DOB:  December 15, 1837 DOD:  February 16, 1916 Age at Enlistment: 23 Date of Enlistment:  May 9, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Franklin, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Private Rank at Discharge:  Private Casualty:  James was captured at Shelbyville, TN on June 27, 1863. Comments:  James was born and raised in the town of Franklin, TN.  He is no doubt named after the Episcopal Priest who shares the same name and ultimately the first Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee.  James does not have an occupation listed for him on the 1860 Census so it is uncertain what he did before the war.  James enlisted at the Company’s formation and served until his capture at Shelbyville, TN in June 1863, the day the Federals captured the town.  He was sent to Camp Chase Prison and then to Fort Delaware on July 14, 1863.  On February 27, 1865 he was exchanged at City Point, VA.  He whereabouts after his exchange are uncertain but he next appears as taking the Oath of Allegiance in Nashville, TN on May 1, 1865.  The same record states he deserted on April 20, 1865.  His Oath papers describe him as Complexion: Fair, Hair: Light, Eyes: Grey, Height: 5'7".  James continued to live in Franklin following the war.  He never married or had children.  The 1870 Census does not list an occupation for him but on his pension application he states he is a preacher and on his application for the Old Soldiers Home he states he is a farmer.  A doctor states on his pension record he has bladder and kidney problems.  He applied to the Old Soldiers Home near the Hermitage in Nashville and was accepted on March 6, 1897.  His record there states he was discharged once with no date given but he was reinstated on December 19, 1914. James passed away in 1916 from Pernicious Anemia at the soldier’s home and is buried in the home’s cemetery of Tulip Grove, grave # 311. 

Left: James Otey’s grave at Tulip Grove Cemetery Right:  Picture of the Confederate Soldiers Home where James passed away