The date of death inscribed for James was based on the opinion of the doctor who tended to James before his companions were forced to leave him behind.

JAMES BARR stayed at home and helped his father on the farm.  He was a great singer and violinist, and found much enjoyment in it.  He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 in the same company (B) as his brother.  In 1864 [sic] he was shot through the breast, and died.  He fills an unknown grave.  One of his comrades, who was with him when he was shot, said it was one of the hardest things he ever did to leave him behind.  He was the boss cook for the company, and a noble soldier.  He was born August 21, 1839, and died January 4, 1865.

Mr. P. M. Mathews, of Warren, Iowa, who was a comrade of James, and with him when he was shot, writes:

"We started from Memphis, Tennessee, about the 18th of December, 1864, on a cavalry raid commanded by General Griesson with twenty-five hundred men.  On January 6, 1865, we camped at Mechanicsburg, and started early on the morning of the 7th for Vicksburg.  When we had gone two or three miles, we stopped at a pond by the roadside to water our horses, and the rebels commenced firing upon us.  Our company was ordered to drive them back, while the rest of the command continued to water the horses.  Our company was formed between the pond and the enemy.

"We were firing briskly at long range, when James was shot through the stomach.  I was on his left side and John Merritt was on his right side.  We caught him, and I held him on the horse and Merritt led the horse away.  We took him about one-fourth of a mile to a house, and the doctor (Maxwell, of Keokuk) removed the ball, which was lodged under the skin, near the spinal column.  The lady of the house said her husband was a physician, and promised to take care of him.  We put him in bed and undressed him, when the rebels drove us from the house, the rest of the command having gone on.  The surgeon said he could not live more than a day or so.  Not being able to take him along he was left in the hands of the enemy, and that is the last known of him."

He may have died there, or been killed outright by the rebels.  It was a very sad affliction to the family, but he died in a good cause and with his face to the foe, and fills an honorable but unknown grave.

page 855: On the morning of the 3d of January we moved out, in the advance, at 7 a. m., and had some skirmishing to Mechanicsburg.  After camping at Mechanicsburg on the morning of the 4th of January, this command had the rear of the main columnn, and was soon again engaged in skirmishing with the enemy near the Ponds.  I lost one man, mortally wounded, James Barr, private, Company B.