PVT James H. Argenbright

PVT James H. Argenbright was born in 1841 near Arbor Hill in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the 3rd of the 13 children of John Augustus and Jane (Dunlap) Argenbright. His father farmed there and may have worked as a distiller of rye whiskey but in 1860 was primarily working as a cooper together with James' older brother, David. 

James enlisted at nearby West View, Virginia on 29 Apr 1861 just 12 days after Virginia voted for succession. He then mustered with F Company 5th Virginia Infantry on 17 May 1861. He was with the unit at Harper's Ferry, the Battle of Falling Waters and, on 21 Jul 1861, the First Battle of Manassas. He was wounded at Manassas but recovered to the point that he returned to F Company on 15 Oct 1861. James was present with the unit as it fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign in the spring and summer of 1862. PVT Argenbright was with his unit at Seven Days, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, Second Manassas, and the Siege of Harper's Ferry. Then the army moved into Maryland and met the Federal units at Sharpsburg, the deadliest battle to that date. PVT James Argenbright was wounded there and evacuated to J. H. Groves farm where he died of his wound(s) on 6 Oct 1862. 

It is believed that PVT Argenbright was ultimately buried in the Washington Confederate Cemetery at Hagerstown, Maryland.

An uncle and 2 brothers also served in F Company 5th Virginia. Uncle Andrew Jackson Argenbright served as a PVT from 1861 until captured at Spottsylvania Court House in May 1864 and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. Brothers, CPL David Francis Argenbright and PVT Levi Argenbright also served, David enlisting in 1861 and Levi in 1864.