BIO: Henry PRESAW, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 40

HENRY PRESAW, son of Henry and Barbara (Smith) Presaw, was born near Hanover, 
January 20, 1832.  Henry, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest in a 
family of six children.  He learned the trade of blacksmith and followed it for 
many years.  At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company I (Capt. 
Russell), First Maryland Cavalry.  He was in the first raid made by Gen. 
Stoneman in the Shenandoah Valley, and was also in the battles of Winchester, 
Rappahannock Dam, Briscoe Station, Gettysburg, Malvern Hill, Front Royal, 
Maryland Heights and Brandy Station.  At an engagement on the Weldon Railroad, 
Mr. Presaw lost his left leg (August 16, 1864), by a minie ball, and had his leg 
amputated the same day.  He was sent to Beverly Hospital, New Jersey, and 
remained there about six weeks, and then removed to the hospital at Broad and 
Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, and remained there about three months, when he was 
honorably discharged.  Few soldiers from this section have seen more hard 
service than the subject of this sketch.  January 20, 1872, Mr. Presaw married 
Catherine Mate, of York, Penn.