Colley, Thomas W., 1837-1919
Dates
- Existence: 1837 - 1919
Biographical Note
Thomas W. Colley (1837-1919) served in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He enlisted in May 1861 as a private in the 1st Virginia Cavalry, Company D (2nd), referred to also as the Washington Mounted Rifles, as this company hailed from Washington County, VA. Colley was wounded multiple times during the course of the war. Most seriously, at Kelly's Ford in 1863, he was shot near the stomach on the left side; the ball passed clean through his body and emerged near his spine. He recovered and returned to his division. He finished the war with the rank of 2nd Corporal. Following the war, Colley returned to Abingdon, VA and held the following positions for Washington County, VA: Deputy Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, and Overseer for the Poor. He died in 1919.
Citation:
Driver, Robert J., Jr. 1st Virginia Cavalry. Lynchburg, VA: H. E. Howard, Inc., 1991.Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Thomas W. Colley Collection,
The Thomas W. Colley Collection contains correspondence, financial documents, such as ledgers, receipts, and deeds, temperance society sermons, electoral cards, a Veteran's Meeting minute book, Civil War reminiscences, and a roll for the First Virginia Company D Volunteer Cavalry's wounded and dead for 1861. The majority of the collection dates from 1860 to 1920.