John L Patterson was born about 1835 in Kentucky. He was raised primarily by his great aunt Mary Tibbs in McLean County KY. He was an assistant engineer on the steamer Peytona when the war broke out.
     At the age of 26, Patterson enlisted in the Confederate States Army in August 26, 1861 at Madisonville Kentucky traveling 105 miles to the place of rendezvous. He enlisted in Company B, 4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
     He was captured Feb 10 1862 at Fort Donaldson, Tennessee. His name appears on a roll of prisoners at Camp Morton, Indiana in June 1862. He escaped June 12, 1862.
     John also rode with Colonel Adam Rankin Johnson’s cavalry. At one point, John and his regiment were so close to McLean County that John and a friend (Jerome Clarke) went home to visit, taking some fellow soldiers with them.
     The morning following the visit, on a ride toward camp at Slaughtersville, Patterson was cut off by a squad of federals. Patterson surrendered. A federal guide rode up and fired into Patterson’s head. Although the wound was not fatal, Patterson was left blind for life.

*Sources: Watson, Thomas Shelby and Brantley, Perry A, “Confederate guerrilla Sue Mundy: a biography of Kentucky soldier Jerome Clarke, 2007, pp 10, 11, 20, and NARA service record for John L. Patterson