(NOTE: James Scott probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, James, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and for their friends, in the 86th and back home.
James survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, James probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of his CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see any pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)

Private JAMES SCOTT, Co. H, 86th Illinois

James Scott was born on __________ __, 1845. He is believed to have been born in Scopwick, Lincolnshire, England, even though he gave his birthplace as Lanarkshire, England at the time he volunteered for service in the Civil War. James was the 3rd son of Thomas Scott and Ann (Cooling) Scott. Thomas and Ann are known to have had seven sons. They are;
1.
2.
3. James Scott, born __________ __, 1845.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The Scott family came to America in 18__, though Thomas and Ann are believed to have died in Canada.
James is known to have eventually moved on west to Illinois, where he settled in Peoria County, However, he is not believed to have come to Peoria County until after 1860 as he is not found in Peoria County at the time of the 1860 census. On August 6, 1862, James Scott volunteered at Brimfield, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in Peoria, Illinois and the Peoria County area by David W. Magee, a veteran of the Mexican War, for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, James Scott gave his place of residence as Brimfield, Illinois in Peoria County.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name SCOTT, JAMES
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence BRIMFIELD, PEORIA CO, IL Age 18 Height 5' 6 Hair DARK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity LANARKSHIRE, ENGLAND

Service Record
Joined When AUG 6, 1862 Joined Where BRIMFIELD, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks N/A

When Magee had about 100 volunteers he assembled his company at Camp Lyons, located near present day Glen Oak Park in Peoria, where they remained in camp until they were mustered into service. On August 27, 1862 Magee and 89 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. H of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. James was now Private James Scott, Co. H, 86th Illinois. Initially, the men of Co. H elected Magee to be their Captain. Magee, however, because of his past military experiences, was selected and promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the entire regiment. After this John H. Hall, was elected by the men of Co. H to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later, the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next three years.
During the next three years, Private James Scott would serve faithfully in Co. H as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, James was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, to name a few and would march with Sherman to the Sea.
On June 6, 1865, Private James Scott was still there with the surviving members of the 86th Illinois when they were mustered out of service on June 6, 1865 at Washington, D.C. They then were sent by train to Chicago, Illinois where they received their final pay and discharge and by the end of June the surviving members of the 86th were home with their families and friends.
James Scott may be the James Scott, who was married to Lavina Williams on February 28, 1872 in Stark County, Illinois. James and Lavina are known to have had at least three children. They were;
1. Frederick Albert Scott, born December 21, 1872 in La Hogue or Gilman, Iroquois County, Illinois. Albert Fred Scott was married on January 29, 1896 in Iroquois County, Illinois to Ada Serena Ringsley. Albert was 24 and born in La Hogue, Iroquois County, Illinois, the son of James Scott and Levina Williams, while Ada was 24 and born in THAWVILLE, IROQUOIS County, Illinois, the daughter of David Ringsley and Mary Hitchcock. Ada is now known to have been born on October __, 1872 in Illinois.
Two children were born to Fred and Ada;
A. Ethel Scott, born c. 1900/01 in Illinois.

B. Edna Scott, born c. 1905/06 in Minnesota.

At the time of the 1900 census, Fred and Ada are found in Douglas Township, Iroquois County, Illinois;
Fred A Scott Head M 28 Illinois
Ada S Scott Wife F 28 Illinois
Dick Medendorf Servant M 22 Illinois
William Koerner Servant M 17 Illinois

At the time of the 1910 census, Fred and his family are found in Butterfield, Watonwan County, Minnesota;
Fred A Scott Head M 37 Illinois
Ada Scott Wife F 37 Illinois
Ethel Scott Daughter F 9 Illinois
Edna Scott Daughter F 4 Minnesota
Eivan Pearson Hired man M 22 Sweden

Frederick Albert "Fred" Scott died on 11 Dec 1962 in Blue Earth County, Minnesota and his mortal remains were laid in the Union Cemetery in Mapleton, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. See his Find A Grave Memorial #151656159.

2. Thomas H. Scott, born June 18, 1875 in Illinois; died on November 16, 1940; buried in the Floral Hill Cemetery in Iroquois County, Illinois.

3. James Ralph Scott, born December __, 1878 in Illinois.

4. Miles Scott, born August __, 1881 in Illinois.

5. Dolly Scott, born January __, 1884 in Illinois.

6. Beulah Scott, born September __, 1892 in Illinois.

At the time of the 1880 census of Illinois, James and his family are found in Douglas Township in Iroqois County, Illinois. He is farming for a living.
James SCOTT, Self, born c. 1846 in ENGLAND
Laura SCOTT, Wife, born c. 1852 in IL
Fredrick A. SCOTT, Son, born c. 1873 in IL
Thomas H. SCOTT, Son, born c. 1875 in IL
James R. SCOTT, Son, born c. 1879 in IL

At the time of the 1900 census, James Scott and his family are found in the city of Gilman, Douglas Township,
Iroquois County, Illinois, where he is farming. He and Lavina have been married for 28 years. He immigrated in 1850;
James Scott Head M Nov 1845 55 England
Lavina W Scott Wife F Jun 1851 49 Illinois
Ralph J Scott Son M Dec 1878 22 Illinois
Miles Scott Son M Aug 1881 19 Illinois
Dolly Scott Daughter F Jan 1884 16 Illinois
Beulah Scott Daughter F Sep 1892 8 Illinois

Private James Scott died on November 5, 1909 in Douglas, Iroquois County, Illinois and his mortal remains were laid in the Gilman Cemetery.

by Baxter B. Fite III and Linda Rhead (FAG Contributor #47389