I'm looking for information on the 16th Battalion (NEALS) Tennessee Cavalry (CSA). My great grandfather, two of his brothers and a few of his uncles, cousins, etc., all from Morgan County, Tennessee, enlisted in (or were drafted into?) the 16th, on 20 September 1862 at Kingston, Roane Sounty, Tennessee.

By the end of October, the 16th was assigned to Colonel J. S. Scott's Cavalry brigade. On 20 November the 16th was "unattached & on 27 December they were on "conscript duty", whatever that was. On 20 February 1863, they were reported in Brigadier General John Pegram's Brigade. By 25 April 1863 they were reported in Colonel I.I. Morrison's Brigade, at Albany, Kentucky. On 1 June 1863 the 16th and 12th Battalions were consolidated into a field organization known as Rucker's Legion (also called 1st East Tennessee Legion). After this, I lose track of the 16th, as a discreet unit - maybe because it was "consolidated"?

My great grandfather was captured on 28 November 1863 by Union forces under the command of Major General George H. Thomas at Blythes Ferry on the Hiwassee River, was forwarded the Military Prison at Louisville, Kentucky, supposedly for the purpose of being exchanged, but on 10 December 1863 was sent from Louisville to Rock Island Prison, where he spent most of the rest of the war. One of his brothers died at Fort Valley, Georgia in May 1864. Except for a cousin who was also at Rock Island, none of his other relatives were captured, but most were discharged at different places in NC & VA. I guess my main question is - were the guys in the 16th just assigned to whatever other outfit that was handy, or did they mostly stay with one unit - and if so, what unit & what battles did they participate in?

Ernie Hurst