Sixth Generation

1611. Elbert Coffey was born on 3 January 1837 in Buffalo Cove, Watauga Co., NC.¹⁵⁰⁹ He lived with his parents in the Patterson District in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 19 July 1860. Elbert enlisted in Co. E, 58th NC Inf. Regt. on 5 July 1862 at Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.⁵⁹⁴⁷ Elbert died in Big Creek Gap, Campbell Co., TN on 15 May 1863 from disease and was buried at Delap Cemetery in La Follette, Campbell Co., TN on 15 May 1863 .^{5948,5949,5950,5951}

Confederate Grave Yard found in Campbell County

Two women’s efforts lead to discovery of burial ground

For some forgotten soldiers in Campbell County, it took the chance meeting of two women to uncover a treasure trove of history.

Alice Coker knew the cemetery was there and that Bob Delay and several others kept it in excellent shape until the 1960s. Coker used to visit the cemetery and always wondered why there were so many sunken graves and who was buried in them. Bob Delay told her he had heard that there was a Civil War encampment at the foot of Pine Mountain near a big spring and that many of the soldiers had sickened and died.

Coker says, “I always thought I’d find time to do some research but I never did.”

Some 40 years later the second piece of the puzzle dropped into her lap. In December 2002 a woman by the name of Leda Cornett from North Carolina walked into the Campbell County Historical Museum and said she believed that her grandfather was buried in Delap Cemetery. Sara Chaniott was on duty that day and was one of the few people who knew about the old neglected cemetery. Sara called Alice and Alice said “Please send the lady to my house as soon as possible.”

From the visitor Coker learned that records showed members of the 58th Regiment of the Confederate Army of North Carolina [1] were buried at Delap. From these bits of information an image began to swirl into focus.

“The winter of 1862-1863 at Delay was a very harsh winter,” Coker found after doing more research. “Over 1000 men came from Cumberland Gap, where two Tennesseans had joined the troops [2] . (The regiment was formed at Camp Martin in Mitchell County, NC.). The regiment was assigned to guard Big Creek Gap. [3] ”

Records show that a total of 50 men died while camped in the Jacksboro area.

Recently, county prisoners, under the supervision of Environmental Officer Glennis Monday, began the slow arduous process of clearing the ground. Eighty loads of brush have been removed from the cemetery. The needs for preserving this cemetery, however, are still many: including chemicals to kill the roots of plants that have been cut down, road work, fill dirt, and a fence with a strong gate. Bob Andreas, County Veterans’ Service Officer, made arrangements for the fifty military headstones which have already been delivered.

This Memorial Day these once “lost” soldiers can rest in peace. Although they were never completely forgotten, their remains will soon be marked with tombstones after more than 140 years. Now, their families have a place to come and honor their ancestors thanks to two determined women who never forgot.

A fund has been set up at Peoples Nation Bank, Civil War- Delay, 2300 Jacksboro Pike, P.O. Box 1221, Lafollette, TN 37766.

The following list is the fifty men from the North Carolina 58th Regiment (Confederate) who are believed to have died and are buried in Delay Cemetery, Campbell County, TN.

BAIRD, John H. Private (Company D)
Enlisted in Watauga County on June 7, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN prior to March 2, 1863. Date and cause of death not reported.

BAKER, Newton A., Private (Company B)
Born in Yancey County and enlisted in Mitchell County at age 25, May 17, 1862. Mustered in as Private. Reported present in January-February 1863. Promoted to Corporal prior to March 1, 1863. Reduced in rank on an unspecified date. Died at Jacksboro, TN March 24, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

BROWN, William L, Private (Company H)
Resided in Watauga County where he enlisted on August 5, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died in hospital at Jacksboro, TN March 18, 1863, of “brain fever”.

BURLESON, Jason E., Private, (Company K, Previously Company E)
Previously served as Private in Company E of this regiment. Transferred to this company on or about July 29, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, February 5, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

CRAWFORD, James M, Private (Company C)
Born in Yancey County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Yancey County on July 12, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 21, 1863 of disease. Was 25 years of age at the time of his death.

COFFEY, Elbert, Private (Company E)
Born in Caldwell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Caldwell County at age 25, July 5 1862. Reported present in January – April 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, May 15, 1863 of disease.

