From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)
Medley, James
(born: c. 1847 - died: 1865) Medley was born about 1847, son of slaves James and Sarah Medley. In 1864, the Union commander in Kentucky authorized the formation of Colored regiments. When this announcement was spread across the state, former slaves flocked to Camp Nelson to join up. Among them was 19-year old James, but instead of using his father's name, he enlisted under the name James Hackley, which he took from his former owner. He enlisted September 9, 1864.As a private in Company E of the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment, James was part of a detail that drove a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson toward Louisville. On January 25, 1865, as the men and cows moved through Shelby County near Simpsonville, the rear guard was attacked by a band of Confederate guerrillas under Captain Isaiah "Zay" Coulter. The rebels caught the Union soldiers completely off guard, and after a 15-minute action, all 35 men were down either dead or left for dead (Simpsonville Slaughter). Young James was among those killed and was buried in a mass grave beside the road. His father, James A. Medley, received his pension.