Background
James W. McMillan was born on April 28, 1825 in Clark County, Kentucky. He was the son of Robert and Nancy (Winning) McMillan.
James W. McMillan was born on April 28, 1825 in Clark County, Kentucky. He was the son of Robert and Nancy (Winning) McMillan.
At the age of twenty-one he enlisted for the Mexican War, serving in the 4th Illinois Infantry and in the 3rd Battalion, Louisiana Volunteers, Fiescas Regiment. Upon being discharged he went to Indiana and engaged in business. When President Lincoln called for volunteers to preserve the Union, McMillan organized the 21st Indiana Infantry Regiment and was sent as its colonel to Louisiana, where he took part in the operations resulting in the opening of the Mississippi River. General Butler, commanding the Department of the Gulf, had a high opinion of McMillan's ability as a leader and placed him in charge of several independent expeditions. In May 1862 McMillan led forces that captured a large quantity of Confederate stores at Berwick Bay, and a blockade runner, the steamer Fox. In June he was wounded in an encounter with guerrillas. September found him back with his men and in command of a reinforced brigade that routed Waller's Texas Cavalry near St. Charles Court House. An expedition to Donaldsonville, La. , narrowly escaped destruction by being withdrawn under his excellent leadership. His regiment was now stationed at Baton Rouge and reorganized as the 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery. McMillan was promoted to brigadier-general in November 1862 and assigned to the command of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XIX Corps. In General Banks's Red River expedition in the spring of 1864 the 1st Division arrived on the battlefield at Sabine's Crossroads, La. , as the Union troops were fleeing in confusion. McMillan's brigade did its share in stopping the Confederates and driving them from the field. Later, at Pleasant Hill, McMillan's command broke up the attack on the retreating column. Moved to Virginia in July 1864, his brigade took an active part in the Shenandoah Valley campaign. At Winchester he formed line of battle in the midst of disorganized and panic-stricken troops. By keeping control of his regiments, he was able to maneuver in conjunction with the VI Corps in such manner as to drive the Confederates from that part of the field. When, a month later, General Early succeeded in surprising the left and rear of Sheridan's Army near Cedar Creek, Va. , McMillan, now commanding the 1st Division, XIX Corps, deployed it at right angles to his former front. It held the position and gained time for troops in rear to get into line. McMillan's men then gave ground, fighting as they went. McMillan was now placed in command of the 1st Division of the Department of West Virginia with headquarters at Grafton. He was brevetted a major-general of volunteers in March 1865 and resigned from the service May 15, 1865. For a time after the war he resided in Kansas, but in 1875 he moved to Washington, D. C. , to become a member of the Board of Review in the Pension Office. He held this position until his death in 1903.
McMillan was a man of great personal bravery, a tenacious fighter, and a strict disciplinarian.
McMillan was twice married: in 1858 to Olivia Ames at Lawrenceburg, and in 1860 to Minerva Foote of Bedford. A daughter, Minerva, was born of the second marriage.