This snapshot, taken by me in the summer of 1997, displays the beautiful farmland in the Nolichuckey River Valley near Clark's Creek in southwestern Washington County, TN. Like their father before them, Jerry and his brothers undoubtedly farmed, hunted, and tread upon the mountains and valleys pictured here. Perhaps, they too, planted tomatoes in the fertile soil of this river valley.
THE EARLY YEARS
Jeremiah Presnell was born 1848 in Washington County, TN. His brother, Amos, remembered Jerry as having dark red, curly hair. Military records describe him as dark-complected, dark hair, grey eyes, and 5 feet 4 inches in height when he joined the Union Army at the age of 18 in 1864.
When the 1850 census was taken, 2-year old Jerry was living with his parents, Enoch and Elizabeth Prestley, in Greene County, TN. By the time the 1860 census was taken, Jerry and all of his siblings had been split up and were living in various homes in Washington County, TN. Apparently both parents had died during the mid to late 1850's.
In 1860, Jerry was probably living with neighbors or friends in either Greene or Washington County, TN. (To date, I have not located him in the 1860 Washington County Census; I have not yet checked Greene County's 1860 census.) Most likely, at this time, he was informally apprenticed to learn the trade of farming. No formal guardianship nor apprenticeship documents have been found for Jerry or any of his siblings. Upon enlisting in the military, Jerry's occupation was listed as laborer.
On December 7, 1864, at the age of 18, Jerry enlisted with the United States Army at Knoxville, TN. Enrolling officer, Robert H. M. Donnelly, signed him up for a three year term. Jerry was assigned to Company D, 13th Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, Union Army. Military records state that he had been given a clothing allowance/allotment of $58.63 on November 13, 1864.
Co. D, 13th Reg't TN Cavalry left Knoxville, TN on December 10, 1864 to go to Western Virginia. During the month of December, the unit was engaged in three battles before returning to Knoxville. On December 12th they were engaged in a skirmish at Big Creek, near Kingsport, TN. December 16th was the Battle at Wytheville, VA., and December 20th was the Battle at Saltville, VA. The unit arrived back in Knoxville, TN on December 29, 1864. It is not known if Jerry accompanied his unit in these battles as he was not officially mustered in until January 01, 1865 at Knoxville, TN. Captain Alfred T. Donnelly was the commanding officer of Co. D, 13th Reg't TN Cavalry.
The regiment spent the winter in Knoxville, TN from December 29, 1864 until March 18, 1865. It is not known if Jerry stayed in Knoxville with his unit for the entire 3 months or if he was allowed to return home during part of the time they were stationed in Knoxville. What is known, is that Jerry was hospitalized in Asylum General Hospital in Knoxville, TN from March 1865 until his death. Jerry died of a relapse of typhoid fever on May 28, 1865 - just 7 weeks after the Civil War had officially ended.
Jerry is buried at the National Cemetery in Knoxville, TN. He is buried under the name of Jere Pressley. Military records have spelled his last name as Prefley, Pressley, Presley, Prepley. Undoubtedly, the old style of writing the double "s" was misread as a "p" and a "f". The name of Presnell had already been changed to Prestley by the time the 1850 census was taken. Jere's youngest brother always went by the surname of Presley. CLICK HERE to View Close-up Photo of Jeremiah Presley's tombstone.
Obviously, there are no pension files for Jeremiah Presley as he died at the end of the war. Neither are there any medical records. However, his military records are on file with the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
CLICK HERE to View Close-up Photo of Jeremiah Presley's tombstone.
Or CLICK Here to View Close-up Photo of Jeremial Presley's tombstone.
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