Little is known about the life of James M. Melton. Melton was born in Morgan County, Tennessee March 26, 1832. He never married and lived most of his life in Roane County, Tennessee working as a lumber dealer. When war broke out he enrolled as Captain of Company B of the 2nd Tennessee on August 20, 1861. He quickly rose through the ranks. Captain Melton was promoted to Major on April 1, 1862 replacing Eli Matthew Cleveland. On October 18, 1862 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel replacing John Bowman.

The few references we find about Lieutenant Colonel Melton indicate he was a capable officer and served well as second in command. He commanded the regiment at Stones River and also was in command of the regiment after the resignation of Colonel Carter on May 2, 1864 until his honorable discharge due to expiration of service on October 8, 1864. Although Melton was on an approved 25-day leave during the Battle of Rogersville, his overall record indicates both dependable and commendable service to his men.

Although there are no known likenesses of James Melton, we know from his pension file that he was 5'11'' tall with dark complexion and dark hair. Near the end of his life about 1919 he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. He died there at ninety years of age on February 1, 1923 of paralysis, old age and heart trouble. He is buried in Bethel-Kingston Cemetery at Kingston in Roane County. 

Just about all the information about James M. Melton is from his pension file at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.