J. H. Mays, Civil War Veteran, Dies
Fought for Southern Cause for Four Years; Widely Known in Jackson County.
James Henry Mays, a Confederate veteran of the Civil war died Tuesday morning at his home in Jackson county, according to word received here. Mr. Mays a few years ago, wrote his personal reminiscences of the war. These were published in the Daily Mail under the title of "Four Years for Old Virginia."

James Henry Mays was born in Amherst county, Virginia, February 15, 1842, and died at his home at Fletcher, Jackson county, December 4. Death was due to heart failure, and followed a short illness.

When Mr. Mays was a small boy his parents came across the Allegheny mountains to a farm in Monroe county. Here he was living, a young man of 19, when the call to arms came in 1861. He enlisted in Company F, 22nd Virginia Infantry, and his regiment was at once sent to the Kanawha valley. On July 17, 1861, he engaged in his first battle, that of Scary, in Putnam county. This little encounter resulted in a victory for the Confederate cause. Among the other engagements in which he participated were Droop Mountain and the series of battles around Richmond, known as the Battles of the Wilderness. During the latter, at Cold Harbor, where General Grant is said to have reported the loss of 10,000 men in twenty minutes. Mr. Mays received a wound in the hand. The wound healed and the use of the member was not impaired, but he bore the scar to his grave.

Early in the war he was promoted to First Sergeant which rank he held until the army was disbanded. Among the officers under whom he served at various times were Captains Thompson and Abbott, and Majors Imboden, Bailey and McCausland, (the late General McCausland). One of his most thrilling experiences of the war was helping to destroy the old covered bridge across Gauley river on the Kanawha and James river turnpike at Gauley Junction. The Confederates fired the bridge to keep the Union army from crossing the river, and barely retired from the flaming bridge in time to see it go crashing into the water.

The story of his struggles and adventures in the Civil war is an old one to his neighbors and friends in Jackson county, where Mr. Mays has resided for more than half a century. For 2 years he has been one of the most familiar and picturesque figures in the county, familiarly known to all as "Uncle Jim."

Mr. Mays came to Jackson county 53 years ago, after an unsettled period following the war, where, save or two brief periods of residence in Charleston, he has since made his home. He was married twice. The first time to Cleopatra Hatcher, and the second time to Mary Elizabeth Hatcher, cousin of the first wife, who survives him.

He was converted and baptized when a boy. For the past 20 years he has been an active member of Goshen Baptist church, which he helped to build. He was also a member of Camp Stonewall Jackson, United Confederate Veterans.

In addition to his widow, Mr. Mays is survived by six sons and three daughters; 33 grand-children, 49 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. The surviving children are as follows: W. A. Mays and F. E. Mays, of Kentuck, Jackson county, Mrs. C. H. Munday and Mrs. J. R. Taylor, of Charleston, J. K. Mays and Lester Mays, of Fort Thomas, Ky., H. E. Mays, of Roane county, Lee Mays, of St. Albans, and Miss Mary Mays, at home.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at Goshen church, Rev. T.O. Powers officiating, and interment made in the Cleek cemetery at Kentuck.
--from the Charleston Daily Mail [WV] Friday Dec 7, 1928;
courtesy of Pj (47435333) 7-27-22
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Bio by Bev 2007:

Civil War Veteran James Henry Mays
Enlisted 7/4/1861 at Charleston, WV, as a Private.
Residence was not recorded.
Mustered into "F" Co. VA 22nd Infantry on 7/4/1861
(date and method of discharge not given)

Wounded 6/3/1864 Cold Harbor, VA
Hospitalized 6/4/1864 Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond, VA (Wounded hand)
Transferred 6/22/1864 Lynchburg, VA Hospital
Furloughed 10/31/1864 Monroe County, WV
(At home, wounded)
Detialed 11/30/1864 Monroe County, WV (Spent remainder of war on detail here)

Promotions: Sergt
born 2/15/1842 in Amherst County, VA
died 12/4/1928 in Kentuck, WV

Moved to Greenbrier County, WV ca. 1849/50 and later to Monroe (now Summers) County, WV near Pence Springs.
[sic. WV was formed from VA in 1853, ks]

Attended "subscription schools".
First married Cleopatra Hatcher who died, then her cousin Mary Elizabeth Hatcher.

After war moved to Charleston, WV and soon thereafter to Kentuck (Fletcher), Jackson County, West Virginia.
Was a Baptist. Attended a veteran reunion at Charleston, West Virginia in 1924 and gave residence as Fletcher, West Virginia.
Died in Kentuck, West Virginia 12/4/1928 of a complication of diseases.

Wrote his war memoirs in 1922 which were not published until 1970 by his son and titled Four Years For Old Virginia.