6th Kentucky Cavalry, United States Army

Researched by Stephen D. Bowling

There are some questions about Harmon (Bush) Colley’s parentage. He switched back and forth between Bush and Colley at various times during his short life.

Son of unknown parents

Born about 1829 in Perry County, Kentucky

Married to Nancy Bush (          – before 1850) about 1849 in Breathitt County, Kentucky

1850 Breathitt County, Kentucky Federal Census
District 1, Dwelling Number 76, Family Number 76
     Godfrey M. Marr        56
          Harmon Bush       21

Death of Wife– Nancy (Bush) Colly died during childbirth about 1850 in Breathitt County, Kentucky

Married to Delilah Neace (1840 – about 1925) about 1856 in Breathitt County, Kentucky.

1860 Breathitt County, Kentucky Federal Census
District 1, Dwelling Number 472, Family Number 472
     Harmon Colly          30
     Delila Colly          19
          William Colly    2
          Elizabeth Colly  1

Military Service
Company D, 6th Kentucky Cavalry, United States Army
(Also listed as Harmon Calley and Harmon Colly)
Enlistment: 1861, October 11 in Estill County, Kentucky for three years
Mustered In: 1861, November 5 at Crab Orchard, Kentucky
On Muster Rolls: 1861, October 11 to February 28, 1862
Paid: 1861, December
Present for Duty: 1862, March and April
Absent without Leave: 1862, August 31
On Muster Rolls: 1863, January and February
     Remarks: "Harmon Colly killed by the enemy while absent
     without leave.  Charge of Absent without leave removed, 
     Killed in service October 14, 1862."
Mustered Out: (in abstentia) 1864, December 23 at Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. 
     Age: 22 (incorrect)
     Remarks" Died in Harlan County, Kentucky from a 
     Wound received in a private difficulty, Date unknown."
Adjutant General's Office Notation
     "February 24, 1883: Died on or about October 14, 1862 
     of wounds received on that date in a skirmish at 
     Allen Moore's in Breathitt COunty, Kentucky.  The 
     charge of absent without leave, Killed while absent 
     without leave, and Died from wounds received in a 
     private difficuty is removed."

Died on November 7, 1862, at Allen Moore farm near Barwick in Breathitt County, Kentucky. (Pension and Service Records also indicate incorrectly 1863 as the death year and November 14 as a possible death date.)

Eversole’s men had come to the home of John Gambill, a merchant and a neighbor, but a Southern man, and killed him and his oldest son and a man by the name of Gilbert. Elijah Begley and Alexander McIntyre had come from Perry county, and were staying on Lost Creek among the Rebels. Sympathizers got in with “Rail Jake,” the bushwhacker, and a few others. My brother, Boston, went with them to Allen Moore’s on the North Fork to fight the Yankees. They got with Dan Moore and his squad on the North Fork at Allen Moore’s, where Dan Moore had already shot out of the house and killed Harmon Bush, who had deserted the Yankee army and come with a crowd of men on Allen Moore. When they came up into the door-yard Daniel Moore shot him, and he died instantly. Bush was a brother-in-law of “Rail Jake.”

Behold He Cometh In the Clouds by George Washington Noble, page 28.

Buried: in Breathitt County, Kentucky

Federal Widow Pension Application
Filed: on July 15, 1868
Aplication #162969
Not Awarded

Power of Attorney
Delila Colley to Nathan H. Sallie
Breathitt County Deed Book 5, page 249
April 24, 1888

Know all men by these presents that I, Delila Colley, of Breathitt County, Ky. do hereby constitute and appoint N. H. Sallie of Lost Creek Post Office, Breathitt County, Ky. my true and lawful attorney and invest him with full power to sign mu name to any letters, papers, ot anything nescessary to draw the amount of money due me as bounty and any now allowed me by the United States of America. He is also authorized hereby to sign or endorse my name across the back of any check or checks that may be due me from the United States and to receive form the Postmaster at Hazard, Jackson, or Lost Creek any mail addressed to me – Said bounty claim is No. 65,743.

Given under my hand April 24, 1888.

Delia (X) Colley

Attest: John Campbell

1890 Federal Census of Surviving Soldiers and Sailors
Supervisor's District Number 6
Enumerator's District Number 19
Line 35, Dwelling Number 185, Family Number 5
     Delila Colley, a widow of Hearmon Colley
     Rank: Private
     Regiment: 6th Kentucky Cavaly
     Date of Enlistment: August 1, 1861
     Date of Discharge: September 1, 1862
     Length of Service: 1 year, 1 month, 1 day
     Post-Office Address: Lost Creek
     Remarks: "Shoot and Kiled"

Federal Dependent Pension Application
Filed: February 19, 1909
Aplication #915615
Not Awarded

Newspaper Listing
The Jackson Times
February 22, 1924, page 3
Granted $16 by the Breathitt County Fiscal Court for support.

Newspaper Listing
The Jackson Times
March 7, 1924, page 3
Granted $16 by the Breathitt County Fiscal Court for support.

Newspaper Listing
The Jackson Times
May 29, 1925, page 4
Granted $10 by the Breathitt County Fiscal Court for support.

Death of Widow: Delilah (Neace) Colley died between May 29, 1925, and June 1, 1926, in Breathitt County, Kentucky.

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© 2024 Stephen D. Bowling