The Tweeds were Madison County farmers and unionists. James Tweed was born in Ireland ca. 1788. His sons, Neely (b. ca. 1816), Thomas (b. ca. 1820), Abner (b. ca. 1826), and John (b. ca. 1830) were all born in North Carolina. By November 1862, Neely, Abner, and John, as well as Neely’s son, Elisha (b. ca. 1840), and Thomas’ son, Jamison (b. ca. 1845) had made there way across the mountains to Camp Dennison, Kentucky where they all enlisted in the 1st Tennessee Cavalry (Union). The author of this letter, Lucinda Tweed (b. ca. 1822), was married to Neely Tweed and together they had ten children. Elisha, who enlisted with his father, rose to the rank of Lieutenant in Co. D, 1st TN Cav. Another son, Albert (b. ca. 1845), joined the 2nd North Carolina Mounted Inf. (Union) in Knoxville in 1864. Neely Tweed apparently died in Kentucky while in the service.