Preston Silcox

Preston J. Silcox (~1844 – Nov. 10, 1863) was a soldier from Morgan County killed at the Battle of Rogersville during the Civil War. He is included in Paul Roy’s Scott County in the Civil War as a soldier from Scott County. However, it appears he was not actually from Scott County.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born about 1844, Preston Silcox was the son of Thomas Silcox and Leannah Mary Silcox. His siblings included Martha, Margaret, Emory, John, Leannah and Thomas. His father was originally from Virginia.

The Silcox family was from Morgan County. Thomas and Leannah are buried at Wartburg Cemetery. The family lived in Morgan County when the 1850 and 1860 censuses were taken, and continued to live in Morgan County when the 1870 and 1880 censuses were taken.

How Preston Silcox came to be listed on a regimental roster from Scott County isn’t clear, but he wasn’t the only non-native Scott Countian who was listed on a regimental roster from Scott County.

Civil War

Silcox enlisted in the Union army at Camp Dick Robinson in Kentucky on Aug. 20, 1861 and was assigned to Co. B of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry. He would later transfer to Co. G of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, and was reported as having deserted his company in Aug. 10, 1862 and returning on Feb. 15, 1863.

Silcox was wounded at the Battle of Rogersville in East Tennessee on Nov. 6, 1863. He died four days later at a regimental hospital. That battle was particularly deadly for Scott Countians. Many Scott County soldiers were captured at the battle and later died in Confederate prison camps.