Hugh
James Wesley Thomas, H/42Va, has no compiled service record in the National Archives. The information about him is principally drawn from muster rolls of the 42nd Va at the University of Virginia, which were not available to the compilers of the service records; his pension applications, which provide the date and nature of his Gettysburg wound; and Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M598, 145 rolls); War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives, Washington, D.C., which is where I found the reference to his capture at South Mountain and transfer to Ft. Delaware. The link is through Ancestry.com to the page in M598 that lists him. Here is the information that I have collected on him.

THOMAS, JAMES WESLEY: Pvt., Co. H. Born Campbell County, Ga., 4/11/38. 1860 cen., age 21, miller, Patrick County. Enl. 5/22/61, Spoon Creek, Patrick County. AWOL from unit and apprehended by 7/15/61 when jailed, Rocky Mount, Franklin County. There to 7/19/61. Present in unit 10/31/61, 12/31/61, and 2/28/62. Hospitalized, sick, by 7/19-21/62 when absent from unit. Detailed, detached service, by 11/1/62 when absent from unit. Detailed, sent home to get clothing for company by 12/31/62 when absent from unit. Wd., right arm by "a Minnie ball, fracturing the radius, near elbow joint," Gettysburg, 7/2/63. Captured South Mountain, Pa., 7/4/63. Confined Ft. McHenry, Md., 7/9/63; there until sent to Fort Delaware, Del., 7/63. Ordered 4/4/64 to be transferred to C.S. Navy and to report to Commander Frederick Chatard at Orange C.H. Order for transfer to C.S. Navy repeated 4/16/64, with assignment to take effect 4/14/64. No further record. Postwar farmer, Franklin County, 1880. Applied for pension there 8/2/86. Farmer, Giles County, 1900-1910. Changed first name from James to John after 1900 by 9/5/1902 when he reapplied for pension, age 64, in Giles County, and there again, age 67, 4/2/1906. Died, dropsy, Poplar Hill, Giles County, 4/19/1915. Buried as James W. Thomas, Shannon Cem., Giles County, off Rt. 100, just past Pulaski County line, going north.

860/00/00 Cen James W. Thomas, 21, miller, Patrick Co. Born Ga. Personal estate value: $25. Wife: Nancy, 18. [42Va: 10e]
863/07/04 James W. Thomas, Pvt., H/42Va., captured South Mountain. [42Va: 340, 53164]
863/07/09 James W. Thomas, Pvt., H/42Va., confined Ft. McHenry; sent to Ft. Delaware, 7/63. [42Va: 340, 53164]
880/00/00 Cen James W. Thomas, 41, farmer, Brown Hill Disttict, Franklin Co. Born Va. Wife: Sintha A., 40. [42Va: 343]
886/08/02 Applied for pension in Franklin Co.: wd., "right arm [by "a Minnie ball, fracturing the radius, near elbow joint"]," Gettysburg 863/07/02 [42Va: 9d5d]. Wd. Gettysburg [42Va: 12MP-3]
900/00/00 Cen James W. Thomas, 60, farmer, Walker’s District, Giles Co. Born Ga. 4/39. Wife: Cynthia A., 59. Married 22 years. 3 children, 3 living. [42Va: 344]
902/09/05 John W. Thomas applied for pension, age 64, in Giles Co. Born Campbell Co. Enl. Penn's Store, Patrick Co. Wd., in forearm, 863/07/02 [42Va: 9c18]
906/04/02 John W. Thomas applied for pension, age 67, in Giles Co. Wd., right forearm, 863/07/02 [42Va: 9b15]
910/00/00 Cen John W. Thomas, 71, farmer, Walker’s Creek District, Giles Co. Born Ga. 2d Wife: Cynthia A., 69. Married 38 years. 3 children, 3 living. [42Va: 344]
923/04/16 Widow, Cynthia Ann Thomas, applied for pension in Pulaski Co. She gave his unit as G/42Va. Married 874/05/04 in Henry Co. He Dd postwar, dropsy, Poplar Hill, Giles Co., 915/04/19 [42Va: 9c21]
999/99/92 James Wesley Thomas born Ga. 838/04/11; died Poplar Hill, Giles Co., 915/04/19. Buried Shannon Cem., Giles Co., off Rt. 100, just past Pulaski Co. line, going north. Father: Eli, 1800 -. Mother: Elisa, 1800 -. Wife 1: Elizabeth J., 1839 -. Wife 2: Cynthia Ann Stanley, 1840-1934. Was a widower from Ga., with three sons, who had fought in the Civil War and had been a POW in NY during the war when he married Cynthia Ann Stanely [874/05/04, in Henry Co.]. Could not find his relatives in Ga. after the war. [3651z]
999/99/95 James W. Thomas born Campbell Co., Ga. 5/39. Father Elisia. Mother, Elizabeth. Wife: Nancy Ann Stone,1842-1874. Married Henry Co., Va., 858/09/19. [3651m] NOSEPFILE