The Civil War found many Michigan residents serving on side for the Union.  James Pennington was no exception; however, he did wait until late in the war to serve and then not from from Michigan - but New York.   James was 35 at the time of his enlistment and he traveled to Genesee Falls, New York, where he enlisted on the 10th of April, 1864 as a Private.

James was part of the Company "G" 9th New York Cavalry - company banner is shown at left. 

After piecing together the numerous affidavits and documentation found below it is known that James was injured shortly upon joining his regiment while on a raid near Winchester, Virginia.  It was close to New Years 1864 - one of the coldest nights of the war - and James along with several other men were on a 2-week long mission.  It was then than James' 5-year old horse stepped into a hole and stumbled sending James up on to the pummel of his saddle before hurling him through the air to the cold hard ground below.  Immediately James sensed pain.  Corporal Thomas Rycroft assisted James and his horse finding a resting spot for James to gather his senses.

When they arrived back to camp, James complained over the pain he was feeling.  He thought it was his kidneys.  He also complained about soreness of joints and muscles brought upon by the dire cold.  James did not report the incident but there were witnesses.  He sent Cpl. Rycroft - his tent mate - after medicine.

In another incident - do not have the story to share - James left eye was destroyed by a stick/branch.  He lost complete use in that eye to the point that the eye atrophied leaving in the cavity a whitened stump.  All of these incidents bear oral testimonials (found below).

When James returned home he suffered from Rheumatism (from exposure to harsh elements), enlarged prostate gland, and Varicocele (enlarged vein in scrotum - damaged left testicle - this due to being thrown on to saddle of horse).   He continued to work his farm but over time his ailments became worse to the point that he could no longer perform manual labor.  He lived at the farm the remainder of his days and was granted a pension of $12 per month - but never any recompense for his varicocele.

His son Oliver worked the farm in agreement with James and Esther.  This he continued to do until James' death.  James' daughter Edith had worked as a schoolteacher but resigned and returned home to care for her ailing parents.  She was paid $2 per month for her troubles.

Towards the end James - unable to work - grew worse.  His enlarged prostate and testicular vein caused him much pain when passing water and caused him unrest as he had to get up 10 times a night to pass water.

James died from Typhoid Fever in 1903.  He left no life insurance and very little to his wife Esther.  Her story post-James will continue after the following section.