James Smith enlisted in Frederick Co., Maryland in late 1776 and participated in a skirmish at Quibbletown, New Jersey. History records several skirmishes there in early 1777, and it's not certain which one James refers to in his pension declaration.

His unit was later called out in the late summer of 1781 and he was at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. He then guarded and escorted prisoners to Frederick Maryland and was soon discharged.

He married Margaret Truax in January 1783, and they later moved to Adair Co., Kentucky and Gibson Co., Indiana where his grave is marked: "Jas. Smith, 12 VA Regt. Rev. War"