You might want to visit my webpage devoted to Col. Gillespie's 43rd Tennessee Regiment, Volunteers which served both as an infantry regiment and then as a cavalry regiment.

Please check it out at:

http://webpages.charter.net/43tenn

The following is personal information on him in my roster:

Gillespie, James Wendell, Colonel, Co. B, born August 9, 1819, native of Rhea Co., Tenn., Pvt., Co. H, 1st Tenn. Regiment of Mounted Infantry from Washington Co. in the Mexican War, commended for gallentry at Battle of Cerro Gorda, physician, married to Nancy Brazelton, of Jefferson Co., Tenn. in 1857, member of the state legislature who voted against secession, appointed Assistant Inspector General on the staff of Governor Harris May 1861, enlisted as Pvt. Co. G, December 10, 1861, elected Colonel December 14, 1862, detailed on Court Martial at Knoxville, Tenn. November 1862, captured and paroled at Vicksburg July 4-9, 1863, twice wounded, returned to Washington, Tenn. after the close of the war where it is believed he resumed the practice of medicine and instructing medical students, prewar merchantiler and livestock trader, past Master of the Union Lodge F. & A. M. of Kingston, Tenn., died October 10, 1873, buried Mynatt Cemetery in Washington, Rhea Co., Tenn., two children (M268 Roll 291, 102, Chattin, 138, 139, 162-JG Thomison, Rhea Co., 169, http://home.earthlink.net/~tomboduch/u38/history.html) [Daniel Sutherland records Melissa E. Gillespie as wife of Col. James G. Gillespie who commanded the 43rd (144)]
Maj. Gen., 1st Div, Tenn. State Militia

Capt. 1st Tenn. Mt. Inf. , Co. H, Gillespie’s Co., mustered into service June 14, 1846 at Washington Co., Tenn. as 1st Lt., promoted to Capt. in place of R. Waterhouse, elected Major 6 July 1846, mustered out at New Orleans May 31, 1847 (M638 Roll 4)

I believe a descendent served in the Tennessee legislature in recent history.