From the statement of James's son, Elijah, given in 1832, the family had moved to Montgomery Co., VA, where they resided at the commencement of the Revolutionary War.  James and his five sons; Micajah, Elisha, Isaac, Sutherland, and Elijah, joined the Revolutionary War on the same day. They enlisted in Albamarie Co., VA, and in 1778 followed General George Rogers Clark north to take the British garrison at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, IL.  In a daring and historical mid-winter march on Vincennes in early 1779, the regiment of 175 officers and men surprised and obtained the British surrender of the fort and 700 officers and troops.
  After the war, James and 3 son returned to Tennessee, where they continued to fight the indians. James, Sutherland, Isaac and Sutherland's son, William were killed in Creek Indian raids in the vicinity of present-day Nashville, TN.