James Totten was a career American soldier who served in the United States Army and retired from active service in 1870 as the Assistant Inspector General.
16 Facts About James Totten
James Totten served as an officer in the Union Army and Missouri militia general during the American Civil War.
James Totten was the nephew of Chief Engineer of the US Army Brigadier General Joseph Totten.
In February 1861, shortly before the American Civil War began, James Totten was in command of the Little Rock Arsenal with just 65 men.
James Totten was forced to evacuate his forces to St Louis when about 5,000 pro-secession volunteers led by Governor Henry M Rector poured into the city and surrounded the federal armoury.
James Totten was breveted Major for gallant and meritorious conduct at Boonville.
James Totten was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1861 for gallant conduct at Wilson's Creek.
James Totten became known for the style which he used to issue orders to his batteries.
On February 12,1862, James Totten was promoted to brigadier general in the Missouri Militia.
James Totten commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Frontier in 1862.
James Totten was not present with the division when it went into action at the battle of Prairie Grove and was therefore led by Colonel Daniel Huston, Jr.
In 1865 James Totten commanded the artillery in the Military Division of West Mississippi and participated in the battle of Fort Blakeley.
James Totten was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Inspector-General on June 13,1867.
James Totten died in Sedalia, Missouri, on October 2,1871, and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
James Totten, who graduated from West Point in 1873 and served in the Army for 20 years before resigning.
The younger was John Reynolds James Totten, who graduated from West Point in 1878, was promoted to first lieutenant in 1886 and resigned from the Army on April 1,1891.