York-Warwick County-Newport News City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Colonna, Arthur P., 1937 

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DEATH OF VETERAN REVIVES MEMORIES 

Arthur Colonna Believed Last Survivor of Merrimac's Crew 

  NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 15 - (AP) - Vivid memories of the epic struggle 
between the Confederate Merrimac and the Union Monitor will be buried today 
with Arthur Colonna, 92, Confederate veteran, who died yesterday at his home 
near Menchville in Warwick county. 

  He is believed to be the last survivor of the "Merrimac" crew, when the 
vessel fought the Union's ironclad in Hampton Roads, March 9, 1862.  It was 
an engagement that revolutionized naval warfare. 

  Born August 15, 1845, Colonna was living in Norfolk with his parents at the 
outbreak of the war between the states.  The United Artillery Company 
volunteered for service aboard the Merrimac and, though only 17, he went 
along.  Staying with the vessel until the crew was discharged, he later joined 
troops at City Point and served until the end of the war. 

  Employed for a long time at the shipyard here, he made his home in Warwick 
county for more than 40 years.  In 1880 he married the former Miss Alice B. 
Edwards of York county, who survives him. 

  Funeral services were to be conducted this afternoon at Emmaus Baptist 
church, Yorktown.  Burial was to be in the church cemetery. 


Arthur Pernell COLONNA, retired seaman, 
   Confederate veteran - last survivor of the "Merrimac" ("Virginia"), 
b. 15 Aug 1845, Eastern Shore, d. 14 Mar 1937, at home, near Menchville, 
interred in Emmaus Baptist Church Cemetery, Yorktown, 15 Mar 1937, 
marked in Peninsula Memorial Park*, Newport News, 
"Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 14, No. 301, Mon., Mar. 15, 1937, p. 1 

*Additional information: 

A photo of his gravestone - added by Steve Centner - is posted with 
   Find a Grave Memorial #102713154. 

D.Cert. 8674 (Newport #15) gives son of Michall COLONNA & unknown. 

He also served in Tom Keville's artillery co. - 19th Battalion VA Heavy 
   Artillery.  He applied for a pension 19 Mar 1914, in Warwick Co. 

His widow applied for a pension 24 Mar 1937, in Warwick Co. 
   She d. 6 Jun 1937, in Warwick Co., & was buried in Peninsula Memorial Park.  

He does not appear on the roster in John V. Quarstein's "C.S.S. Virginia: 
   Mistress of Hampton Roads" {2d ed.).  It does list William Bramwell 
   COLONNA (ca. 1832 Accomac Co. - 1903; bu. Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond. 
   {p. 250}) 

Son of Michael & Elizabeth, he m. Alice, daughter of William & Sallie 
   [SEABORNE] EDWARDS, 4 Jul 1880, in York Co. 
   (Ancestry.com VA Select Marriages 1785-1940) 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/york/obits/c450a1ob.txt