Jacob Albert
Golladay
23rd Virginia Cavalry
Company K
Signal Corps
Son of Benjamin Golladay and Mary Smith
Husband of Sarah Ellen Orebaugh
Jacob enlisted in May 1863 before he was sixteen years old. He
served under Colonel Charles O'Ferrall and Captain Bartlett.
Jacob was captured 10 August 1864 at
Summit Point (now in West Virginia). A report written by Colonel Charles R.
Lowell, Jr. of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry describes the fighting when Jacob
was captured:
| August 10, moved to Summit Point, on extreme right of army,
skirmishing near the Opequon. Eighteen prisoners
captured—15 Imboden’s cavalry* and 13 Rodes’ division. August 11,
crossed Opequon to Winchester, driving out 200 of enemy’s cavalry; light
skirmishing; captured 5 prisoners; moved to White Post.
(Official Records, Series 1 - Vol. 43, Part I, page 486)
*
Note: The 23rd Virginia Cavalry was part of Imboden’s Brigade. |
On 28 August 1864, Jacob was sent to the Union prison camp at Elmira, New York.
Of the of 12,122 Confederate soldiers that were imprisoned at Elmira, 2,933 died
from disease, malnutrition, and exposure to the harsh New York winter weather.
The death rate at the Elmira prison of 24 percent, which was comparable to the
death rate at the Confederate prison at Andersonville.
The Elmira camp was closed on 05 July 1865, but Jacob was not released
until
07 July 1865. This indicates that he had been sick, because prisoners who were
in the hospital were not released until they were well enough to travel.
Jacob was 68 years old and living near Moores Store (Timberville
P.O.) when he filed a pension application on 29 December 1914. He stated his
disability as infirmities of old age and rheumatism. He died on 07 June 1921
Buried at: St. Luke's United Church of Christ Cemetery in
Moores Store, Virginia
(This cemetery is sometimes called the County Line Cemetery)
This page last updated on August 09, 2008