James Phoenix (1839 - 1865)

Born 1839 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 8 Jul 1865 at about age 26 in Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: K Raymoure [send private message]

Biography

Private James Phoenix served in the United States Civil War.
Side: USA

James Phoenix is a part of US Black heritage.

James Phoenix was born about 1839 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

He stood about 5 feet and 9 inches (1.9m) tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair when he enlisted in 1863.

Occupations

• 1863: Laborer

Residences

• 1863: Pottsville, Pennsylvania (military enlistment)

Military Service and Death

Private James Phoenix died of disease during the United States Civil War.

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company K of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the second^[1] regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 24 years old, single and working as a laborer when he enlisted on 5 May 1863 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He mustered in on 13 May 1863 in Readville, Massachusetts. He was wounded in action on 16 July 1863 on the Gullah island of Sol Legare^[2] in Charleston County, South Carolina in a skirmish two days before the Second Battle of Fort Wagner. He died of disease on 8 July 1865 in the hospital at Charleston.^[3]

Research Notes

☑ Emilio - nothing besides his entry in the McKay roster Raymoure-1 22:13, 19 March 2019 (UTC)

☑ Redkey - no letters written by or mentioning him Raymoure-1 22:45, 19 March 2019 (UTC)

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
• James Island Skirmish 16 July 1863 (Battle of Sol Legare Island)

Sources

1. ↑ and the first with federal recognition; the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry regiment was against the wishes of the Secretary of War and filled only six companies, but did see action a full year before the 54th
2. ↑ pronounce sawl la-gree
3. ↑ Emilio, McKay Roster p. 386

• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)