Before the war, Jim Tom Holland (as he was known) was a Russell County, Alabama Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff at different times. He enlisted as a Private on February 26, 1862 at Crawford, Alabama in Waddell's Alabama Artillery Battery, which was sent to Mississippi with General Carter L. Stevenson's Division. The battery was badly cut up and lost nearly all its guns at Baker's Creek. Appointed to 4th Sergeant on March 1, 1862. Captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4, 1863. His confinement was brief, he was paroled (exchanged) on the 9th at Vicksburg (according to the terms of capitulation entered by the commanding Generals of the United States and Confederate forces for prisoner exchanges.) Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant by Major J. F. Waddell on September 1, 1863. The battery was increased to a battalion and designated as Waddell's Alabama Artillery Battery, 20th Light Artillery in October 1863. Company B was sent to Dalton, the battery participated in the almost incessant battle back to Atlanta, but its loss was not severe. Lieutenant Holland was wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. Ordered to Columbus, the battery fought Union General James H. Wilson at Girard, Alabama on Easter day, April 16, 1865 and the men were dispersed or captured, and the guns abandoned. (Lieutenant Holland was captured and carried to Macon but soon paroled.) After the war, Lieutenant Jim Tom Holland returned to Alabama and represented Lee County as an Alabama State Legislator. Jim Tom was a brother of Colonel Orlando Stinson Holland of the 37th Mississippi Infantry, Company D, the Enterprise Tigers.

This Battle of Girard, Alabama (now Phenix City, Alabama) is widely regarded to be the last shots fired of the American Civil War, and the troops were unaware that President Lincoln was assassinated a few days prior. The Georgia State government has officially declared this battle the "last battle of the war between the states" as it was, technically. (The Battle of Palmito Ranch occurred after the Battle of Columbus, but the engagement at Palmito Ranch occurred after Johnston's surrender to Sherman on April 26, 1865 and after the Confederacy dissolved on May 5, hence the Battle of Columbus is referred to as the "closing conflict of the war.")