Elijah Slay, son of Alexander Slay and Elizabeth McLean, and brother to Capt. Nathan Slay, served during the Civil War in the 16th MS Infantry. Co. C. he was appointed as a Corporal, and was later promoted to the rank of Captain on 26 April 1862.
He was killed during the Civil War, his tombstone at County Line Cemetery, Copiah Co., Mississippi, reads "Our Son - Killed in Va." He is buried next to his parents and brother Cincinnatis Slay, killed at the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi.
The following text is courtesy of the Slay Family in America book.
CAPTAIN ELIJAH SLAY
Elijah Slay was born on June 19, 1838 in Copiah County, Mississippi, being the seventh child born to Alexander and Elizabeth (McLean) Slay. On December 10, 1857, he married Lucy Pierce. He enlisted in Company C, 16th Mississippi Infantry, Confederate States of Army on May 28, 1861 at Corinth, Mississippi as a Private. He was appointed a Fourth Corporal of Company C on June 17, 1861. After his first year of service, he reenlisted as a Fourth Corporal at Camp Baker near Manassa, Virginia of February 13, 1862. He was elected Captain on April 26, 1862. Captain Elijah Slay was wounded and captured at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. On July 10, he was admitted as a prisoner of war to the USA General Hospital on Camden Street in Baltimore, Maryland for a gunshot wound.
On July 13, he was moved to the USA General Hospital at Newton University in Baltimore, Maryland. On July 17, he was sent to the USA General Hospital at Chester, Pennsylvania from which he escaped on August 15, 1863.
He was admitted to the CSA General Hospital at Charlottesville, Virginia on August 30, 1863 and returned to duty on October 27, 1863. He took leave of absence on December 22, 1863 and went home to see his wife. During active battle Captain Elijah Slay was killed on June 10, 1864. He was shot be a Yankee sharpshooter at Cold Harbor, near Richmond, Virginia. His sash, sword and diary were returned to his widow Lucy (Pierce) Slay. She later married Arthur Matthews, a widower, and devoted friend of Elijah Slay. The only child of Elijah and Lucy Slay was Elijah Slay Jr., who was born on September 21, 1864.
(Source: A Genealogy of the Slay Family in America ; Copywrite 1995; LOC # 85-80711; J. Bradley Jeffreys; Coauthor, James H. Hines; MS AHD Call No. 929.256315J)
Husband: Elijah Capt. (Sr.) Slay
Born: 19 Jun 1838 - Copiah County, Mississippi
Died: 10 Jun 1864 - Battle of Cold Harbor, Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia
Buried: - County Line Baptist Cemetery, Copiah County, Mississippi
Father: Alexander (Sr.) Slay (1806-1878)
Mother: Elizabeth McLean (1806-1872)
Marriage: 10 Dec 1857 Place: Copiah County, Mississippi
Wife: Lucy Pierce
Born: 23 Oct 1840 - Mississippi
Died: 6 Dec 1922 - Copiah County, Mississippi
Buried: - Hopewell Cemetery, Copiah County, Mississippi
Father: John Watley Pierce
Mother: Malinda Loving
Other Spouse: Arthur Tillman Matthews (1827-1898)
Date: 25 Dec 1866 - Copiah County, Mississippi
Children with Elijah Slay:
1
M Elijah (Jr.) Slay
Born: 21 Sep 1864 - Copiah County, Mississippi
Died: 11 Jan 1900 - Crystal Springs, Copiah County Mississippi
Buried: - Crystal Springs Cemetery, Crystal Springs, Copiah County, Mississippi
Spouse: Hattie C. (May) Inistine
Marr. Date: 18 Jan 1888
(Battle Flag - 16th MS Infantry)
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