Faces of the 12th Virginia Infantry ("Petersburg Regiment"): James Edward Tyler, Conducted 12th's Only Execution

Caption:  James Edward Tyler

Credit:  American Civil War Museum

Private James Edward Tyler may have stood in the ranks of the Richmond Grays with John Wilkes Booth at John Brown's hanging at Charles Town, Virginia in 1859.  At that time, the Grays belonged to the 1st Virginia Infantry.  Tyler was a building contractor in civilian life.  In 1861 the Grays were transferred to the 12th Virginia Infantry and sent to Norfolk, becoming the 12th's Company G.  Tyler rose through the ranks and reached the rank of captain by January 1863.  He commanded the bridge detail at Germanna Ford attacked on April 29, 1863 by the vanguard of the Federal army heading for Chancellorsville.  By November 1863, he had been exchanged and was charged with the execution of the only one of the 12th's soldiers ever shot for cowardice.  Tyler assumed command of the sharpshooter battalion of Mahone's Brigade on May 6, 1864, after the battalion's previous commander took charge of the 12th.  (At the same time the 12th's previous commander became its brigadier, the former brigadier William Mahone rose to division command and Fighting Dick Anderson, the former division commander, assumed command of Longstreet's Corps after Old Pete's wounding that day.)  Though wounded on May 24, 1864 when the division sharpshooters helped rout Ledlie's brigade of Burnside's Corps at the North Anna, Tyler returned to the ranks and surrendered at Appomattox.