If you are familiar with the rate, the causes and effects of Texas men who enlisted in the Confederacy and who subsequently deserted to serve the Union, I would very much like to hear from you. Of particular interest to me would be how they were treated by the Union forces and, then, how they were treated by their communities when and if they returned to their homes. While my ancestor's experience, as related below, was in Texas, the events in other states would, I suspect, be similar. In 1844 my ancestor GREGORY SIMON (born 1822 in Husseren-Wesserling, Alsace-Lorraine) immigrated, by way of Salzburg and Antwerp to the port of Galveston and settled in the town of Brazoria in Brazoria County, Texas. On the Company Muster Roll for November and December 1863 appearing in the National Archives' Confederate records, GREGORY is recorded as having enlisted on September 5 at Brazoria in the Confederacy as a Pvt. in the 2nd Co. H, Bates Reg't Texas Vols. The Muster Roll goes on to say that he was last paid on November 1, 1863. The only other paper appearing in the National Archives file is another Muster Roll-type form which lists GREGORY as "sick near camp" on Oct 19, 1863. 1) An original handwritten military order in my family's possession reads as follows: "USS Forest Rose off Waterproof 12 June 64 Permission is granted to Gregory Simon to go to Natchez there to report to Pro. Marshall. (Signed) Jno V. Johnston Act Vol(?) Lt(?) Comsly(sp?)" On the reverse of this order appear these words: "Respectfully refer this man to Capt. Gaston(sp?). He wants to work as a wagon maker. (Signed) W. O. Reynolds(sp?)" 2) >From the Deck Log of the USS Forrest Rose, volume 2 also in the National Archives in Washington D.C., the following appears: "11 June 1864: "Meridian to 4 p.m.: "At l:15 came to anchor off Waterproof in one fathom of Water." (The log indicates that the ship did not move before the following appears): "12 June 1864: "Midnight to 4 a.m.: No change "4 to 8 a.m.: At 4:30 sent an armed boat on shore in answer to a hail and brought off a Rebel deserter Gregory Simonson" (and subsequently the following mention of a "Rebel defector"):: "15 June 1864: Reference is made to putting "a rebel defector" ashore but what location is not mentioned. Again, I would appreciate any comments or suggestions of books or articles written on this subject. Thanks. Newton Brand Houston

I have no idea about good books on the subject. I have a ancestor that was in Johnson County, TX. David McLean McADOO/McADOW was a brother to my gg-grandmother Mary Hannah McADOW/DILLIARD. The folks of Johnson County kidnapped David and took him to the CSA camp. There they forced him to enlist. He later escaped making his way into Kansas. There he joined the Union: Fifth Regiment Kansas Volunteers - Cavalry Company H. David died in Little Rock, Arkansas July 1865 at the age of 27. This was reported in a hand written letter by his mother. It was in the Pension she drew from the government on David. Thanks, Vickye White Rt. 1 Box 96 3477 N. FM 1212 Stanton, TX 79782 Where is Bin Laden? Anyone remember him? Please visit my website: http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Park/2777/footstepsbackintime.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~txcottle/ Michelle's Website: http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Park/2447/mainpage.html "Patriotism means to stand by the country, it does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official..." Theodore Roosevelt