James Hughes Stokes

James Hughes Stokes (c. 1814 or 1815 – December 27, 1890) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War.

[2] In 1831 he was appointed to a cadet ship at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

[2] When the Civil War began in 1861, there was a general search for small arms to supply the growing army, and Illinois Governor Richard Yates wanted to mount an expedition to seize the United States small arms from Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, but as the barracks were surrounded by rebels, who were determined to take the guns for their own use, many military men declined to undertake it; but Stokes offered to try and was successful,[4] receiving the thanks of the Illinois legislature.

[2] On July 31, 1862, he was commissioned captain of Illinois volunteer artillery, and did notable service in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1864.

A week prior he had walked from his residence to the post office, and afterward contracted a cold, which developed into pneumonia.