Joel D. Long was the son of Samuel Long and Mary Polly Schnute / Cornutt, and was born May 15, 1827. In the 1820's and 30's Joel's family lied in Garyson Co., VA but moved to Ashe Co., N.C. After his father's death his mother and most of her children, including Joel, moved to Russell Co. (later Wise Co.) VA. Joel married Charlotte Vanover and by the time the war broke out the couple already had seven children.

The onset of the war no doubt created upheaval in Joel's family and the various members took on different directions. His sister Ananda's husband, William Stanley, was said to have been a Union sympathizer while his other sister Lucinda's husband, Larkin Stanley, fought and died for the Confederacy. It is unclear, if Joel's twin brother Joseph or his other brother Levi served, but Joel became quite active during the war. He cast his lot with the Union and earned himself a reputation as a member of Alf Killen's band.

Family stories say that Joel was an honest man who was trying to protect the farms of men who were away fighting in the war. Nevertheless, by 1863, Joel Long was one of the leaders of the band of "Homeguards" led by Union guerrilla Alf Killen who operated mainly in Eastern KY. The unit raided the homes of both Northern and Southern sympathizers pretending to be members of the opposition, stealing money, food and animals.

Joel's nickname was "Dusty Pants", probably because he was quick to get out of trouble, leaving a trail of dust behind. He carried a cane dagger and his long rifle never fired" but what a man's heels flew up". Once Joel Long returned to his home in VA to find that soldiers had taken over his house and had run off his family. Joel hid in the hills and waited until one of the soldiers came outside to feed his horse. While crawling through some fence bars, Joel shot the man's suspenders "in two".

One very cold winter night while guarding several farms, Joel thought he would freeze to death. He ran through the woods trying to keep warm. Just when he was about to collapse, he came about a den of wild hogs. He chased them away and covered himself in the leaves in which the hogs were huddled. Not knowing he was there, the hogs slowly returned and settled around him. Their body heat kept him alive through the cold night. The next morning he wanted to leave but was afraid that the hogs would attack him if they learned that he was there. He very slowly pulled out his knife and poked one of the hogs. The squealing animal scared all the others away so he was able to leave safely.

In 1863, Joel Long was involved in the shooting of Tandy Branham. Alf Killen and his men raided Branham's farm and stole a saddle horse. When Branham found out he pursued Killen and was shot and killed. Joel D. Long is believed to have done the shooting. Pursued by Confederate troops, Alf Killen and his men engaged in a fight on Big Mud Creek, Floyd, Co., KY and Killen was killed. It is unclear what exactly happened to Joel Long. One story has it that he escaped from the soldiers by wearing a woman's dress and a bonnet. Another story says that he was captured by soldiers. The troop leader told Joel that he would help him escape. When the signal was given, Joel tried to run away but the troop leader shot him in the back of the head. Believed to be dead, Joel was dumped in the woods; however, he survived and eventually recovered.

After the war, Joel Long moved to Oil Springs, Johnson Co, along with his brothers Joseph and Levi, as well as his sister Mary. His 4 other brothers and sisters remained in Wise Co., VA. Joel eventually died in Johnson Co., KY, on October 27, 1913.