Paynes Crossing Cemetery, Hocking County, Ohio, Soldier's Stories: Betts, James

Cemetery Works

Boulder, Colorado, USA
established 2001

Paynes Crossing Cemetery,
Ward Township, Hocking County, Ohio
American Civil War Soldier's Story:
James Betts

Private James Betts
Company I, 27th US Colored Infantry.
Died 31 Jan 1912; 81.9 years of age.

James Betts enlisted on 08 June 1864 as a Private. His age was reported as 34 years.

James Betts was mustered into Company I, 27th US Colored Infantry regiment on 27 July 1864. He served 15.5 months; 08 June 1864 to 21 Sept 1864.

While James Betts was in service, the 27th US Colored Infantry regiment was engaged in the following battles that had a direct impact on the course of the war and / or a decisive influence on a campaign:

before Petersburg, Va., 15-19 Jun 1864

siege on Petersburg and Richmond, Va., 16 June to 07 December 1864
The regiment was heavily engaged in the Battle on the Crater [or Mine Explosion] on 30 June
and suffered 74 casualities; 11 KIA, 45 WIA, 18 POW

Globe Tavern or Weldon Railroad_II, Va., 18 - 21 August 1864

Chaffin's Farm or New Market Heights, Va., 29 - 30 September 1864

expedition to, assault and capture of Fort Fisher_II, North Carolina, 07 - 15 January 1865

The 27th US Colored Infantry regiment participated in the capture of Wilmington, NC, 12 - 22 February 1865, and General William T. Sherman's Campaign of the Carolinas, 01 March - 26 April 1865, and was present at the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston and the CSA Army of Tennessee on 26 April 1865 at Bennett House near Durham's Station, North Carolina.

James Betts, and the regiment, was mustered out on 21 September 1865.

Other Information regarding James Betts

reportedly Betts' ancestors came to south central Ohio from a plantation in Sussex County, Virginia, and were owned by Drewry Betts, from whom they took their name. Drewry freed his slaves just after his wife died in 1821.

born 04 March 1830 in Ohio

married to Rebecca; 8 children, all born in Ohio, per 1870 census

occupation reported as farmer in 1860 and 1870 census

died 31 January 1912

buried in Paynes Crossing Cemetery, Ward Township, Hocking County, Ohio;
Lot 07 Grave 06

Resources for James Betts Solider's Story
Historical Data Systems an online fully searchable database which contains extensive information regarding American Civil War soliders, regiments, and events. HDS is a subscription database [$25 per year] and is indispensible to the development of the 'Soldier's Story'.
Paynes Cemetery webpage on Points of Interest, Athens Unit, Wayne National Forest, USDA Forest Service website.
Paynes Crossing webpage on Wayne National Forest portion of USDA Forest Service website.
The US National Park Service Civil War Soldier System online database; an invaluable / impressive resource comprised of three parts: NPS CWSSS Battle Summaries NPS CWSSS Regimental Histories NPS CWSSS Soldiers Names and Records of Union and Confederate database.

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