John Alexander Nail

In 1860 he was a 21 year old farmer living with his maternal uncle physician Matthew A Locke, his family, and 6 slaves at Mt Vernon in Rowan County, NC. He enlisted in Mocksville, Davie County, NC on 26 April 1861 and mustered as a Private in Company F of the 3rd North Carolina Infantry on 15 May in Garysburg, NC. The regiment was re-designated the 13th North Carolina Infantry on 14 November 1861. He was elected First Corporal on 28 April 1862 during the army reorganization.

He was captured in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was a prisoner at Fort Delaware until 2 October, when he was sent to Aikens' Landing, VA for exchange. He was formally exchanged on 10 November, promoted to 3rd Sergeant, and returned to his company. He was promoted to 2nd Sergeant on 17 April 1863 and was wounded at Chancellorsville, VA on 3 May and again at Gettysburg, PA on 1 July and captured there on 3 July. He was in a US hospital in Chester, PA to 23 September, when he was paroled and sent to City Point, VA for exchange. He had been appointed First Sergeant on 1 September, but was reduced to 5th Sergeant about May 1864 and detailed to the Division ordnance train. He returned from detail sometime after October 1864 and was surrendered and paroled at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

By 1870 and to at least 1900 he was a farmer at Mt Ulla/Cleveland in Rowan County, NC.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists, also as John Alexander Naile, and the US Census of 1860-1900. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Margaret Ann Hyde (1841-1884) in November 1866 and they had 7 children. He married again, Mary Catherine Graham (1849-1933) in February 1886 and they had a son Oscar (1888-1976).

11/14/1839; Davie County, NC

11/08/1908; Rowan County, NC; burial in Ebenezer Church Cemetery, Mount Ulla, NC