Confederate Soldier James Allen Oakes^[1]

1822 - 1863  (41 years)

• Name	James Allen Oakes
  Title	Confederate Soldier
  Born	1822	Pittsylvania County, Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	1863	Gettysburg, Virginia
  Person ID	I7657	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	23 Oct 2020

  
  

  Father	William Burl "Billie" Oakes,   b. 7 Jan 1780, King William Co., Colonial Virginia ,   d. 24 Mar 1846, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 66 years)
  Mother	Ruth Smith,   b. 5 Mar 1779, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. 2 Jun 1822, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 43 years)
  Married	30 Aug 1801	Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
  Family ID	F2638	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret Catherine Hutson,   b. 15 Mar 1823, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. 4 Dec 1909, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 86 years)
  Married	1 Dec 1842	Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
  Children	+ 1. Almira Oakes,   b. 15 Jul 1853, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. 27 Jan 1944, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 90 years)
  Last Modified	26 Nov 2015
  Family ID	F5184	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		James Allen Oakes Portrait 7657James Allen Oakes.jpg
  		Danville, Virginia Civil War Prisoners Held in Warehouse Henry Van Der Weyde, Civil War Artist.jpg

  
  

  Headstones

  Headstone of James Allen Oakes 7657JamesAllenOakes.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Reynolds, Almira O. 15 Jul 1853--27 Jan 1944 Oakes, James H. 23 Oct 1846--25 Jan 1928 Oaks, Mary C. 22 Jul 1848--4 Jun 1914 Oakes, Margrate C. 15 Mar 1823--4 Dec 1909 Wife of James A Oakes, Rebecca J. 6 Sep 1855--3 Apr 1909 Unknown Rock Unknown Rock Unknown Rock Unknown Rock This is a large cemetery and it seemed to be many more graves marked only by rocks. James Oakes was born about 1822 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was the seventh child of William O. and Ruth (Smith) Oakes. His siblings were: Joab, born about 1804, George W., born about 1805; Sabry Sarah, born 12 December 1808; Catherine, born about 1810; Daniel Warner, born 1 September 1813; and William Burl, born 15 October 1816. The family lived in the Callands area of Pittsylvania County, known as Museville, Virginia. Shortly after the birth of James, Ruth died and William married Sallie Phraley on 11July 1824. James married on 1 December 1842 to Margaret Catherine Hutson. It is not known if he had any children. He enlisted on 10 March 1862 at Callands, as a private in Company B, 38th Virginia Infantry. Under the command of General Jubal A. Early, on May 1, the unit participated in action that aided General James Longstreet at Fort Magruder, a pivotal defensive position on the peninsula which was under attack by the troops of General Winfield Scott Hancock. Unfortunately, a combination of poor leadership and bad luck lead to a rather inconsequential encounter with the Union army, as the ?Pittsylvania regiment? became tangled in dense woods and was ordered to retire just as the rest of the Brigade was ordered to withdraw. After this engagement, the unit was reassigned to the command of General Samuel Garland Jr., another VMI graduate. On May 28, the 38th found itself on the Williamsburg road on picket duty and skirmishing with the Union Army of the Potomac. Orders came to hit the Union army before they could consolidate. Garland?s brigade hit part of the Union Fourth Corps at the Battle of Seven Pines. Confederates had to attack through swampy woods and were ?hotly engaged ?, slowly driving the enemy back when their ammunition began to run low. The colors of the 104th Pennsylvania volunteers was captured during this battle before the withdrawal. Casualties were very high: of the original 350 men and officers of the 38th Virginia, 16 were killed, 117 wounded and 14 missing in action for a casualty rate of 42%. The 38th was then placed under the command of General Lewis Armistead, of Huger?s Division where it remained for the rest of the war. Marching and counter-marching found the 38th in Pennsylvania 2 miles north of Chambersburg on the York Road in late June. For the first time in awhile, there was plenty to eat. When Gettysburg loomed as a major battle, Lee ordered Pickett?s division to the front early in the morning on July 3. After two day?s of fighting, Pickett?s newly arrived troops were the freshest and were ordered, supported by Pettigrew?s and Thimble?s divisions, to take the center of the Federal line on Cemetery Ridge. Approximately 10,500 men were involved in the ill-fated Pickett?s charge. In minutes, 40% of the 38th were casualties and the battle flag was captured during a flanking movement by the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Colonel Edmonds, who presided over the initial organization of the 38th lay dead on the field. James was wounded by a cannonball when it shattered his leg. He was taken prisoner and carried to a Yankee hospital near Gettysburg where his leg was amputated. He died there on 15 July 1863. Neither his wife or his family were notified of his death and nothing more was heard from him. When he failed to return home after the war, Margaret filed an official inquiry with the War Department and it was then that she learned of his death. He is buried in an unmarked grave at Gettysburg. Margaret died in 1909.

  
  

• Sources

  [S32] Find-A-Grave.com, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58223608. James Allen Oakes, Birth: 1822, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Death: Jul. 15, 1863, Gettysburg, Adams County Pennsylvania James was one of 7 children born to William "Old Bill" Oakes and his first wife, Ruth (Smith). James married Margaret Catherine (Hutson) on 12/01/1842 in Pittsylvania Co, VA. Margaret was born 03/15/1823 in Pittylvania Co, VA. and died 12/04/1909 in Pittsylvania Co, VA. Their 8 children: 1) Sarah, b. 1844 2) William P., b. 1845 3) James H., b. 10/23/1846; d. 01/25/1928 4) Mary C., b. 07/22/1848; d. 06/04/1914 5) Luther, b. 1850 6) Virginia, b. 1852; d. 07/13/1853 7) Almira, b. 07/15/1853; d. 01/27/1944 8) Rebecca J., b. 09/06/1855; d. 04/03/1909 James enlisted 03/10/1862 as a private in Co. B, 38th VA Infantry. He died as a result of his war wound during the Civil War. James is buried in an unmarked grave near Gettysburg, PA. His headstone in the Oakes Cemetery, off Ivory Branch Road in Chatham, VA, is called a "cenotaph", an empty grave. Families did this especially when a son or family member was killed in war and was buried elsewhere. It is just a memorial made for James in the family cemetery back home. (Information per Sam Eanes, photographer of headstone photo) Parents: William Oakes (1780 - 1846) Ruth Smith Oakes (1779 - 1822) Spouse: Margaret Catherine Hutson Oakes (1823 - 1909) Children: James H. Oakes (1846 - 1928) Mary C. Oakes (1848 - 1914) Almira Oakes Reynolds (1853 - 1944) Rebecca J. Oakes (1855 - 1909) Siblings: Joab Oakes (1801 - 1865) Sabra Jane Oakes Gibson (1808 - 1886) Daniel Warner Oakes (1813 - 1892) William Berle Oakes (1816 - 1887) James Allen Oakes (1822 - 1863) Alfred Oakes (1829 - 1919) Ruth Ann Oakes Reynolds (1832 - 1891) Ruth Ann Oakes Reynolds (1832 - 1891) JAMES ALLEN OAKES CO B 38 REGT VA INF CSA 1822 - 1863 Note: James is buried in an unmarked grave near Gettysburg, PA. This headstone is a "cenotaph"; an empty grave. Burial: Oakes Cemetery, Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., Va