James Madison Manley was born on 20 April 1837 at Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. His parents were born in the Ohio Territory. James came to Tampa Bay, Florida about 1846 and was listed with H. C. and Mary Bellows in 1850. At that time, Tampa Bay was a fishing village situated near the garrison, Fort Brooke, an Army Post manned to protect the settlers from the Indians. Skirmishes with the Seminole Indians began as early as 1817 in the Territory of Florida and ended in 1858. There were 3 Seminole Wars: (1817-1818) (1835-1842) and (1855-1858) PML

MANLEY IN 3RD SEMINOLE WAR. (1st service James Manley 1856) Manley enrolled in Captain Leroy G. Lesley's Company of Florida Mounted Volunteers on 10 January 1856 and mustered in as a Private on 12 March 1856 at Fort Blount. He was stationed at Alafia on guard duty protecting the settlers. Alafia was east of Fort Brooke. He mustered out at Fort Meade on 20 August 1856. PML

(2nd service James Manley 1857-58) Manley served in Simeon Sparkman's Independent Co. FL Mtd. Volunteers 20th February 1857 mustered out 17 Aug. 1857 at Fort Brooke. Re-enrolled in same company 17th Aug. 1857 and mustered out 16 Feb. 1858. Ranked as Private stationed at Fort Brooke. PML

(3rd service James Manley 1858) Manley served in Capt. Durrance's Independent Company of FL Mtd. Volunteers 11 March 1858 mustered out 10 May 1858. Ranked Bugler stationed at Fort Brooke. PML

1858 MARRIAGE. At Alafia, east of Fort Brooke, James Madison Manley and Mariah Lydia Hancock were married. The ceremony was performed on 22 April 1858 by John C. Oats, Justice of the Peace. James and Mariah resided at Alafia until Manley mustered out on 10 May 1858. They then moved to Socrum, and then moved to Fort Meade where they remained the rest of their lives. PML

MANLEY IN CIVIL WAR. When the war between the States broke out, James enlisted as a Private in Capt. Van Worth's company K of the 8th Florida Infantry, on 3 November 1861 at Tampa. The Regiment was mustered into service in May 1862 and was ordered to Virginia and participated in 2nd Battle of Manassas, the capture of Federal forces at Harper's Ferry, Battles at Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, the Wilderness, and others. PML

Manley was hospitalized for debility at Chimborazo Hospital #1 at Richmond on 11 August 1862. Chimborazo, located on the James River, was the best hospital North or South at that time and the largest military hospital in the world. Today, Richmond National Battlefield stands in the middle of the old hospital grounds. Manley returned to duty on 3 September 1862. On 16 November 1862, he was sent to CSA General Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia for debility and to General Hospital at Lynchburg. Manley's debility was not a paralysis, but was a lack of movement probably due to stress. He was promoted 4th Corporal in late 1862. PML

1862 MANLEY BADLY WOUNDED. At Fredricksburg, on 11 December 1862, Under Capt. David Lang, the 8th Regiment went to support 2 Mississippi Regiments at the river where Federals were laying their bridges. The Color bearer and the entire color guard were killed or wounded and their Colors left on the field. Manley was one of the wounded. His left arm was shattered and had to be surgically removed at the shoulder joint. Two days later (13 December) , he was sent to Florida Hospital, also known as General Hospital #11 located on 19th Street between Main and Franklin in Richmond, Virginia. Manley was furloughed on 17 January 1863 for 90 days. He mustered out on 9 April 1865. PML

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IN FORT MEADE. Manley bought 80 acres in 1871 in Fort Meade on which the 2nd Fort was located until the Federals burned the fort down (Civil War). Manley owned a bar-room on the north side of East Broadway between Church and Hendry Streets. The Manley house was at the the NW corner of Hendry avenue and NE 1st. Street. They sold their house in 1872 and moved to Fair View on the east side of Peace River about three miles from Fort Meade. James and Mariah were parents of sixteen children. PML

Manley received an Indian Wars Pension and a CSA Pension. He died on 26 February 1905 in Fort Meade and is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Researched by PMLyons #48315564