James M. Perkins was a resident of Mansfield on August 19, 1861 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. H of the 7th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; he was wounded June 16, 1862 at James Island, South Carolina and discharged for disability September 22, 1862. The July 4, 1862 issue of The Willimantic Journal reported that James N. Perkins of Mansfield, a member of Co. H., 7th Connecticut Volunteers Regiment was seriously wounded in the back by a rifle shot. The 7^th C.V.I. loss in the disastrous battle on James Island resulted in 11 killed, 4 prisoners and 67 wounded. In the July 11, 1862 issue of The Willimantic Journal , it was reported that James M. Perkins of Mansfield and Benj. E. Sanford of Willimantic, both wounded soldiers of the Conn. 7^th, have arrived at a hospital in New York.

“Benj. E. Sanford, of Willimantic, and James M. Perkins, of Mansfield, wounded soldiers of the Conn. 7th, have arrived in New York. By a recent regulation soldiers arriving in New York are not forwarded to their homes, but sent to the hospitals in that vicinity.”

The Willimantic Journal, Friday, July 11, 1862

He was born about 1835 in Connecticut and married ______. His 1865 death record stated that he left one child, Ella, who was one year old, giving her a birth year of about 1864.

On April 4, 1863, he applied for an invalid pension, No. 16,882 that was granted under certificate No. 15,150. Pension applications were later filed by his widow and for his minor child.

James M. Perkins died September 29, 1865, 30 years, 4 months and 7 days old. The cause of death was tuberculosis and phthisis, induced by the wound received in battle. He is buried at the Old Mansfield Center Cemetery in Mansfield.