James Cantey was born on December 30, 1818 in Camden, South Carolina. After graduating from South Carolina College, where he was a member of the Euphradian Society, he studied law and was admitted to the state bar in 1840, and set up practice in Camden. Cantey became politically active and was elected to two terms from Kershaw County as a state legislator in South Carolina, starting November 23, 1846.
Mexican–American War
He served as an officer in the Palmetto Regiment in the Mexican–American War, rising to the grade of captain. He was severely wounded during the war. Cantey was left among the dead, but when his enslaved servant retrieved his body to bury at home, he saw faint signs of life in the officer. His enslaved worker saved Cantey's life. Cantey offered to free the man, but he refused. After the end of the Mexican–American War, Cantey moved to Alabama, where he bought land and became a planter in Russell County.
James Cantey helped form and was elected colonel of the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment in 1861, in which he organized "Cantey's Rifles". In 1862, he led the regiment in Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. At the First Battle of Winchester, on May 25, 1862, Cantey's regiment fought in Brigadier GeneralIsaac Trimble's brigade of Major General Richard S. Ewell's division and helped turn back the Union Army advance. At the Battle of Cross Keys, the 15th Alabama Infantry was nearly cut off from the main force but fought their way back. Later, as part of Trimble's attack, the 15th Regiment Alabama Infantry helped flank the Union force and drive them back. The regiment fought with Jackson in the Seven Days Battles in the Richmond, Virginia area. Thereafter, Cantey was detached and sent to Mobile, Alabama from January 1863 through April 1864, where he organized a brigade of three Alabama regiments and one Mississippi regiment. Then, Cantey was transferred to the Army of Tennessee. He was appointed a brigadier general to rank from January 8, 1863. He was frequently absent from his command due to illness but also led a division for short period of time in May and June 1864. His brigade fought in the Atlanta Campaign and Franklin–Nashville Campaign. When present, he led the brigade with distinction, such as when his brigade held off a much larger Union force at the Battle of Resaca, Georgia. Cantey and his brigade fought at General Joseph E. Johnston's last battle, the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina. Cantey's brigade surrendered with Johnston's forces at Durham Station, North Carolina. Although Longacre states that Cantey surrendered with Johnston, Eicher and Warner state that no record of Brigadier General Cantey's capture or parole has been found.
