John F. Lytton was born in May, 1830, in Augusta County, Virginia. He was the brother of Diana Agnes Lytton, my great-great-great grandmother. He lived in a part of Augusta County called “Long Glade” and was a cooper by trade.

At the age of thirty he enlisted in the Confederate Army on April 17, 1861, at Staunton, Virginia. He joined Company C of the Fifth Virginia Infantry Regiment (which became part of the Stonewall Brigade). He was promoted to corporal very quickly and to sergeant in December, 1861. In April, 1862, John F. Lytton was promoted to Second Lieutenant and commanded the company at battles of Front Royal and Winchester.

From October to December, 1862, he was on sick leave. Little exists of his record until May 10, 1864, when he was captured at Spotsylvania Courthouse and sent to Fort Delaware. In August, 1864, Lt. Lytton was sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina where he became part of the “Immortal 600”. Confederate officers who were used by Union forces as a human shield to prevent Confederate gunners in Charleston from shelling Morris Island. Guarded by Black Union soldiers, these officers were, were starved, and given no medical care. Many died from disease and starvation.

At some point in 1864 Lt. Lytton was moved to Fort Pulaski in Georgia, but was returned to Hilton Head, South Carolina on November 19, 1864, where he remained until being returned to Fort Delaware in March 1865. He was released from Fort Delaware on June 16, 1865, after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

John F. Lytton returned to his home in Staunton, Virginia, where he lived until June 10, 1908. He had three brothers who served in the same infantry unit with him. All survived the war and all were coopers like him.