16th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Neal's)

Historical Notes:
The Tennessee 16th Cavalry Battalion was organized in October, 1862, with four companies, later increased to six. The men were from Roane, McMinn, Rhea, Greene, and Hawkins counties. It served in Pegram's, J.J. Morrison's, H.B. Davidson's, Grisby's, and Vaughn's Brigade. From June, 1863 to March, 1864, the 12th and 16th Battalions were consolidated into a field organization known as Rucker's Legion. This command saw action at Chickamauga and in Tennessee, and on January 31, 1864, it totalled 171 effectives. During April, 1864, the 16th had 147 members and moved into the Valley of Virginia where it was engaged at Piedmont . It went on to confront the Federals in Virginia and Tennessee, moved to North Carolina, and probably disbanded in Georgia during the spring of 1865. Officers:
Lieutenant Colonel:
John R. Neal
Majors:
F. J. Paine
Edmund W. Rucker
Assignments:
Pegram's, J.J. Morrison's, H.B. Davidson's, Grisby's, and Vaughn's Brigade.
Field Consolidation with the TN 16th Cavalry Battalion to form Rucker’s Legion. (June 1863)
Brigadier General H. B. Davidson's Brigade, of Pegram's Division. Rucker's Legion was then placed in Colonel J. Warren Grigsby's Brigade, Brigadier General John H. Kelly's Division, of Major General Joseph Wheeler's Cavalry Corps (September 1863)
Battles:
Chickamauga
Piedmont
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1229 men.

The battalion as originally organized was composed of only four companies, "A" to D"; Company "E" was assigned some time after October, 1862; Company "T" assigned December 26, 1862, and another company, Captain Fitzgerald's, was assigned in June, 1863, but soon disbanded. These companies were as follows:
CAPTAINS
William C. Eblen, James W. Rogers, Thomas 3. Brown, George C. Montgomery, Co. "A". Organized May 1, 1862 at Post Oak Springs, Roane County. A note on the muster roll reads: "accepted by General E. K. Smith as mountain guides March 20, 1862.
John R. Neal (lieutenant colonel), R. F. Mastin, Co. "B", also called "C". Organized May 31, 1862 at Athens, McMinn County. William P. Darwin, Co. "C", also called "B". Organized May 31, 1862 at Washington, Rhea County. Some enlistments as early as May 14, 1862.
Benjamin T. Brown, D. L. Hassler, Francis M. Murray, Thomas H. Mastin, Co. "D". Organized September 20, 1862 at Kingston, Roane County.
Thomas S. Rumbough, Thomas L. Williams, Co. "E". Organized August 7, 1862 at Greeneville, Greene County.
Michael Staley, Co. "F". Organized October 1, 1862 at War Gap, Hawkins County.
John F. Fitzgerald's Company. No muster roll. Battalion reports state officers inefficient, and most of men deserted, and company disbanded and men assigned to other companies.
Bibliography for Research:
Crute, Joseph Units of the Confederate States Army Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987. Concise summary of the units service.

Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies...Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, The Confederate Units and the Indian Units. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, 1995. (2 photocopied pages). E547S53.

Southern Historical Society The Southern Historical Society Papers. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998.

U. S. Government Printing Office. Official Records of the American Civil War Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

Rigdon, John C. - Editor Civil War Soldiers Service Records - Tennessee. 2012. Davenport, IA Eastern Digital Resources.