James Clinton Franklin was born around 1836 in Virginia to Tarleton and Elizabeth Franklin. His father was a master carpenter who owned $700 of real estate and $300 of personal property. He grew up and attended school in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and by 1860, he was working as a farm laborer. He married Susan Shelton in August 1861, and they had at least five children: Stella, born around 1862; Elizabeth, born around 1867; Christina, born around 1869; Mary, born around 1871; and William, born around 1876.

 

He enlisted in the Confederate army on August 1, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company D of the 57^th Virginia Infantry. He became a musician in early 1862. The regiment took part in the Seven Days’ Battles, the Second Battle of Manassas, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg. In December 1862, he wrote to his wife, “I wanter see you and stelly verry bad indeed and if I cant get a furlough or cant get detailed to work at the court house I I am coming home next spring certain.” He declared that he had “stayed as long as I agreed to stay and I shant stay much longer.”

 

He expressed discontent toward economic elites, insisting that the “rich men and officers can get out of the army and a poor man have to stay.” He vowed to “show them how a poor man can get out of the army.” He deserted on February 21, 1863, while “on the march between Richmond Va [and] Drury Bluff Va.” He eventually rejoined the regiment, but he deserted again near Culpeper Court House, Virginia, on June 12, 1863. He returned to the regiment again on April 29, 1864. He fell ill soon afterward, and he spent several months in a hospital in Richmond, Virginia. He received his parole at Lynchburg, Virginia, on April 15, 1865.

 

Franklin returned to Pittsylvania County after the war, and he earned a living as a farmer and railroad worker. He died in the early 1900s.

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