Today, September 13th, 2012, is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Charleston,Virginia (now West Virginia) in which Confederate General W.W. Loring and the Army of Southwestern Virginia attacked and expelled Union forces under Col. J. A. Lightburn from the Kanawha Valley and occupied the city of Charleston. [see http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh23-1.html ].

My great grandfather's brother, Private Sampson H. Deatherage, Co. K of the 50th Virginia infantry, was mortally wounded in the attack on Charleston and died that evening. A letter from Chaplain George H. Denny of the 50th VA to Sampson's family notified them of the circumstances of Sampson's death and went on to advise that he (the reverend) had procured a coffin for Sampson and provided proper burial services at the grave somewhere "near the City of Charleston".

I've visited Charleston and made inquiries at the State Archives and Spring Hill Cemetery there in a search for Sampson's grave but, was unable to find it. There is some speculation that he may have been buried at the Old City Cemetery (now, the location of the Kanawha Rifleman's Park on Kanawha Blvd.) however, there I've found no definitive records.

I thought I'd post this message on the aniversary of the attack and ask if anyone might have any information that could help locate Sampson's grave.

Thanks.

Dave Deatherage
Great Great Nephew of Sampson H. Deatherage