The Blakelys of East Tennessee & the Civil War

Grandmaw Land or " Maw " as she was known to me, played a vital role in cultivating an interest in the Civil War that remains with me today as I enter my 60th year. Her paternal grandfather was Union Pvt JACKSON BLAKELY Co.G 8th Tenn Cav

IMAGE # 1 Union army Widows' pension file for Mary Whitehorn Blakely, Jackson Blakely's widow filed July 11,1870. Jackson Enlisted in his home County of Sullivan in upper East Tennessee on 9/22/1863 as Union forces pushed North following the fall of Knoxville and scattering disorganized Confederates in upper East Tenn. However the Rebels rallied and in fighting at Zollicoffer,( present-day Bluff City )in Sullivan County, Jackson was captured on 10/19/1863. He reportedly '' broke custody '' on the battlefield but while seperated from his troop was recaptured near his home. He was reportedly '' shot while attempting to escape from a Confererate prison in Virginia, on or abt 4/15/1864 and his body never recovered.'' This according to his widow, Mary Whitehorn Blakely in her pension request. Jackson and Mary Blakely were the paternal grandparents of my grandmother, Annie Blakely Land. SEE IMAGE # 6 Due to the fact Jackson was probably not with the 8th Tn. Cav long enough to be " officially " mustered into the regiment  ( constantly on the move behind enemy lines ) before his capture and his body or a reliable record of his death while in rebel custody was never found ,his widow MARY was several years obtaining her Federal pension. With her " arrears " of pension she bought this land and built this home my grandmother inherited. At the death of my grandfather,George Land Sr.in 1926 she returned here where she raised her 4 children to adulthood. At the outbreak of the Korean War my Dad's reserve unit was called up for 6 months and stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C. to assist in the training of troops going over. Mom and I lived here with " Maw " Land during that time. I fell here on the old wooden floors ( while they were being mopped !!! ) and broke my leg at about 2 or 3 years old. The " shell " of the house still exists today and has been moved to the property of another Blakely descendant in Sullivan County,Tn. SEE IMAGE # 7 My grandmaw's parents and their family on the " front porch " of the Blakely " homeplace " in the early 1920's  Her father was the 2nd child of Jackson & Mary Whitehorn Blakely born in 1854. He was apparently named after Jackson's brother Henry C. who died while in the Confederate Army. Grandmaw stands almost directly between her dad & mom holding my aunt Clara Land Cox. My aunt Louise Land Hood stands next to her grandpaw Blakely ( not very happy bout having her picture taken !!! ) Grandmaw's mom also lost her father, James William Carroll in the Civil War. I've never been able to determine even which army he served in. There is evidence to support him being either Yank or Reb. I have always suspected he was a Union man caught and executed by the rebels while trying to get to Kentucky to join the Yankees. Unlike Mary Blakely, his widow never applied for a pension either Union or Confederate.

IMAGE # 2  Union army Veteran's pension file for Jackson's older brother, Pvt WILLIAM A. BLAKELY Co. A 1st Tenn Cav. Filed Sept. 11,1874. Joined the Union Army Mar 20, 1862 at Camp Garber, Ky Mustered: Nov 1 62. The same day as his 18 year-old son, James H. Blakely. William gave his age in the 1860 census of Sullivan County,Tenn as 36. He gave his age at enlistment as 30.He may have been concerned about his actual age,if they would take him or not and was probably determined to go with his son. He probably was closer to 40-43 yrs old  than 30. His grave marker gives his birth year as 1819 !! ( I don't believe he was quite that old !! ) In the 1890 Census of Civil War Veterans he mentions being " mashed by a wagon." Lived most of his years after the war in Kentucky. Returned to Sullivan County,Tn. in his latter years where he died. He is buried at Depew's Chapel Methodist Church ,Kingsport,Tenn. Image # 8 William's headstone reads : Born May 20, 1815 ( He wasn't that old !!! ) Died Aug. 2,1898 Co A 1st Tenn Cav.

IMAGE # 3 Union Army Veteran's pension file for Pvt JAMES H. BLAKELY Co A 1st Tenn.Cav. Filed Sept.6,1895.  ( this unit began the war as the 4th Tn.Inf. ) Oldest Child of William and Polly Whitaker Blakely. Enlisted: Mar 20 62 at Camp Garber, Ky. Age 18  Mustered: Nov 1 62. Enlisted on the same day as his father. Was the last member of the Union 1st Tenn Cav wounded in the Civil War. " Ambushed while scouting the retreating Confederate Army of Tenn Feb,1865." this, according to a history of the 1st Tn. James married Nancy Brooks in Greene Couty,Tn.( home of President Andrew Johnson ) following the war. He moved to Georgia and later to Alabama where he died and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery,Tallassee,Ala. ( thanks for info from his gr,grandson Albert Phillips of Texas. )

IMAGE # 4  Parole issued to Confederate Private Henry Blakely Co. B 61st Tenn.Inf. at the surrender of the Confederate garrison at Vicksburg,Miss. 4 July,1863.

William and Jackson's youngest brother fought for the Confederacy. Like Jackson he did not survive the war. Confederate Private HENRY C. BLAKELY Co. B 61st Tenn Inf. Company B was organized Sept 24, 1862 at Rogersville,Tenn. ( Hawkins County was his wife's home county. )  Henry was Paroled at the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4,1863. Died at the Confederate hospital, Mobile, Alabama. Aug.12,1863. Buried in Confederate Cemetery, Mobile,Ala. row #13, grave #35. IMAGE # 5  Headstone of Confederate Private Henry C. Blakely. Ironically, Confederate Private John W. ( Jack ) Hulse, Co.E 60th Tenn Inf, an ancestor / relative on my mother's side, died at the same hospital and is also buried in the same cemetery. 

I have found no Civil War service record for another brother, AUGUSTUS BLAKELY. Several BLAKELY descendants still reside in Sullivan County,Tennessee today. These brothers must have been very close  Both Jackson and Augustus named sons Henry C. apparently after their " little " brother. William had a son named Henry H. William also had a son named Solomon Jackson Blakely. Both Jackson and William named sons James. ( I suspect James may have been their father's name, I recall seeing a household headed by a James Blakely in the 1830 census of Sullivan Co. )  Another brother, CAMPBELL BLAKELY is part of Henry's household in the 1860 census of Sullivan County,Tn. In the much harsher life and language of 1860 the mentally challenged Campbell is listed by the census taker as " idiotic " IMAGE # 9 The Jackson & Mary Whitehorn Blakely family 1860 census of Sullivan Co.Tn. Page 47 household # 333 " Maw's father,Henry C. is age 4.