James R. Griffin enlisted in the "Monticello Guards," Co. I, 1st Arkansas Infantry, at Monticello, Arkansas, on May 8, 1861; age 21; and was mustered into Confederate service at Lynchburg, Virginia, on May 19, 1861, for twelve months. Along with the rest of his regiment, he reenlisted at Camp Price, Aquia Creek, Virginia, on January 24, 1862, for two years; and subsequently reenlisted at Tunnel Hill, Georgia, January 10, 1864, for three years or the war. He was named to the Roll of Honor (the Confederate equivalent of the U.S. Medal of Honor) on August 10, 1864, for heroism at the battle of Chickamauga. He was wounded and captured at the terrible battle of Franklin, Tennessee, on December 17, 1864; his right arm was amputated in a field hospital there, and then he was sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, as a prisoner of war. He was exchanged at City Point, Virginia, and furloughed for thirty days on March 13, 1865. The war ended soon after he was furloughed, so there is no further military record of him.