John Nuckols was a Virginian who fought for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Nuckols was part of Virginia’s Sixth Cavalry.

Nuckols was born in 1831, or somewhere in the early 1800s in Virginia (Different sources have different dates). He had a brother named Robert Nuckols, and a man named William Childress living in his house. According to most sources, Nuckols was the oldest in the house. He was first enlisted to Virginia’s Sixth Cavalry on May 27, 1861 in Alleghany and in Ashland, Virginia, by a man with the name of Maj. Johnson. Robert Nuckols and William Childress were enlisted with him as well. The three of them all lived together in the city of Buckingham. Unfortunately, there is no information on Nuckols family. I could not find anything about his mother or father. Since there are no records of his family, this probably indicates that something happened to them while Nuckols was enlisted. Records show that he was present for most of the company’s muster roll, but they do not give any information about which battles Nuckols fought in. Virginia’s 6th Cavalry completed its organization in November, 1861, at Manassas, Virginia. Men of this unit were raised in Loudoun, Rappahannock, Clarke, Rockingham, Pittsylvania, Fairfax, Halifax, Fauquier, and Orange counties. The unit served in Robertson's, W.E. Jones', Lomax's, and Payne's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in Jackson's Valley Campaign and in the conflicts at Second Manassas, Brandy Station, Upperville, Fairfield, Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Spotsylvania, Haw's Shop, and Cold Harbor. The regiment went on to take part in Early's Shenandoah Valley operations and the Appomattox Campaign. Only 3 men surrendered on April 9, 1865, as most of the cavalry cut through the Federal lines and later disbanded. The 6th Cavalry were engaged in many battles including the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Gettysburg. During the Battle of Antietam, the Union had an overwhelming advantage of 75,500 soldiers facing 38,000 Confederates. The casualties of the battle were a combined 22,717 dead, wounded or missing. John Nuckols death is a complete mystery, but looking at how other soldiers in the 6th Virginia Cavalry died, it was most likely by disease because sanitation was not the best back in those days. The way he died should not matter, the fact that he fought for what he believed in and was ready to put his life at risk shows that he was a brave and strong soldier.

John Nuckols spent a big part of his life in war, he fought for the Confederacy with confidence. People should realize that these men risked their lives for our country, Union or Confederate, we as Americans should appreciate that and think about it every once in awhile, that we probably would not be here if it weren’t for the soldiers who fought for our country. I hope that John Nuckols records stay alive, as well as the others who fought, it’s the only thing we have left of them.