CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: MAJ. JAMES P. DOUGLAS -  Smith County, TX 

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Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 
26 October 2001 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson 

MAJ. JAMES P. DOUGLAS

Maj. Jas. P. Douglas is dead.  Major Douglas was a true soldier to the 
Confederacy.  He was not only of the army, but in it.  He saw as much, 
did as much real fighting as any one man in the artillery branch of 
the service.  His action in all the battles engaged in were of the 
highest and most commendable order.  He had been a West Pointer, he 
could have worn the insignia of a high field officer, "on merit."  I 
have seen Douglas and his battery where the ordinary soldier would not 
have stayed.  I saw Douglas fight to successful finish three (3) four 
gun rifle batteries, one in front, two in infilade.  He was holding the 
key to the situation, had he yielded, the Confederate loss would have 
been one great loss by slaughter.  Maj. Douglas did not ask for himself 
and men recognition for the performance of a patriotic and sacred duty.  
Maj. Jas. P. Douglas was modest, modeled after a Lee.  Douglas never 
visited the capitol asking for promotion alms.  Douglas was not fitted 
to organize recruits in the rear he seemed peculairly fitted to fight 
forlone hopes, or get in the breech of "dernier resorts."  Nearly all 
the soldiers like Douglas are dead.  The reunion of men like Maj. 
Douglas, have a continuous "bivouac" in the elysian fields entered 
into by way of pearly gates to the Jasper walls, that enclose the 
Mansion not made with hands high up in heaven.  The manuscript of the 
life of this citizen and soldier has not a blot on it.  As a friend he 
was cherished, above most, if not, every other.  Gentle and amiable, 
as God's best gift to man, woman.  Patriotism and courage not often 
equaled, never excelled, were a part of the virtues that were in the 
building of his  vaulting manhood.  The silent tears of those who knew 
him best, are the truest, and highest tributes and monuments to his 
memory.

Jno. M. Claiborne
Rusk, Texas, January, 1902.