Sgt. Miles James, Virginia Beach’s first Medal of Honor recipient

Miles James, born into slavery in Princess Anne County , made his way to Portsmouth and enlisted in the US Army in Nov. 1863. He was mustered into service at Fort Monroe and soon became a corporal in the 36th US Colored Infantry. James was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in action at New Market Heights, VA, on 29 Sept. 1864. After a bullet shattered his arm, necessitating an immediate field amputation. He continued to fight and urged his men forward within 30 yards of the Confederate works. Promoted to sergeant, he returned to duty by April 1865. He served briefly in Texas before rejoining his family in Norfolk. James died ca. 1871 of complications from his wound.

Sgt. Miles James, the first Medal of Honor recipient from Virginia Beach, was born into slavery in what was then Princess Anne County in 1829. In 1863 he made his way to Portsmouth and enlisted in the Union army. He mustered into service at Fort Monroe and at the age of 34, was injured in battle and yet continued to lead his troops to within feet of enemy lines. Sgt. James died in 1871 from his wounds in battle and was buried in an unknown location.

Upon being mustered into the Union Army on November 6, 1863 at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, he joined the 36th US Colored Troops. It wasn’t until 1862 with President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that African Americans were allowed to enlist. The most notable battle of his military career as a Sergeant was the Battle of New Market Heights/Chaffin’s Farm, otherwise known as the Combats at Forts Harrison, Johnson, and Gilmer which took place in modern-day Henrico County, Virginia. On the 29th of September, 1864, as he was leading his troops into battle, he was shot in the arm and needed an emergency amputation. Despite this, he continued to lead his troops in battle and pushed forward to within 30 yards of Confederate holds. 

Permanently disabled after the battle, he still remained fiercely committed to military service and advancing the Union cause. So much so that although he now only had functional use of one arm, he urged his commanding officer, Colonel Alonzo G. Draper to reinstate him and allow him to fight with the use of a sword. His request was approved and he and the 36th USCT were sent to Texas in April of 1865 to assist in the reconstruction of Texas. During his time in Texas, the emancipation of the last remaining slaves in the United States occurred. (This is now officially a federal holiday, Juneteenth.) He was discharged on October 13th, 1865 per a surgeon’s certificate of disability. 

Another important facet of his legacy is that he was the first Medal of Honor recipient from Virginia Beach and one of only 25 African Americans in the Civil War to receive this honor. The Medal was awarded to him just days after the end of the war on April 6, 1865, and merely days before the assassination of President Lincoln. It is also important to note that the rate of African Americans receiving the Medal of Honor in the American Civil War was 1 medal for every 7,200 men served while the rate for white soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor during this conflict was 1 for every 1,422 men. 

At the end of 1865, Sgt. James returned home to his family in Norfolk, Virginia and began a civilian life as a shoemaker. He passed away on August 19, 1870 at the age of 41 from complications with his arm injury. He was survived by his wife Sarah James and his three children, John, Ella, and Edith.

• Ruegsegger, B. (2019, December 5). Sgt. Miles James Historical Marker unveiled in Virginia Beach. pilotonline.com. Retrieved November 7, 2021, from https://www.pilotonline.com/history/vp-bc-miles-james-marker-1208-20191207-rqprf4ucwvdu7jehlby6nvmgeq-story.html.
• WAVY.com. (2019, February 27). Hidden history: The story of Miles James. WAVY.com. Retrieved November 7, 2021, from https://www.wavy.com/news/hidden-history-the-story-of-miles-james/.