James was born October 5, 1811 on Governors Island, New York to George Bomford and Louisa Sophia Catton, daughter of noted English artist Charles P. Catton. They had four children, George Newman Bomford, James Vote Bomford, Jr., Elizabeth Bernardine "Lilly" Bomford, and Fredrika Augusta Bomford.
Military service
Voty Bomford served gallantly in the Black Hawk War and the Seminole War; was in all the major battles of the Mexican war, being the first man to plant the American flag on the citadel of the City of Mexico; and the Civil War. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 8th infantry when Fort Sumter was fired upon, and was held as a prisoner from April, 1861 to May, 1862 for failure to agree not to fight against the South. After release, he was assigned as executive officer of the Sixteenth Infantry under the command of Colonel Andrew Porter.
Military history
Bomford left West Point as a brevet Second Lieutenant of the 2d Infantry on July 1, 1832 and participated in the Black Hawk expedition. He was promoted to 2nd Lt. of the 2d Infantry 6 October 1834 and participated in the Florida war from 1837–38. He was stationed on the Northern frontier during Canada–US border disturbances. Promoted to First Lieutenant, he became Adjutant of the 8th Infantry at Sackett's Harbor, New York. Still in the 8th Infantry, he was promoted to Captain March 4, 1845. In this capacity he served in the war with Mexico and engaged in the Battle of Palo Alto, Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Battle of Monterey, Siege of Vera Cruz, Battle of Cerro Gordo, the capture of San Antonio and the resulting Battle of Churubusco, and the Battle of Molino del Rey. During this battle that included Bomford, General Worth ordered the 500 men of the U.S. 8th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Major George Wright, to initiate the advance against the army of General Santa Ana that had four thousand cavalry and a force of 14,000 men, against the 2800 men General Worth commanded. The battle of Molino del Rey, that was two miles from Mexico City, preceded the Battle of Chapultepec. This is the battle that resulted in the capture of Mexico City, the placement of the American flag by Bomford, and the end of the war. He was brevetted Major August 20, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco, and brevetted Lt. Col. September 8, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey. Assigned to Fort Davis, Texas and attached to the 6th Infantry, Bomford was promoted to Major on October 17, 1860. When the Civil War started, he refused to agree not to fight against the South, and along with his regiment was taken prisoner. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel January 10, 1862 and assigned to the 16th Infantry, and was the Chief of Staff to Major General Alexander M. McCook, a member of the famed "Fighting McCook" family of Ohio; in this capacity he fought at Perryville, Kentucky and was wounded twice. Bomford was brevetted Colonel October 8, 1862, for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Perryville. He was assigned as acting assistant Provost Marshal General of Western Division of Pennsylvania, May 30, 1863 to July 31, 1864; he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to the 8th Infantry May 18, 1864. Bomford also served: in command of the District of North Carolina from September 20, 1866 to April, 1867; the regiment at Raleigh, North Carolina from April, 1867 to May 18, 1868; of the District of South Carolina from May 18, 1868 to October 23, 1870; of regiment at Davids' Island, New York Harbor, from November 5, 1870 to July 5, 1872; as Acting Inspector in the Department of the Platte, at Omaha, Nebraska from July 15 to October 1, 1872; in command of regiment at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming from October 5, 1872 to November 26, 1873; and on sick leave of absence from November 16, 1873 to June 8, 1874. Eventually, Rodman Guns were set up on the island that Bomford had commanded, 1870–72. Davids' Island, formerly called Rodman's Island, had once belonged to relatives along with nearby Rodman's Neck. Rodman's guns were improvements to the Columbiads that Bomford's father had invented. Under the law, and being over the age of 62, Brigadier General James Bomford was retired from duty June 8, 1872 after 43 distinguished years of service.
