Pvt. James Alexander Watson, (CSA)

This profile is not James Watson of the Union Army on https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3958321/james-watson.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYX-VKK : 19 December 2020), James Watson, Telfair, Georgia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
• James Watson Male 36 Georgia
• Sarah Watson Female 36 Georgia
• Rossie Watson Female 12 Georgia
• Alexander Watson Male 9 Georgia
• Catherine Watson Female 7 Georgia
• Sarah Watson Female 3 Georgia
• Reuben Watson Male 0 Georgia
• Reuben Harralson Male 96
• Kizzie Harralson Female 85

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMC-YF9 : 18 February 2021), James Watson, 1860.

• Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
• James Watson Male 46 Ga
• Sarah Watson Female 46 Ga
• Kessiah Watson Female 21 Ga
• Alexander Watson Male 19 Ga
• Catherine J Watson Female 16 Ga
• Sarah E Watson Female 13 Ga
• Ruben Watson Male 10 Ga
• James Watson Male 7 Ga
• Ruben Haroldson Male 100 N. C.

James Watson appears to disappear after the Civil War from census records. From Civil War records, it seems that he enlisted in the 42nd Georgia Infantry later Capt Croft's Battery, Light Artillery (Columbus Artillery) AND Capt Daniell's Battery, Light Artillery as a PVT.

"Georgia Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFHZ-BWX : 24 December 2014), James Watson, 1862; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit Capt Croft's Battery, Light Artillery (Columbus Artillery) AND Capt Daniell's Battery, Light Artillery, publication number M266 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 103.

James seems to have been taken prisoner and sent to Pt. Lookout in Sept, 1864 and released in June, 1865. He had been in the prison hospital with a broken femur, according to additional records. What happened after that is not known, but he does not appear in the 1870 census and may be deceased from his war experiences.