. When he was told he would probably be killed in battle he replied, "I don't care. The Confederacy is dying. I do not wish to survive the Confederacy." Buried first in Charlottesville, Va. Later moved to Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester.
Additional Online Resources:Papers

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.

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Virginia Military Institute
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