There were a number of prominent Dallasites who were members of Good's Dallas Light Artillery Company but John Neely Bryan, the founder of Dallas, was not among them.

John Neely Bryan's Civil War records show that he enlisted on 3 July 1861, for 6 months service in the Scyene Reserve Company, Captain John H Martin Commanding, Dallas County, 13th Brigade, Texas State Troops.

On 21 January 1862, he was enlisted by M W Dawson for a period of 1 year in Darnell's Regiment, 18th Texas Cavalry. He is shown on the roster in Company D as Private John N Bryant (sic). He is also shown in Company C of the same Regiment during the period 15 January to 30 June 1862 with a notation that he transferred from Captain M W Dawson's company 1 May 1862.

John Neely Bryan did not complete his enlistment due to his age and declining health and I do not believe he ever traveled out of Dallas with the Regiment.

One thing that sometimes creates confusion in JNB's service in Darnell's Regiment is his rank of Private contrary to some accounts which claim he was a Lieutenant.

Prior to the Civil War, from 14 April to 13 August 1860, John Neely Bryan served as Lieutenant in the Dallas County Mounted Rangers, commanded by Captain Nicholas H Darnell.

A Confederate headstone was placed in the Austin State Hospital Cemetery in 2005 marking the presumed location of John Neely Bryan's remains.

His son, John N Bryan, Jr served in Burford's Regiment, 19th Texas Cavalry. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Texas.

M C