James H. Porterfield

Residence was not listed; 24 years old.
Enlisted on 8/7/1862 at New Madrid, MO as a Private.
On 8/7/1862 he mustered into "Batty H" Co. MI 1st Light Artillery
He was Mustered Out on 7/22/1865 at Jackson, MI
He was listed as:
* POW 2/29/1864 Canton, MS
* Returned 2/15/1865 (place not stated) (Estimated day of returning)

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65

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BATTERY H.

Battery H was organized at Monroe, and was mustered into
service March 6, 1862, with the following officers: Captain,
Major F. Lockwood of Spaulding. First Lieutenant, Augustus
Spencer of Port Huron. First Lieutenant, Wilson H. Whisson of
Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Theodorus W. Lockwood of Pontiac,
and Second Lieutenant, Stephen P. Savory.

The Battery left Monroe March 13, 1862, for St. Louis,
Mo., in command of Captain Samuel De Goyler, formerly Major of
the Fourth Infantry, as Captain Lockwood received a commission
in the Ninth Cavalry. Captain De Goyler commanded the Battery
until the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., where he was wounded and
died Aug. 8, 1863, at his home in Hudson, Mich., from result of
his wounds.

From St. Louis the Battery moved to New Madrid, Mo., and
took part in the siege of Island No. 10. From this time until
the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., in July, the Battery was on
active duty in Tennessee and Mississippi, scouting and
skirmishing with the enemy and performed efficient service
wherever it was.

On May 12 it met the enemy at Raymond, Miss., and repelled
a charge of the enemy that received most favorable notice from
prominent historians and from the general officers in command.

At Champion Hills in the rear of Vicksburg the Battery was
gallantly engaged and arrived before the defences of Vicksburg
May 19. It took a prominent part in the siege and met with the
loss of 1 man killed and 7 wounded. After the city surrendered
the Battery was engaged in a number of expeditions in the
surrounding country, and while at Big Black River, 36 members
re-enlisted and went home on veteran furlough.

In April, 1864, the Battery moved to Cairo, Ill., and from
that point started on the Atlanta Campaign.

During this campaign it came in contact with the enemy in
nearly all the prominent battles in which General Sherman's
Army was engaged, and in the siege of Atlanta. When General
Sherman moved his army south of Atlanta the battle that caused
the evacuation of that city was fought at Jonesboro, and
Battery H took a prominent part.

After the fall of Atlanta the Battery remained there until
September, when it returned to Chattanooga, and in November
moved to Nashville.

It was on duty at Nashville until February, 1865, when it
returned to Chattanooga. It remained there until July, when it
was ordered to Michigan, where it was paid and disbanded at
Jackson, July 22, 1865.

During its service this battery had engaged the enemy at
Thompson's Hill, Miss., May 1, 1863; Raymond, Miss., May 12,
1863; Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863; Champion Hill, Miss., May
16, 1863; Vicksburg, Miss., May 18, 1863; siege of Vicksburg,
Miss., May 19, to July 4, 1863; Brownsville, Miss., October,
1863; Clinton, Miss., February, 1864; Big Shanty, Ga., June 14,
1864; Kenesaw, Ga., June 27, 1864; Nickajack Creek, Ga., July
5, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 22, 1864; siege of
Atlanta, Ga., July 22 to August 25, 1864; Jonesboro, Ga.,
August 31, 1864; Lovejoy's Station, Ga., September 1, 1864.

Total enrollment............................................326
Killed in action..............................................2
Died of wounds................................................1
Died of disease..............................................30
Discharged for disability (wounds and disease)...............63

Source: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers 1861-65

………....................

Canton, Miss.,
Feb. 27-29 1864.

3d Division, 17th Army Corps.

The division commanded by Brig.-Gen. M. D. Leggett, while on
the Meridian expedition, reached Canton on the 26th. During
the two days' stay at that place the 20th, 45th and 124th Ill.
infantry tore up over 2 miles of railroad and about 200 feet of
trestle work. Every rail was bent so that relaying the track
would be an impossibility.

Gen. Wirt Adams of the Confederate army, reported that on the
29th he killed and captured about 60 Federals, 33 horses, 2
wagons and teams and a number of small arms at Canton, but the
Federal reports contain no mention of such an affair.

Source: The Union Army, Vol.,5 p.,221