COFFEY, Jesse F., Private (Company E)
Born in Caldwell County where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in Caldwell County at the age of 20, July 25, 1862. Reported present in January – February 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, March 7, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

EGGERS, Adam, Corporal (Company D)
Born on July 23, 1831. Resided in Watauga County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Watauga County at age 30, July 7, 1862. Promotion record not reported. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 2, 1863 of “fever”.

FRANKLIN, Samuel D., Private (Company A)
Enlisted on December 30, 1861. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, prior to March 20, 1863. Date and cause of death not reported.

GARLAND, Hodge R., Private (Company B)
Born in Burke County and resided in Mitchell or Yancey County where he was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Mitchell County at age 52, May 17, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 30, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

GLENN, Dudley G., Private (Company D)
Resided in Watauga County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Watauga County at age 21, June 27, 1862. Died in Tennessee in October, 1862 of “sickness”.

GREEN, Larkin, Private (Company E)
Previously served as Private in Company D of this regiment. Transferred to this company on or about July 29, 1862. Died at Cumberland Gap, TN or Big Creek Gap, TN on or about November 18, 1862. Cause of death not reported.

GRIFFIN, Stephen R., Private (Company G)
Born in Stanly County and resided in Caldwell County where he was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Caldwell County on July 16, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died in hospital at Jacksboro, TN, April 1, 1863. Cause of death not reported. Was 25 years of age at the time of his death.

GRUBB, Phillip H., Private (Company D)
Enlisted in Watauga County on November 7, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at “Jackson” (probably Jacksboro) TN, February 27, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

HARTLEY, Nathan, Private (Company E)
Resided in Caldwell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting at “Alexander” at age 28, July 5, 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN on an unspecified date (probably in the autumn of 1862). Cause of death not reported.

HAYES, Jacob S., Private (Company D)
Born in Watauga County where he enlisted on July 7, 1862. Died in Tennessee prior to February 4, 1863. Date and cause of death not reported.

HICKS, Harmon, Private (Company D)
Born in Watauga County where he enlisted on June 27, 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN prior to March 2, 1863. Date and cause of death not reported.

HORN, Hilliard, Private (Company B)
Resided in Mitchell or Yancey County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Mitchell County at the age of 36. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Jacksboro, TN, March 11, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

HUNTER, John W., Private (Company C)
Born in Burke County and resided in Yancey County where he was by occupation a carpenter or farmer prior to enlisting in Yancey County at age 18, May 29, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 4, 1863 of “fever”.

JANES, Losen M., Private (Company F)
Enlisted at Cumberland Gap, TN, September 30, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, February 27, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

JEMERSON, John, Private (Company F)
Born in McDowell County where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in McDowell County at age 24, July 14, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, February 11, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

JOHNSON, Jacob, Sr., Private (Company D)
Enlisted in Watauga County on June 27, 1862. Transferred to Company I of this regiment on or about July 24, 1862. Transferred back to this company prior to December 22, 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN prior to March 11, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

JOHNSON, Madison, Private (Company D)
Resided in Watauga County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Watauga County at age 44, June 27, 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN prior to March 2, 1863. Date and cause of death not reported.

JONES, Larkin G., Private (Company M)
Enlisted in Watauga County on September 26, 1862. Died in hospital at Jacksboro, TN, March 31, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

JONES, William, Musician (Company C)
Born in Wilkes County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Yancey County at age 32, May 29, 1862. Mustered in as Musician (Drummer). Appointed Musician (Fifer) on an unspecified date. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 14, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

MASSEY, J.H., Private (Company F)
Enlisted at Cumberland Gap, TN, October 1, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Jacksboro, TN, March 17, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

McINTOSH, William M., Private (Company C)
Enlisted in Yancey County on July 12, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 5, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

McKINNEY, Thomas, Private (Company A)
Resided in Mitchell or McDowell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Mitchell county at age 28, July 16, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN in March 1863 of “fever”.

McVAY, John, Private (Company B)
Born in Yancey County and enlisted in Mitchell County at age 21, May 17, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died in hospital at Jacksboro, TN, March 24, 1863, of “measles”.

