Carson's men were part of Stonewall Jackson's force that moved to take the town of Bath, later Berkeley Springs, now in West Virginia, on January 3, 1862.

[1][2] His parents were Simon Carson, a farmer and militia officer, and Martha Williams, daughter of the first owner of Pleasant Green.

[1][2] James Harvey Carson's brigade was called into service at the outset of the Civil War to guard Harper's Ferry and the Shenandoah Valley.

[1] After a quiet period, Carson's men were called for duty in November 1861 along with the brigades of James Boggs and Gilbert S.

[3][4] Carson's brigade was left to occupy the town and set up winter quarters while Jackson moved on to take Romney.

[3] Carson practiced law and became active in real estate work in Frederick County after the war.