Coleman Herndon Dempsey was the third child of Catharine Battaile and James B Dempsey.

Born in 1841 Flat Run, Orange County, Virginia, USA
Died on Dec. 25, 1863 Orange Court House, Virginia

Catharine and James were the parents of 7 children:
Lucie E Dempsey Heflin 1835 – 1901 wife of George Washington Heflin.
Levi J Dempsey Pvt. 1838 – 1863
Coleman Herndon Dempsey Pvt. 1841 – 1863
Julia E Dempsey Heflin 1844 – 1891
Finella Elizabeth "Eliza" Dempsey Taylor 1847 – 1933
Kate M Dempsey Taylor 1850 – 1920
James Lewis Dempsey 1852 – 1924

On March 10, 1862, both Levi J. and Coleman H. Dempsey joined the CSA with at least 10 of their cousins and their brother-in-law, George Washington Heflin. They traveled about 20 miles to Orange Court House, Va to join Company C of the 7th Virginia Infantry as privates. They became a part of Kemper's Brigade, Pickett's Division. Their company was first led by AP Hill.

Both Coleman and Levi Dempsey took part the famed "Pickett's Charge". The 7th Va, C Company suffered 40% attrition from that charge.

Levi was captured on 3 July 1963 at Gettysburg, Pa, and on October 3, 1863, he died as a POW at Fort Delaware prison in Delaware. He was buried at Finn's Point, NJ in an unmarked grave. His name is on the memorial at Finn's point.

Coleman made the march back to Orange Court House, Va. where General Lee set up his winter camp. On Christmas Day, 1863, Coleman died at the Orange County Court House field hospital and was mustered out of Company C, 7th Va Infantry on 25 Dec 1863.

I have assume that Coleman's body was claimed by his family and buried at their home place. The only record that I have found is that his death was recorded at the court house. However, I have not found any information about his burial.

A memorial now stands in front of the Orange Court House honoring many of those men. Uncle Levi and my G G grandfather, George Washington Heflin, Jr. are listed, but Coleman Dempsey is not listed. Muster rolls of Coleman's war service are preserved at the National Archives, and he too should have been honored.

The Dempsey boys were members of a very distinguished unit that fought in many of the battles that are still talked about today, such as the Drewey's Bluff, Battle of Seven Pines, Battles of Cold Harbor, Battle of Frazier's Farm, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Antietam, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Gettysburg, and the Battle of Petersburg.

Coleman and Levi never married.

Their cousin, Lt. Nathan T Bartley accounted the history of 7th Va Inf., Company "C" to W W Scott who published "A HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA" in 1907.

We can't be sure where George Heflin or Coleman Dempsey are buried, but according the area Civil War Maps and the 1850 census, there home was just west of the home of John R Spotswood and probably located just west of Flat Run Creek in Orange County, Va. They are most likely buried near there Flat Run home. Most of those grounds are part of the Lake of The Woods Community and may now be under the lake. However, thanks to Find A Grave, we have a place to honor this family.

Find A Grave Memorial# 48384296
Bio by: GGG grand nephew, Tom Myers, Jul 2012

Pvt. Coleman Herndon Dempsey, 7th Va Infantry, Company C