Rodney was the eldest son of John Quincy and Angelina Walden Adams. He was raised in Garrard County and Lincoln County, Kentucky.

Rodney served as a Private in Company B of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry C.S.A. during the War Between the States.

Rodney enlisted on September 8, 1862, at Stanford, Kentucky, for a period of three years. He was enlisted by General Buford. Rodney originally served in Company B of Grigsby's Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry.

Grigsby's Regiment was first assigned to Brigadier General Buford's Brigade and composed a part of that brigade from September 1862 until March of 1863. The specific assignments were (1) Buford's Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Mississippi, Department #2 (September - November 1862); (2) Buford's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Tennessee (November - December 1862); (3) Buford's Brigade, Wheeler's Cavalry Division, Army of Tennessee (December 1862 - Marcy 1863). While with that brigade the regiment took part in the Battle of Perryville (October 8, 1862) and in various skirmishes incident to Bragg's retreat from Kentucky. It also participated in the Battle of Murfreesboro (December 31, 1862 - January 3, 1863).

Rodney is present on the company muster roll for November 1862 - February 1863.

On about February 1, 1863, Grigsby's Kentucky Cavalry and Bullitt's Kentucky Cavalry consolidated to form the 6th Kentucky Cavalry. Rodney's company became Company B, 6th Kentucky Cavalry.

In March of 1863, the 6th Kentucky Cavalry was transferred to the command of Brigadier General John H. Morgan. The 6th Kentucky Cavalry was first assigned to Duke's Brigade, Morgan's Cavalry Division, Army of Tennesse (March 1863), and then to Duke's Brigade, Morgan's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee (March - July 1863). Soon after its assignment to Morgan's command, the regiment took part in an engagement at Milton, Tennessee, in March of 1863. The regiment continued under Gen. Morgan's command until the entire regiment was captured during the last days of Morgan's Great Raid into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in July of 1863.

Rodney was captured during that raid, on July 20, 1863, at Cheshire, Ohio.

He was first taken to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was received on July 26, 1863. About a month later, on August 20, 1863, Rodney was transferred to Camp Douglas, a prisoner-of-war camp in Chicago, Illinois. Rodney was received at Camp Douglas on August 22, 1863.

Rodney remained a prisoner at Camp Douglas until March 2, 1865, when he was paroled and transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland, for exchange.

Rodney rejoined the troops. He surrendered on May 6, 1865, at Athens, Georgia. He subscribed to oath of allegiance on May 27, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.

We think it likely that Rodney was part of Gen. Duke's troops that escorted President Jefferson Davis out of Richmond.

Rodney was shot and killed at the home of Stephen Cummins, in Pulaski County, near the Lincoln-Pulaski County line. Rodney, his brother Mack, and several friends attacked the house. Rodney was shot and killed as he broke down the front door. Accounts from the time give different accounts of the event. Some say the attack was to avenge the death of Rodney and Mack's father, John Quincy Adams, who had been ambushed and killed several years earlier. Rodney and Mack believed that Cummins was responsible for the murder. Other accounts report that the attack was Ku Klux activity, meant to exterminate an abolitionist.
In addition to Rodney, Cummins and his daughter were also killed in the gun fight. Another member of Rodney and Mack's group - name unknown at this time - died several days later from wounds received in the shoot out.

Rodney's tombstone is clearly inscribed with a death date of September 26, 1868. Newspaper accounts from the time show that Rodney actually died on September 19th.

With all due respect, the account published in the Garrard County Cemetery book, stating that Rodney was killed by turkeys in a wagon when they tripped over a gun is entirely incorrect. We greatly respect Mr. Forrest Calico, and can only imagine this may be the story told to him, but it is incorrect.