Eighteen year-old James Gorton enlisted in the 67th New York, 1st Long Island Volunteers on May 12, 1861 at New York City as Private in Company E.
He was promoted to Corporal on September 30, 1862, Sergeant on March 1, 1863, and re-enlisted on Christmas Day the same year.
Gorton was listed as POW after the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6,1864. He was returned to ranks on June 21, 1864 and transferred into Company E of the 65th New York Infantry on September 1st the same year.
Information provided by the New York State Library, Albany NY