Augusta County: "Capt. James. H. Waters," by James Bumgardner, Jr., May, 1913
Summary: An obituary of Captain James H. Waters, a soldier in the Virginia 5th Infantry Division.
Capt. James H. Waters departed this life on May 13, 1913, at the Odd Fellows' Home in Lynchburg, Va., in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He came from New Jersey to Staunton, Va., in 1850. He engaged in business, married Miss Elizabeth Carroll, a native of Staunton, and promptly identified himself with the people of that place. He was one of the original enlisted members of that renowned volunteer company, the West Augusta Guard, which was organized in 1858, was in service during the John Brown raid in 1859, and on during the entire period of the War of the States. It was in service during the late war with Spain, and is now one of the best companies in the volunteer military service of Virginia.
At the organization of the company Captain Waters was elected first lieutenant; and when the company was ordered to Charlestown during the John Brown raid, Capt. (afterwards Col.) William S. H. Baylor (who was later killed at Manassas on August 29, 1862, while leading the Stonewall Brigade in a desperate charge) was prostrated with typhoid fever, and Captain Waters commanded the company.
The West Augusta Guard was of the 5th Regiment of Virginia Infantry, in the Stonewall Brigade. This regiment was organized about the 12th of April, 1861, as "a volunteer regiment of Virginia militia," and William S. H. Baylor, captain of the West Augusta Guard, was made colonel.
On April 17, 1861, the West Augusta Guard, under command of Lieutenant Waters, by command of the Governor of Virginia, left Staunton for Harper's Ferry. The order of the Governor reached Staunton about 8 A.M. of that day, and the company embarked about 6 P.M. of the same day. There were of the company on that April day (1861) one hundred and twenty-five men, rank and file. When the roll was called, one hundred and twenty-three answered to their names and boarded the train. Captain Waters was commissioned as captain in May, 1861, and commanded the company at Falling Waters, First Manassas, during the Romney expedition of General Jackson, and at Kernstown. In July, 1862, he was made commissary of the 5th Regiment with the rank of captain, and was soon afterwards made commissary of the Stone-wall Brigade, and served in that capacity until the close of the war.
In 1880 he was made chief of the police department of Staunton, in which capacity he rendered devoted and efficient service until 1900, when he was retired by reason of advanced age and infirmity. After his retirement as chief of police of Staunton, Captain Waters went to the Odd Fellows' Home in Lynchburg, where he remained until his death. His funeral service was held in the Odd Fellows' Home, after which his body was transported to Staunton and on the 15th of May, 1913, was buried in Thornrose Cemetery. His body was followed to its final resting place by the three sole survivors of the men who originally enlisted in the West Augusta Guard-viz., Henry Hyer, William Wholly, and James Bumgardner, Jr.
Captain Waters was a member of the Episcopal Church, and his entire life was an illustration of the best and noblest qualities of the Christian, the soldier, and the gentleman.
Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Confederate Veteran, Vol. 21, 1913, p. 346
