★★★ Coleman, David

David Coleman

:CSA1stNat:
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Born: February 5, 1824

Birthplace: Buncombe County, North Carolina

Father: William Coleman 1785 – 1874
(Buried: Coleman Family Cemetery, Weaverville, North Carolina)​

Mother: Cynthia Lane Swain Lowery 1791 – 1829
(Buried: Coleman Family Cemetery, Weaverville, North Carolina)​

Education:

Graduated from University of North Carolina​
Graduated from United States Naval Academy​

Occupation before War:

Served in the United States Navy rising to Midshipman​
Attorney in Buncombe County, North Carolina​
North Carolina State Senator​
1858: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Representative​

Civil War Career:

1861: Lt. In North Carolina State Navy Commander of steamer Ellis​
1861 – 1862: Major of a battalion of Infantry​
1862: Lt. Colonel of 39th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment
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1862 – 1865: Colonel of 39th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment​
Wounded in leg and disabled during Battle of Stones River​
1865: Paroled at Shreveport, Louisiana on June 15, 1865​

Occupation after War:

Attorney in Buncombe County, North Carolina​
1875: Delegate to North Carolina State Constitution Convention​

Died: March 5, 1883

Place of Death: Asheville, North Carolina

Age at time of Death: 59 years old

Burial Place: Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, North Carolina
 
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David Coleman:
:CSA1stNat:
Born: February 5, 1824View attachment 383778
Birthplace: Buncombe County North Carolina
Father: William Coleman 1785 – 1874
(Buried: Coleman Family Cemetery Weaverville North Carolina)
Mother: Cynthia Lane Swain Lowery 1791 – 1829
(Buried: Coleman Family Cemetery Weaverville North Carolina)

Education:
Graduated from University of North Carolina
Graduated from United States Naval Academy

Occupation before War:
Served in the United States Navy rising to Midshipman
Attorney in Buncombe County North Carolina
North Carolina State Senator
1858: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Representative

Civil War Career:
1861: Lt. In North Carolina State Navy Commander of steamer Ellis
1861 – 1862: Major of a battalion of Infantry
1862: Lt. Colonel of 39th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment
1862 – 1865: Colonel of 39th​ North Carolina Infantry Regiment
Wounded in leg and disabled during Battle of Stones River
1865: Paroled at Shreveport Louisiana on June 15, 1865

Occupation after War:
Attorney in Buncombe County North Carolina
1875: Delegate to North Carolina State Constitution Convention


Died:
March 5, 1883
Place of Death: Asheville North Carolina
Age at time of Death: 59 years old
Burial Place: Riverside Cemetery Asheville North Carolina
Coleman would lead Ector's brigade (at that time around 500 men strong) at Nashville.
 
When the 39th was organized in July 1861 it had 5 companys. In Nov. the unit was increased to 8. By Feb. 1862 when it was ordered to Knoxville 2 more companies were added.
 
Ector's temporary replacement died, so in Dec. 1864 command fell to the next senior colonel in the brigade.
I don't think that was the case. Brigadier Hugh Young, who replaced Ector, was wounded and captured at Allattonna, leaving command to Col. Julius A. Andrews of the 32nd Texas. However, Andrews became ill before the campaign, to Coleman took over.
 
Bruce Allardice mentioned him on Wednesday and seemed to indicate that he suffered from extreme PTSD and guilt. He apparently felt very personally responsible for the deaths of his neighbors and friends, because he encouraged them to join in with the CSA. Bruce said he would take out his Confederate uniform at night and put it out over the chair and then go out into the woods and talk to the trees - referring to each of the trees as different soldiers he knew.

My heart went out to this poor man. It really made my heart ache on how he suffered but there wasn’t any help for him at the time.
 
He sounds like he was a very nice person and died too young. Do we know what he died from? Was he married?
 
He sounds like he was a very nice person and died too young. Do we know what he died from? Was he married?
Given that anectdote about his sorrow over the war, I believe he may have been one of those "died of melancholy" folks. He was 59 though, some folks are more apt to live longer than others, especially in the days before modern medicine.
 
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