James Brewerton Ricketts graduated 16th in his class of 31 from the United States Military Academy. His branch of service was the artillery.
Ricketts spent almost three decades in the U.S. Army. After graduating from West Point in 1839, he fought in the Mexican and Seminole Wars and served in various garrisons in the antebellum army. Promoted to captain in 1852, he held that rank at the outbreak of the Civil War.
He commanded an artillery battery at First Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Shot four times during the battle, he fell into Confederate hands. He was exchanged in January, 1862, and on April 30, he received his commission as Brigadier General. Initially assigned to command of a brigade in the Army of the Rappahannock, Ricketts succeeded to division command in June.
He led his division, a part of General John Pope's Army of Virginia, at Cedar Mountain, where his men covered the Union retreat and at Second Bull Run, where he spent much of the time marching and counter-marching. He was then given a division in the I Corps and led it during the Antietam Campaign. There, Ricketts had two horses killed under him, suffering serious injury when the second fell on him.
Ricketts did not return to field command for more than nineteen months. On April 4, 1864, Ricketts assumed command of a division in the VI Corps, leading this veteran unit in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
Early in July, Ricketts' division was sent north to Washington, D.C., to intercept General Jubal Early's approaching Confederates. At Monocacy, Maryland, on July 9, his soldiers bore the brunt of the battle that delayed the Confederates for twenty-four vital hours. His command suffered 595 casualties out of a total Union loss of 677. The remainder of the VI Corps soon joined Ricketts and the entire command participated in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. At Cedar Creek, on October 19, Ricketts temporarily commanded the corps and suffered a disabling wound in the chest. He returned to duty only two days before the Confederates surrendered at Appomattox.
Brevetted a major general in the Regular Army, Ricketts remained in the service until January, 1867, when he retired because of his wounds. He performed court martial duty until 1869. He died in the District of Columbia on September 22, 1887.
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