At 17 years of age, Oakley Deaderick joined Col. Henry Ashby's 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry, under Gen. Joe Wheeler. In the battle near Shelbyville, Tenn., he was captured and sent to Camp Morton, where he remained about 6 months, then was transferred to Fort Delaware. After a long, harrassing, horrible experience of nearly 18 months at these two prisons, he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment in North Carolina. A few months later he was paroled with Gen. Joe Johnston's army and returned to his home in Knoxville.
|
