Thomas Jones Prestridge, CSA

Biography

Thomas Jones Prestridge was born in January 1844 in Tuscaloosa, Pickens County, Alabama, USA. His parents were Hezekiah Prestridge and Elizabeth Phoebe Prestridge.

Thomas married Lettitia Frances Smith on January 21, 1865, in St Clair County, Illinois, USA. Together they had the following children: Maggie Mae Prestridge.

He died on January 11, 1923, in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA, and was buried in Sunnyside Cemetery, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

• Name: Thomas (T J ) Prestridge
• Age: 18
• Birth Date: abt. 1843
• Enlistment Date: 1861
• Military Unit: Fourth Cavalry (Fourth Mounted Volunteers, First Regiment, Sibley's Brigade) CSA
• POW April 15, 1862,' Albuquerque, NM

  ---

March for El Paso

On October 23, the regiment took up the line of ' March for El Paso,' reaching Fort Bliss on January 1, 1862. Since water at many of the springs along the way was inadequate for large groups at a time, it was deemed necessary to divide the regiment into three sections which would march a day apart. Captain Hardeman set out with the first squadron (Companies A, F, and Reily's battery). The march from San Antonio to Fort Bliss was seven hundred miles through landscapes that varied from rolling plains to deserts and rugged mountains, most of which were occupied by hostile Indians. To further complicate matters, the brigade was accompanied by a long wagon train and a herd of cattle.5 [https://staples-texas.org/4thcavcoa.html#Record]

The brigade reached Fort Thorn (40 miles north of Mesilla on the Rio Grande) later that month and established headquarters.6 A private in Company A, Theo Noel, described the conditions at Fort Thorn:

Smallpox, Scarce Supplies

Forage, there was none; commissary supplies were getting scarce; the cold season was coming; clothing was needed; all the countries afforded none. Smallpox and pneumonia were daily thinning the ranks of the brigade. Winter weather and lack of warm clothing and blankets accounted for many pneumonia cases. A hospital was established at Dona Ana to accommodate the sick. Hostile Apaches made heavy escorts necessary for supplies and grazing livestock. [https://staples-texas.org/4thcavcoa.html#Record]

The Battle of Valverde

The Battle of Valverde took place at the Valverde ford of the Rio Grande, 6 miles north of the Union Fort Craig, on February 21, 1862.' Confederates numbered about 2800; the Federals 5000, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Valverde]

Apache Canon or Glorietta

The next fight took place at Apache Canon or Glorietta. It was a draw fight, but Major Henry W. Ragute of the 1st regiment was killed.

About April 8th, 1862, Co. A First Regiment, commanded by Captain L. Stevenson, which had been left as a garrison at Albuquerque, was attached by about 1500 Federals but the attack was repulsed. Another fight took place on the 13th in which Federals were again defeated.

Albuquerque, NM

About April 8th, 1862, Co. A First Regiment, commanded by Captain L. Stevenson, which had been left as a garrison at Albuquerque, was attacked by about 1500 Federals but the attack was repulsed. Another fight took place on the 13th in which Federals were again defeated. Thomas J. Prestridge was reported as captured by the Federal Troops on April 15, 1862, in Sante Fe, NM, two days after the attack.

Thomas was reported as being was released at Ft Riley, KS on April 30, 1862 - no other records after.

'References'

• [https://staples-texas.org/4thcavcoa.html#Record] about the battles, etc.
• Military record complete - [https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000169636558874]
• Battle of Valverde [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Valverde]
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - The military of the MS record was wrong, it was for a Talmage J. Prestridge. The Gravestone Note is correct.

  ---

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 2 2021, 13:08:29 UTC Confederate Civil War Veteran. Served with the 1st Regiment Mississippi Light Artillery.
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 5 2021, 12:27:17 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 5 2021, 12:34:24 UTC