A Southern Band of Brothers

1850 -Washington Co.,TN census :             

Nathan COPPAS 44 TN
Rhetta 37 TN
May M. 19 TN
Thos. W 18 TN
John V 14 TN
Montgomery 12 TN
Randolph 10 TN
Martha 8 TN
Bethany 6 TN
Marcus 4 TN

1860-Washington Co., TN,census:

Nathan COPASS 55
Rhoda 51
John V. 24
Montgomery 22
Randolph D.21 ( Richard )
Bethena 16

The tombstone of Nathan Copas lists his birthdate as1803. Census records suggest Nathan's birthdate as 1805-06, possibe error on tombstone. According to some of Cynthia (Coppas) and John Cox's descendants,( my gr gr grandparents ) Rhoda Fitzgerald may have been half Cherokee Indian, and also known as "Toga". " They were married before 1822 in Tennessee.

IMAGE 1  PRIVATE JOHN MARTIN VAN BUREN COPASS ( Van ) enlisted along with his 3 brothers 25 Sept, 1862 at Fordtown, Tenn ( probably on the grounds of Fordtown Baptist Church that is still active today. IMAGE 2 John was captured May 17,1863 at ' Big Black River Bridge. in Mississippi during the Vicksburg Campaign IMAGE 3 Sent to prison at Fort Delaware he died there on Oct 4, 1863. Van is buried with fellow Confederate P.O.W.'s at Finn's Point National Cemetery, Salem, New Jersey

IMAGE 4 3RD lT R.D. COPASS is captured with his brother John at Big Black. Being an officer he is sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio IMAGE 5 where he dies August 29,1863 of " fever " IMAGE 6 buried on the island grave # 21 ( see my story page on Johnson's Island. )

IMAGE 7 2ND SERGT MONTGOMERY S. COPASS IMAGE 8 Unlike his 2 brothers,he escaped capture at Big Black and is paroled at the surrender of Vicksburg. Part of of a detachment of the 60th 61st, and 62nd regiments back in East Tenn " near Jonesboro " IMAGE 9.  He is again captured and paroled at The Battle Piedmont, Va. and finally surrenders at Jonesboro, Tenn. MAY 10, 1865. IMAGE 10  

IMAGES 11 - 15 PRIVATE THOMAS W. COPASS  Enlisted with brothers,John, Montgomery, & Richard on Sept.25,1862 at Fordtown,Tn.'Mustered' at Haynesville,Tn.( present-day Johnson City ) on Nov.7,1862.His record indicates he was declared  "unfit for field service"  & recommended for hospital,or garrison duty Feb.1863 due to 'heart-palpations.'Still on Company muster roll dated Sept.13,1864'near Jonesboro,Tn.' Surrendred and took the Oath of Allegiance with his surviving brother,Montgomery at Jonesboro,Tn. May 10 & 21, 1865.
Died in 1904.

SOME NOTES ON THE COPASS BROTHERS : John V. Copass married Sarah Waller shortly before the war. In 1862 just before or after his leaving for the rebel army a son was born to them named Josiah. Needless to say, Josiah never knew his father. Sarah later remarried a John Hodges ( or Hedges )  ( A JOHN HODGES served in Company H of the 60th Tn ) They moved to Monroe County, Kentucky. In the 1880 census Josiah is listed with his step-fathers last name. Montgomery married on Dec.10th 1865 Elizabeth J.Cox, daughter of John Hulse Cox and Hannah Edna Copass ( great-great grandparents of my daughter-in-law, Sharron Cox Land. ) I have often wondered if my maternal grandfather, Richard Carl Cox was named for his great-uncle, Richard Copass, a possible " favorite brother " of his grandmother, Cynthia Copass Cox.