James Starnes was the son of Dr. Samuel Scott and Nancy Matilda Wellborn Starnes. He was a prominent physician and planter. He graduated from the Jefferson Seminary Medical School (later University of Louisville). During the Mexican War he served as asst. surgeon of the 1st Tennessee Infantry. He married Mary Christina Rudder on April 19, 1849 and they had five children. When the Civil War broke out he raised a company of cavalry in Williamson County, Tennessee. He was later promoted to Colonel of the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, CSA. By 1863 Dr. Starnes was the commander of a brigade of Forrest's Cavalry and led it in action in Forrest's Brentwood Raid, in the fights around Franklin and the successful pursuit of Streight's raiders in Alabama. During the Tullahoma Campaign, on June 28, 1863, he was mortally wounded by a sharpshooter at Bobo's Crossroads, located between Tullahoma and Manchester. He was taken to the home of A. Y. Smith in Tullahoma where he died.
His obituary in the Chattanooga Daily Rebel stated in part: "Many of his exploits are wholly unrecorded and numbers of them forgotten amid the confused turmoil of war, and its crowded canvass of events. After the most useful career as an independent commander, Col. Starnes was attached to the regular cavalry service, and gained a rare, though not noisy reputation in the service for courage, reliability and skill. Personally he was a man of unblemished character as a Christian and citizen. His manners were quiet and reserved, but respectful and kind. He was in the prime of life, and the vigor of experience. The tears of a bereaved family and the sorrow of a devoted band of comrades follow him to an early but hallowed grave. All honor his name."
His obituary in the Chattanooga Daily Rebel stated in part: "Many of his exploits are wholly unrecorded and numbers of them forgotten amid the confused turmoil of war, and its crowded canvass of events. After the most useful career as an independent commander, Col. Starnes was attached to the regular cavalry service, and gained a rare, though not noisy reputation in the service for courage, reliability and skill. Personally he was a man of unblemished character as a Christian and citizen. His manners were quiet and reserved, but respectful and kind. He was in the prime of life, and the vigor of experience. The tears of a bereaved family and the sorrow of a devoted band of comrades follow him to an early but hallowed grave. All honor his name."
James Starnes was the son of Dr. Samuel Scott and Nancy Matilda Wellborn Starnes. He was a prominent physician and planter. He graduated from the Jefferson Seminary Medical School (later University of Louisville). During the Mexican War he served as asst. surgeon of the 1st Tennessee Infantry. He married Mary Christina Rudder on April 19, 1849 and they had five children. When the Civil War broke out he raised a company of cavalry in Williamson County, Tennessee. He was later promoted to Colonel of the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, CSA. By 1863 Dr. Starnes was the commander of a brigade of Forrest's Cavalry and led it in action in Forrest's Brentwood Raid, in the fights around Franklin and the successful pursuit of Streight's raiders in Alabama. During the Tullahoma Campaign, on June 28, 1863, he was mortally wounded by a sharpshooter at Bobo's Crossroads, located between Tullahoma and Manchester. He was taken to the home of A. Y. Smith in Tullahoma where he died.
His obituary in the Chattanooga Daily Rebel stated in part: "Many of his exploits are wholly unrecorded and numbers of them forgotten amid the confused turmoil of war, and its crowded canvass of events. After the most useful career as an independent commander, Col. Starnes was attached to the regular cavalry service, and gained a rare, though not noisy reputation in the service for courage, reliability and skill. Personally he was a man of unblemished character as a Christian and citizen. His manners were quiet and reserved, but respectful and kind. He was in the prime of life, and the vigor of experience. The tears of a bereaved family and the sorrow of a devoted band of comrades follow him to an early but hallowed grave. All honor his name."
His obituary in the Chattanooga Daily Rebel stated in part: "Many of his exploits are wholly unrecorded and numbers of them forgotten amid the confused turmoil of war, and its crowded canvass of events. After the most useful career as an independent commander, Col. Starnes was attached to the regular cavalry service, and gained a rare, though not noisy reputation in the service for courage, reliability and skill. Personally he was a man of unblemished character as a Christian and citizen. His manners were quiet and reserved, but respectful and kind. He was in the prime of life, and the vigor of experience. The tears of a bereaved family and the sorrow of a devoted band of comrades follow him to an early but hallowed grave. All honor his name."
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