You may procure his records from this message board, at: http://history-sites.com/research/

They consist of 28 cards

James D. Powers, 2nd Lt., Capt. Thomas R. Thornton's Company, Virginia Light Artillery,* enlisted July 23, 1861 at Bowling Green by T. R. Thornton for the war, advanced to 1st Lieutenant, n.d.

Camp of Carolina Lt. ARty.
near Richmond Va.
1862 Sept.

I respectfully offer my resignation as first Lieutenant of the Carolina Light Artillery for the following reasons.

1st - My duties to my family required my presence at home. My wife being in the last stage of Consumption is now lying at deaths door and I am advised cannot live but a few days. I have four small and helpless children and no one to look after them. My own every brother and my wife's only brother is in the service and she is now home alone and entirely dependent upon the kindness of the neighbors for nursing and attention. And I feel a higher obligation upon me to go & look after the comfort and welfare of those at home than to remain in my present position.

2nd - I have been afflicted for a considerable time with chronic piles which have of late become so sore and painful that I am a ______ layer portion of my time unable to ride on horseback - and my general health has become so much impaired as to render me unable properly to discharge my duties, and to require me to give up the post I now hold in the Army of the Confederate States.

All which is respectfully
Submitted

/s/ Jas. D. Powers
1st Lieut Carolina Lt Artillery

Recommended for discharge by the Battery Surgeon

Resignation accepted By order of the ?? of War, Oct. 10 1862

Another letter of his of October is too faint to read on line.

* Captain Thornton's Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Carolina Light Artillery) was organized July 23, 1861. It served in Lightfoot's Battalion of Artillery, which was composed of independent companies

M324: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia