View source for William Batine James

Place of Birth: Pembrokeshire

Date of enlistment: 5 February 1872

Age given at enlistment: 23

Rank: Sergeant

Company: E

Location on 25 June 1876: Wiith Custer's column

	

William Batine James, the sixth of nine children to John James, a farmer, and his wife Eleanor Batine, was born March 3, 1849 at Pencnwc, in the parish of Dinas, which is situated roughly halfway between the port of Fishguard and the medieval town of Newport, in the county of Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales.

At the time of their marriage at Haverfordwest Register Office on March 2, 1839, John James was living in Caerlem and Eleanor Batine in Llanwnwr, both farms being situated close to each other near Strumble Head in the parish of Llanwnda located some six miles northwest of Fishguard. The James family had lived in Pembrokeshire for centuries and proudly claimed direct descent from the ancient earls of Ormonde.

John and Eleanor James set up home at Pencnwc where they farmed 80 acres set amid beautiful countryside with splendid views across a verdant pastoral landscape to the rugged coastline of Newport Bay. At the age of fourteen, having received a good elementary education at the local school and living in such a near idyllic place, William’s future would surely have seemed bright enough but the sudden death of his father in 1863, at the relatively young age of 51, changed all that.

	

Under the terms of John James’ will, the various leases and other property that he owned were to be sold and the proceeds invested in “Parliamentary stocks or public bonds of Great Britain or at interest upon Government or real securities in England and Wales but not Ireland” to produce an income for Eleanor, who still had several children to support.

Pencnwc was thus systematically broken up and within a few years the family had vacated the farm for an unknown destination. During this period tragedy was to become no stranger to young William for at least one of his brothers and two sisters died; all three siblings buried in the same gravesite as their father in Ramah Cemetery, Brynhenllan,, near Dinas Cross, where headstones mark the spot.

Welsh was William James’s first language. “Yr unig Gymro” means “the lone Welshman,” though it is likely that he would have been fairly fluent in English prior to setting sail for America in 1870.

It has been said that, after leaving Pencnwc, he worked as a builder or carpenter in Narberth, a town about 10 miles east of Haverfordwest, but his experience of working with horses on the farm best qualified him for employment as a coachman in Chicago, and later a trooper in the cavalry.

He was not the first in his family to choose a military career, for one of his great-uncles was a major general in the Indian Army; another, Francis Batine, an ensign in the 1st Regiment of Foot. In retirement, Francis spent some time at Llanwnwr and no doubt regaled his kinsfolk with stirring tales of his adventures fighting for King and Country.
Enlists in 7th United States Cavalry

Between the end of the Civil War and the Depression of 1873, Chicago probably profited more from its railroads than any other American city. It must be supposed, however, that the 22-year-old William James did not enjoy a share of this bonanza as on 5 February 1872 he presented himself at the U.S. Army recruiting office in that city, where he was interviewed by Capt. Samuel B. M. Young, 8th U.S. Cavalry.

After solemnly swearing an oath of allegiance to his adopted country, he signed on for a term of five years in Custer’s Seventh Cavalry and was assigned to Company E, known as the “Gray Horse Troop.” His enlistment papers describe him as having hazel eyes, light hair and light complexion, being 5’9” tall and previously employed as a coachman.

From Chicago he was sent to Unionville, South Carolina, where he joined his company on 26 February.oin his company at Louisville, Kentucky, which like most of the regiment was on Reconstruction duty in the South. Clearly William James proved to be a proficient soldier, as is evidenced by his promotion to the rank of corporal on 27 January 1875 and sergeant on March 3 the following year; his 27th birthday. James had been with Company E on the Yellowstone Campaign (1873) and the Black Hills Expedition (1874). On the third of July 1875 Company E was in permanent camp on Wounded Knee Creek, scene of the last battle (some say a massacre)  in the Plains Indian Wars. After a second spell of Reconstruction duty in Alabama (1875) they were assigned to Fort Totten, Dakota Territory. Company E arrived at Fort Abraham Lincoln 17 April 1876,  one month to the day  before the regiment 7th Cavalry set out on that fateful campaign against the Sioux.

As is well known, Companies E and F, commanded by Capt. George W. Yates, formed the left wing of Lieut. Col. Custer’s five-company column in his attack on the northern end of the Indian village. Lieut. Charles F. Roe, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, alleged that a sergeant of Company E had ridden into the stream before the Indians opened fire. Was this William James? We shall never know where this lone Welshman fell but it was possibly in Deep Ravine, along with the majority of Company Eor it could have been almost anywhere on the battlefield between the Little Big Horn River and the summit of Last Stand Hill.

Lieut. Charles C. De Rudio, the newly-appointed commander of Company E, signed William James’ “Final Statement” at Fort Abraham Lincoln on 2 November 1876. He wrote: “The body of said Wm. B. James was supposed to be among those recovered and buried on the battlefield, but was not recognized.” He is listed on the battlefield monument as “W.B. JAMES.” his name being located on the south face, fifth from the top, upper right side.
The Aftermath

Final Statement of Sergeant William B. James’ signed by 1st Lieut. Charles C. De Rudio, Commanding Company, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, 21 November 1876.

    DUE SOLDIER
    For retained pay under act of May 15, 1872 … $50.00
    For clothing not drawn in kind … $29.33
    For deposits with the USA Paymaster September 7, 1875 [$8] & May 15, 1876 [$20] … $28.00
    Proceeds of sale of effects [April 26, 1877] … $20.60
    DUE UNITED STATES
    For tobacco … $1.14
    The above statement does not take into account basic pay due for the period May 1 to June 25, 1876.

In old age, his mother, Eleanor Batine James lived in Swansea, South Wales, with her only surviving son, John Clement James. She died there 2 March 1885, age 73, and is buried in the Ramah Cemetery at Brynhenllan..

John Clement, a bachelor, died at Swansea 17 May 1903, age 52 and was laid to rest with his mother at Brynhenllan, where a fine cross-shaped headstone was erected to their memory. As the last of the Pencnwc Jameses, the male line of that branch of the family became extinct.

	

As the elder brother, William Batine James would have been the rightful heir to Llanwnwr and had he survived the Little Big Horn there would have been quite a different tale to be told.

    A letter to 1st Lt Thomas McDougall
    “E” Co. 7th Cavalry Camp near Fort A. Lincoln, DT,  June 30th 1874
    1st Lt. T. M. McDougall 7th Cav
    Sir,
    The men of E Co 7th Cavalry learning that you will not accompany the Black Hills Expedition and that the Company is to be commanded by another Officer, are desirous of expressing their regret at your not going in command and take this somewhat unusual means of showing it.  We are sure that many a day on the march we shall regret your absence and that many times before we see Fort A. Lincoln again we shall have good cause to feel sorry for this unfortunate event.
    Trusting that this blunt but honest expression of regret at an unavoidable piece of bad luck may not be deemed out of place.
    We remain
    Very respectfully
    [Signed by 49 members of the Company, including “W B James”]