James J. Adams and his cousin, Tinsley Adams, both of Company F, were captured at the same time and imprisoned at the same place. They were Messmates and were issued one loaf of bread a day which they took turns cutting being careful to cut it into halves. James liked to chew tobacco, a luxury hard to obtain in prison camp. One day Tinsley said, "Jim I know some one who has some tobacco you might get for that knife of yours." James gave him the knife to trade. That night when Tinsley gave Jim the tobacco, he whispered, "Do you mean to say you got all this for that little old knife?" The reason for secrecy was that they feared some one might take it from them. James wife, Frances, visited him while he was in prison.
Adams, James Joseph - (or James Jordan Adams) Pvt. 8/29/1862. Wounded in 1864. Captured near Petersburg, Va. 3/25/1865. Released at Point Lookout, Md. 6/23/1865. Born in Georgia in 1833, farmer, married with two small children, personal/real property valued at $2245. US Census record for Elbert County, GA, 1860, page 79. Died in 1905 in Elbert Co. Ga., buried at Coldwater United Methodist Church Cemetery, Elbert Co, Ga.
Adams, Tinsley R. - (Tinsley Rucker Adams) Pvt. 3/5/1863. Captured near Petersburg, Va. 3/25/1865. Released at Point Lookout, Md. 6/23/1865. (Resident of Ga. since 1845.) Captured during attack on Fort Steadmam at Petersburg, March 25th, 1865. Born 2/25/1845 in Elbert Co, GA, single, living with parents John M. and Agnes M. Hulme Adams in 1860. His father was a farmer and his personal/real property was valued at $5,500. Source. 1860 US Census records for Elbert County, GA, page 105. Married in Elbert Co. on 16 Nov 1869 to Frances L. Adams (1851-1933.) Became a reverend after the war. Filed a CSA pension application on 8/13/1919. Died 9/22/1919 in Elbert Co, GA, buried at Elmhurst Cemetery, Elbert County Georgia. Cousin of James Jordan Adams of Co. F.
Mr. J. J. Adams, one of the most highly respected gentlemen of upper Elbert, died at his home hear Coldwater Church Saturday afternoon after a short illness. He was seventy-three years of age and Wednesday last he was stricken with paralysis and sank rapidly until the end came. He is survived by several children, namely: Cone, Joe, Ben, Early, Dr F L Allen, Misses Lizzie and Ellie Adams. He was a member of Cold Water Methodist and died a consistent believer in that faith. The interment took place at the church Sunday afternoon.
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Below is a tribute written by Tinsley R. Adams in honor of his cousin, James J. Adams. It was published in the Elberton Star newspaper on Dec. 21st, 1905:
"Mr. Editor: I desire with your permission to pay tribute of my love to my kinsman, and friend, James J. Adams, an account of whose death was given in the ELBERTON STAR of December 21,1905. Having been intimately acquainted with him for nearly 50 years, I can say of him what 1 can say of few - I never knew anyone more evenly balanced in general character that he, for, whether in private or public life, on the battlefield or in a northern prison, he always maintained an equilibrium that won the admiration of all who knew him. I never knew him to shirk his duty while engaged in the services of his country, nor do I remember to have heard him complain of his hard lot when assigned to a post of danger. Nor did he ask favors for himself that could not be given to all.
Mr. Adams was a man of few words. Swift to hear, slow to speak, seemed to have been his watchword all his eventful life. But he knew men, and was a good judge of human nature. His convictions, both expressed and implied, never left anyone in doubt as to where he stood on all questions of common interest. His home life was most admirable. His love and untiring devotion to his equally devoted wife, and his manifested anxiety and love for his children, are rarely excelled. The community in which he lived and the church to which he belonged have lost a supporter and friend that will be hard to duplicate.
Returning from a little foraging expedition one afternoon in the fall of 1863 (if my memory serves me right), he informed me that a little unpleasantness had sprung up among our messmates, and that each one had drawn their rations separately, and remarked that he would have drawn mine with his, but preferred waiting to consult me about it. I told him if it was agreeable, we would form a mess of two, and stick together as long as it was possible for us to do so. To this he readily agreed, and if I ever had a friend indeed from that time until July 13, 1865, when we parted company near Ruckersville, it was James Jordan Adams. I, never knew what it was to want for anything if it was in his power to grant it.
*Information obtained from Julian Mewborne, a grandson of Tommy Adams.
Provided courtesy of Mr. Roger Hardman.