James Totten (September 11, 1818 – October 1, 1871) was a career American soldier who served in the United States Army and retired from active service in 1870 as the Assistant Inspector General.

Totten was born in 1818 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[1] He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1841 and subsequently became a first lieutenant in 1847, serving in Texas during the Mexican-American War before fighting Seminole Indians in Florida during 1849-50.

In February 1861, shortly before the American Civil War began, Totten was in command of the Little Rock Arsenal with just 65 men.

In 1865 Totten commanded the artillery in the Military Division of West Mississippi and participated in the battle of Fort Blakeley.

Following the war, the Army issued a large number of brevet (honorary) promotions to hundreds of officers to recognize their service.

The younger was John Reynolds Totten, who graduated from West Point in 1878, was promoted to first lieutenant in 1886 and resigned from the Army on April 1, 1891.