William H. GIESLER

                        FROM GEORGE E. GEISLER - "OCCUPATION: TEACHER.  HE WAS A TEACHER AT THE JEFFERSON ACADEMY (ESTABLISHED IN 1806 IN BLOUNTVILLE) .  WILLIAM TAUGHT THERE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.  HE ENLISTED IN THE CONFEREDATE ARMY IN 1861 AT AGE 17.
HE ACHIEVED THE RANK OF FIRST SERGEANT IN CO. K, 26TH REGIMENT, TENNESSEE INFANTRY.  HE WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR SULLIVAN COUNTRY FROM 1875-1879."
     HE FILED AN AFFIDAVIT IN 1910 WHICH HELPED SECURE A VETERAN'S PENSION FOR WILLIAM DULANEY HARKLEROAD.  THE TWO WERE TOGETHER WHEN THE WAR ENDED -"WHEN THE WAR ENDED HE AND WILLIAM H. GIESLER HAD BEEN GIVEN LEAVE TO GO HOME, AND TO RETURN WITH ANY HORESE THAT COULD BE ROUNDED UP.  THEY LEARNED THAT LEE HAD SURRENDERED BEFORE THEY GOT HOME, SO THEY BOTH CONTINUED ON HOME AND NEVER RETURNED TO THEIR UNIT."