Madison Hugh Bray (1842 - 1924)

Born 5 Mar 1842 in Henry, Virginia, United States

Died 26 Feb 1924 at age 81 in Bluefield, Mercer, West Virginia, United States

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Biography

Madison Bray served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1861
Mustered out: 9 Apr 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 38th Virginia Infantry

Madison Hugh Bray was born on March 5, 1842 to John Bray and his second wife, Lucy Hankins in Henry, Virginia. The 1850 census of Henry would show a mixture of Lucy's children and those of John Bray's first wife Sarah.

Madison and two of his half-brothers would join the CSA in the Civil War. Madison and John Bray would be in the 38th Virginia Infantry, Company K. Half-brother Daniel was in the 24th Virginia Infantry. Daniel enlisted in 1862, and would pass away on February 22, 1863. Details to be discovered.

Madison enlisted in the 38th Virginia Infantry in 1861, He was wounded in the 7 Days Battle during the charge of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862.

A year later at the Battle of Gettysburg, Madison was captured; July 3, 1863. As many prisoners from this point, Madison was sent first to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, then to Fort Delaware, and finally to the despicable Point Lookout prison in southern Maryland.

Madison Hugh Bray somehow endured a year and 4 months in the disease laden Point Lookout. To his good fortune, Madison was part of a prisoner exchange in February of 1865. Initially sent to Camp Lee in Richmond to recuperate, Madison returned to duty, and was at Appomattox when General Lee signed the surrender papers at the McLean House. Half-brother John Bray was also present at Appomattox.

After the war, Madison H. Bray married Virginia Warren about 1867. The 1870 census of Mercer would show the couple had moved to West Virginia to start their family. The 1880 census would show 6 known children(the 1900 census yet to be seen, which could reveal others):

1. Lelia 1868
2. Verona 1870
3. Vinnie Ream 1872
4. Nannie J. 1875
5. Everett 1878
6. Eugene T. 1879

The 1910 census of Mercer, West Virginia hints a second marriage for Madison to Columbia A. Bray. His Findagrave page gives death as February 26, 1924 in Mercer, West Virginia.

Sources

• 1850 census Henry, Virginia, MADISON H. BRAY
• 1860 census Henry, Virginia, MADISON BRAY
• Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, MADISON H. BRAY, 1861, Thirty-eighth Virginia Infantry
• United States Civil War Soldiers Index, M.H. BRAY, Private, 38th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Company K
• 1880 census Pipe Stem West Virginia, MADISON BRAY
• Findagrave page for MADISON HUGH BRAY
• "Confederate Soldiers of Pittsylvania County & Danville", Mike K. Williams 1988.
• "38th Virginia Infantry" G. Howard Gregory, 1988.