Dear Mr. Hodge: You're information was really great and by your response you seem to be very learned. My ancestor was really John S. Cunningham, but one of my relatives said that she believed he was in 2nd Ashby's. I have been searching for him for about 6 years now and can't confirm which unit he was in. The cavalry of Tn seems to be very mixed up when it comes to rosters of men. I have spent much money and searched the usual sources to find him. I have some oral history to go on, but it has been very frustrating. John is the son of Mordicia Cunningham from Claiborne Co. (1830-1912). He is listed in the 1910 census with no military history, but my grandfather said that all the men went to fight. There are many friends and relatives in Carter's and Ashby's cavalry, but his name is not directly listed. Through much research, I found his name as JS Cunningham in the records of Camp Morton prison, being captured in the 1st Tn cav near Staunton Va with some of his neighbors, but I can't be sure this is him.
If you can help me to confirm his military history I will be more than glad to pay you. The info on JS Cunningham from Camp Morton and the National Archives doesn't say much. I believe there are some errors in our history that are throwing me off. Yes half of the family fought for the Union, but according to my grandfather the other fought for the South. The historian, Mr Ubanski, said that John's brother Francis Franklin Cunningham was a Capt in the 4th/8th Tn Cav, but he gave no conclusive evidence and his military record could not confirm.