War Between the States
I was surprised to learn that my ancestor Thomas Neal had at least two sons, Jesse and John, who served during the War Between the States. One in blue, one in gray.
John, my great great grandfather, did serve with in the Confederate Army, with the 3rd Forrest’s Tennessee Cavalry. I had the records to prove it.
Grandpa Kenneth Neal knew that his grandfather had been in the Civil War, but was stunned to learn that he’d fought with the rebels. John Neal’s military records did reveal that he’d deserted.
Grandpa insisted that his grandmother Rhoda received a pension after John died, as a Union veteran. I sent an application for records of John Neal, this time with “Union” on it. He had indeed joined the 9th Regiment of the Indiana Cavalry.
John and Rhoda Neal are buried, with his parents, in the Dexter Cemetery. His brother Jesse is buried in the remote Roberts Cemetery in Adair County, Iowa. He served in Co. C 1st Tennessee Cavalry. I’ve never found a picture of Jesse Neal.
Rhoda (Marshall) Neal’s 1920 obituary said that she was “part of the most perplexing periods in the history of this country.” A very perplexing period indeed.