MICHAEL, John, Private (Company I)
Enlisted in Watauga County on August 5, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died in hospital at Jacksboro, TN, March 31, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

MILLER, David D., Private (Company I)
Resided in Watauga County and was by occupation a “domestic” prior to enlisting in Watauga County at age 18, July 15, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died in camp at Big Creek Gap, TN, March 7, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

NICHOLS, William A., Private (Company F)
Enlisted in Yancey County on July 12, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Jacksboro, TN, March 15, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

NORRIS, John, Private (Company I)
Resided in Watauga County and was by occupation a “domestic” prior to enlisting in Watauga County at age 18, July 15, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Jacksboro, TN, March 3, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

OWENSBY, Aaron Whitenton, Private (Company F)
Born in McDowell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in McDowell County at age 26, July 14, 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, January 6, 1863, of disease.

PHILLIPS, John W., Private (Company C)
Born in Yancey County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Yancey County at age 20, May 29, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, February 20, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

PHIPPS, Conarah D., Private (Company C)
Born in Yancey County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Yancey County at age 27, May 29, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, January 2, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

PRESNELL, David., Private (Company C)
Born in Yancey County and enlisted in July 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap December 1, 1862 of pneumonia and measles. (Addition to original list submitted by Lowell Presnell, October 2004)

PROFFITT, Jesse, Private (Company I)
Enlisted in Watauga County at age 19, July 15, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, March 29, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

SHEPHERD, Grandison, Private (Company C)
Born in Yancey County where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in Yancey County at age 35, June 16, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, November 20, 1862 of “measles”.

SMITH, James A., Private (Company I)
Enlisted in Watauga County on August 5, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, March 19, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

STEWARD, Joseph, Private (Company A)
Enlisted in Mitchell County on July 18, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Jacksboro, TN, March 31, 1863, of “fever”.

TOWERY, Edward, Private. (Company F)
Born in McDowell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in McDowell County at age 32, July 14, 1862. Died in TN on November 15, 1862 of “measles”.

TREADWAY, William, Private (Company L)
Resided in Ashe County where he enlisted on July 20, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, March 19, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

WATSON, Alfred, Private (Company M)
Enlisted in Watauga County on September 26, 1862. Died at Big Creek Gap, TN, February 19, 1863, of “brain fever”.

WILSON, Edward M., Private (Company C)
Enlisted in Yancey County on May 29, 1862. Died at Jacksboro, TN, February 7, 1863. Cause of death not reported.

The following soldiers died about the same time but does not state place of death:

BAIRD, William J., Sergeant (Company E)
Enlisted in Caldwell County on July 5, 1862. Promotion record not reported. Died prior to January 13, 1863. Place, date, and cause of death not reported.

MILLER, George M., Private (Company I)
Previously served as Private in Company D of this regiment. Transferred to this company on or about August 5, 1862. Died on January 8, 1863. Place and cause of death not reported.

MOODY, Robert, Private (Company E)
Born in Caldwell County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in Caldwell County at age 18, July 5, 1862. Reported present in January-February 1863. Died on March 1, 1863. Place and cause of death not reported.

SEATS, Robert E., Private (Company I)
Resided in Ashe County and was by occupation a day laborer prior to enlisting at age 25, on or about July 24, 1862. Died on an unspecified date (probably in the summer or autumn of 1862). Place and cause of death not reported.

SPARKS, John, Private (Company F)
Born in Burke County and was by occupation a farmer prior to enlisting in McDowell County at age 29, July 14, 1862. Died prior to April 25, 1863. Place, date, and cause of death not reported.

WHITE, William, Private (Company F)
Born in McDowell County where he enlisted at age 34, July 14, 1862. Died on an unspecified date (probably in the summer or fall of 1862). Place and cause of death not reported.

Note from U.S. Thompson: Recently discovered intact was : James Thompson(jr), The Spanish American War, Co. M , 4th Unit. This was found when the grave yard was cleared in 2004.

Elbert Coffey and Eliza Powell were married on 9 December 1860 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.^{5952,5953,5954} Eliza Powell, daughter of Elias R. Powell and Malinda , was born on 22 December 1835 in Lower Creek Twp., Burke Co., later Caldwell Co., NC.⁵⁹⁵⁵ She appeared in the census on 29 July 1870 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC.⁵⁹⁵⁶ [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE:Misc.]

Elbert Coffey and Eliza Powell had the following children: