There are some .org sites listed.... http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1474245/tips_for_researching_africanamerican.html?cat=37

Note: .org Genealogy Libraries in the U. S. of A.........http://www.gwest.org/gen_libs.htm Those that I contacted, you don't have to press "1" for English.

Ancestry Gene Tests Need Firmer Science, Report Says Companies that sell gene tests to help people trace their lineage offer “no quality assurance guarantee” and should strengthen the science behind their services, researchers led by a Duke University scientist said. Ancestry.com Inc. in Provo, Utah, Pathway Genomics Corp. in San Diego, and 23andMe Inc. in Mountain View, California, are among almost 40 companies worldwide that sell such products. Officials from these enterprises should meet with geneticists, physicians and U.S. agencies to “brainstorm” about ways to improve their tests and databases, seven scientists said in a report published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. “The time is now for no-holds-barred discussions among the players, particularly among scientists who must more purposefully and constructively critique one another’s premises, methodologies, findings, and interpretations of findings,” said the authors, led by Charmaine Royal, an associate research professor at Duke’s Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, in Durham, North Carolina. Consumers shouldn’t jump to conclusions about lineage, or where ancestors might have lived, on the basis of genetic ancestry tests, said Joann Boughman, executive vice president of the American Society of Human Genetics, the Bethesda, Maryland- based organization that sponsored the study. “It’s not that we don’t think ancestry is important or interesting -- we think it is,” Boughman said yesterday in an interview. “But these tests are complex, and there may be more variation” in a person’s roots “than is implied.” You can read more in an article by Molly Peterson published in Business Week at http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-13/ancestry-gene-tests-need-firmer-science-report-says-update1-.html Provided by David E. Cummins

