James McDonald

James McDonald (Jan. 13, 1813 – Dec. 9, 1863) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died during the Civil War.

See Also: Scott Countians who died in war

Biography

Born Jan. 13, 1813 in present-day Scott County, James McDonald was the son of James McDonald (1758-1848) and Sarah Cox (1776-1873). His father was a Revolutionary War veteran from North Carolina who moved to present-day Scott County and settled in the Winona area after the war.

James’ siblings included Elihu Gregory, Allen McDonald (1803-1862), Amos McDonald (1808-1884), Nancy Lewallen (1818-1896), Samuel McDonald (1820-1882), Sterling McDonald (1823-1863), and Sarah Reed (1827-1863).

James’ brother, Allen McDonald, also died during the Civil War. They had another brother, Amos, who served in the Union army during the war. A nephew, Samuel McDonald, died during the war, as well.

James married Malinda Lawson, the daughter of on May 2, 1844. Their children included Newton McDonald (1842-1913), Farazina McDonald (1844-1880), Parazida McDonald (1847-1920), James McDonald (1849-1927), Elihu McDonald (1852-1907), Sterling J. McDonald (1854-1921), Sarah Elizabeth McDonald (1858-1925) and Hugh L. McDonald (born 1859).

Civil War

James McDonald enlisted in the Union army on Oct. 25, 1861, at the age of 47. He was assigned to Co. G, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, as a corporal.

The 2nd Tennessee was overrun by Confederate forces at the Battle of Rogersville in Hawkins County, Tenn. on Nov. 6, 1863. The entire regiment was captured, including many from Scott County. Many of those men died in Confederate captivity.

It is written that as McDonald was being marched to a Confederate prison in Richmond, Va., he antagonized his captors by singing, “Abe Lincoln is a clever man / Jeff Davis is a fool / Abe Lincoln rides on a big white horse / Jeff Davis rides a mule. Shove around your grog, boys / All around the room / We are the boys that fear no noise / Although we’re far from home.”

Cpl. McDonald died of chronic diarrhea on Dec. 9, 1863 while being confined at Belle Isle in Richmond, Va. He is buried at Richmond National Cemetery.

Aftermath

It is not clear when Malinda died. As of 1880, she was still living in Scott County with their 25-year-old son, Sterling.