From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)
Hackley, James Medley
(born: c. 1847 - died: 1865 (MIA, likely killed in Simpsonville, Kentucky)) Hackley was born James Medley to slave parents James and Sarah Medley about 1847 in Anderson County. As a boy, he separated from his parents and became the property of Darius Hackley, who filed a claim for lost property when James ran away to join the Union Army during the Civil War.In 1864, the Federal government initiated a new policy to enroll regiments of colored soldiers for service in the war. As a result, thousands of slaves and former slaves flocked to recruiting stations to volunteer. Among these was James (Medley) Hackley, who made his way from Lawrenceburg to Camp Nelson, where on September 9, 1864 he was mustered into Federal service as a private in Company E of the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment. His enlistment record describes him as a 19-year old farmer living in Anderson County, 5'9" in height, of dark complexion with dark hair and eyes.
Although the 5th Colored Cavalry had not reached its full complement of men, those enrolled by the end of September were assigned to General Stephen Burbridge on his campaign into southwest Virginia. On this expedition, the 5th Regiment was active at the First Battle of Saltville on October 2, 1864, where after a fierce engagement the Federals were driven back with heavy losses. In December another attempt was made to destroy the salt works, and the 5th Cavalry was then part of Stoneman's Raid. On December 17-18, 1864 the Federals attacked and captured Confederate lead mines near Marion, Virginia, and on the 20-21 captured and destroyed the salt works at Saltville.
In January 1865 Company E of the 5th regiment was detailed to escort a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson to Louisville. As this column passed through Mercer and Anderson Counties, its progress was closely monitored by Confederate partisans operating in the area.
On Jan. 25, 1865, just outside Simpsonville in Shelby County, a band of Confederate guerrillas under Captain Isaiah "Zay" Coalter caught the Union soldiers completely off guard, and after a fifteen minute action all 35 men of the rear guard were down, either dead or left for dead, resulting in a complete massacre. Local citizens gathered up the dead troopers and buried them in a mass grave, while the wounded were taken to Louisville.
The roll call of Company E of the 5th Colored Cavalry for February 1865 shows James Hackley listed as MIA since January 25, 1865 following the action near Simpsonville. His name remained on the roster of Company E as an MIA throughout the regiment's continued service until March 20, 1866, when it was mustered from federal service. However, his parents eventually applied for and received a survivors' pension. In 2009, efforts were finally made to honor these forgotten troopers, and a headstone was erected for James Hackley at the Simpsonville Massacre Mass Grave site.
See also James Medley.