When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist by Natalie Cottrill, ProGenealogists, Inc. People hire professional genealogists for many different reasons. We're hired for short record searches, breaking through a difficult lineage, helping a client join the DAR, complex multi-year book projects, and more. If your project has to do with historical research of people, professional genealogists can help you. They will customize their research services to fit your needs. If you lack either the time, knowledge, tools, expertise, or access to specialized information necessary to get the information you want, then you will really enjoy working with and engaging the services of a professional genealogist. You'll probably want to consider hiring a professional genealogist if you: * Do not have the time to do research, * Do not have the temperament or patience to do research, * Do not have the appropriate skills to conduct research, * Have research requiring a specialty or other expertise, * Have research requiring access to a particular set of records, * Have research requiring fluency in foreign language and culture, * Have a stumbling block that needs another point of view, * Have time and money, but prefer to have a trusted professional genealogist perform the research. Once you make the decision to hire a professional in order to have the job done well and accurately, you'll probably make your decision in the same way you do when you hire other professionals -- whether it is your accountant, doctor, or household electrician. You'll judge a professional genealogist's education, apparent skills, and number of years in practice, and then weigh these factors with the references they provide. Specifically, here are some of the following items to review when deciding which professional genealogist, or research firm, to hire: * Number of years conducting professional genealogical research, * Type of training and education * Applicability of the professional's specialties (foreign language skills, etc.) to your needs * References or referrals * Certification or accreditation will show that the professional's skills have been peer reviewed * Review and read the professional's published works Professional Genealogist or ...? As you go about looking for help, you'll find that a lot of people call themselves "professional genealogists." It can be confusing. One of the biggest factors to consider, when you're hiring someone, is professional experience. There is a big experience difference between someone who spends only a few hours each weekend doing a few searches, and a career professional genealogist. A career professional genealogist is one whose sole means of support comes from their genealogy research income, so they usually work 30 to 70 or more hours each week. So, it stands to reason that career professionals will have many more research hours "under their belt" than part-time weekend researchers have. During the course of fulfilling my job duties at ProGenealogists, Inc., I review many hundreds of professional genealogists' reports every year. It is pretty clear to me and my colleagues that the number of years genealogists have conducted full-time professional client research makes a BIG difference in the number of cl ever methodologies and knowledge that they can put to use in order to solve a tough genealogy problem. Experienced professional genealogists are better able to make reasoned and educated analyses, too. By engaging the services of a career professional, you can be more assured that you'll be working with someone who has all the tools necessary to effectively help you. Career professionals are fully invested in their work, and they have to be, in order to be competitive and earn a living. So, successful professional genealogists work hard to be well trained and educated. Most have advanced college degrees or college level instruction. So, their writing will likely be clearer and more articulate. You want to be able to understand what your professional genealogist has done for you, and the results. So, look at their educational background. If possible, take the opportunity to read a few research reports, or published articles by the professionals you are considering. These will tell you some important things about their writing skills and abilities. Professional genealogists will work hard to make sure that the research results and writing that they offer to you are the best they can be. This is the way they earn your trust so that you'll hire them again, and/or recommend them to your associates. When selecting a professional genealogist, make sure that he or she has the special research skills needed to accomplish your goals. For instance, if your research is in France, then it is important to hire a professional genealogist with experience researching within the French culture, language, and records. If you need help with known Native American ancestry, it would be best to consult with a specialist in Native American research. Finally, when discussing some of the ways you can differentiate among professional genealogists, you will find that career professionals aren't afraid to have their professionalism reviewed. So, these professionals will belong to professional organizations, like the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Board for Certification of Genealogists, the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists, or the Better Business Bureau, and/or they will work for a professional research firm with internal quality control and review procedures. Professionals who regularly please their clientele will have a ready supply of references or referrals to present to you. So, you can always ask for referrals. Availability After reviewing all the above information about professional genealogists with whom you are interested in working, you'll want to check on their availability. Ask professionals about their about turn-around time. Keep in mind that the best professional genealogists are in high demand. You will find that the best career professional genealogists WILL be booked several weeks and sometimes months ahead of time, so you'll have to decide whether or not your research can wait on their availability. What do You Need? Do you need only a single record (a naturalization, a marriage record, or a birth record)? If so, then your financial risk is probably relatively low. In cases like these, an extensive contract is probably not necessary. An email or letter describing the desired record search, sent with the appropriate sized retainer, could be sufficient. One word of caution on single record searches: Make sure the records you want searched really exist. It is not unusual for a client to ask for the birth record of John Doe, who was born in 1832 in Ohio, when, in fact, birth records weren't kept in Ohio until 1867. If you're not sure what record you need, in order to get the information you want, the best thing to do is hire your professional genealogist for a consultation. That way, he or she can look at your research goal, and help you decide what records will answer or meet that goal. Do you have difficult ancestral research you'd like done? Do you want a family history book written? Do you want four generations of your family tree built? Do you need a family chart prepared for a reunion? The number of hours and cost for research will depend on what you need. Some professional genealogists will provide you a minimal cost and feasibility evaluation at no charge. Certainly, it doesn't hurt to ask. It probably is wise to have a professional genealogist provide you a brief evaluation, even if you are asked to pay for it, before you invest hundreds or thousands of dollars into research. This evaluation will give you some idea of the feasibility and likelihood of success for your project. Finally, make sure you prioritize your research goals when you hire your professional. This is important! Even when a feasibility study has been done, sometimes the research time will run out before the professional can reach all your goals. When you prioritize your goals, your professional will work on th e ones that are most important to you, first. Contracts If you're engaging a professional genealogist for something more than just a simple record search, please make sure that you and the professional genealogist have worked out a written contract and budget. A contract can be simple -- a list your research goals, the time and money you're authorizing for research, and then when you and your professional have agreed that the work should be done. Just like experts in other fields, you'll find that career professional genealogists charge hourly rates that are commensurate with their skill level, education, experience, and demand. The best genealogists will ask whatever fee they can command and still have adequate work. Genealogists with unique research abilities or specialties could charge premium rates. Determine your needs, set your goals, and your budget, and then communicate with your professional. These are keys for success. One other thing � there are often other fees come into play during the research process (cost of copies, travel expenses, certificates, government documents, and postage, etc.). So, when evaluating the cost of your research, make sure you understand what other fees your research might incur. Budgets Some research will be more expensive because it is harder. Since most professional genealogists charge hourly, the total cost or reaching your research goal will vary. For instance, if you want a specific record found and copied, it will probably take only a few hours and be done relatively quickly. But, if you want a family book written, there will likely be thousands of hours of research involved, so the cost could be well into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, and then take several years to complete. Modern (post 1900 research) research is generally easier, because there are usually a good many genealogically informative records to study. So, it will be relatively less expensive. But, genealogical research becomes more and more difficult and specialized as it moves farther back in time, or moves to other countries. Since more difficult research takes more time, it will naturally cost more. Discovering the ancestry of Richard Bruce, who was born 1927 in Great Britain, will be far less costly than working to discover the ancestry of a Richard Bruce, who was born 1279 in England! In fact, don't be surprised to find that the work is exponentially more expensive, because for the latter Richard Bruce you'll need a professional genealogist who specializes in medieval research, and their skills will command higher rates. It takes many years of specialized training to be able to decipher old handwriting, and to evaluate the meaning of records in relation to the laws and culture of the time. In summary, you'll find that career professional genealogists are often among the finest experts in the field. So, you should expect to pay an hourly rate at least equivalent to professionals in other fields (e.g. what hourly rate do you play your plumber, computer technician, accountant or lawyer?). In the end, it is up to you, now a well-educated genealogical consumer, to evaluate your research needs, and consider the amount that you want to spend on your research, then decide how to proceed. Communication Historical research is often unpredictable. Who can predict what is specifically recorded (or not recorded) about your ancestors in old documents? So the results of even the best professional research may not always be positive or high-yield. Even when a professional genealogist's professional experience, education, skills, or background are the best available, research might discover that historical records don't say much about your ancestors. Or, it could be the case that the records needed to answer your research goals no longer exist. In cases like these, skilled and successful professionals will try alternative research methods in order to try to find answers for you. But, keep in mind that it is possible that those answers will not be found, no matter how much time and money is invested in research. If you're concerned about this, you can certainly ask the professional to let you know if their research for you hits any unexpected snags. Especially for anything other than a single item record search, please make sure an agreement or contract is made in writing. This is repeated from an earlier paragraph, to stress its importance. This will protect you and the professional genealogist from misunderstandings. Also, be fully forthcoming with the professional genealogist and let him or her know everything you know about the family being researched. Let the professional know the records sources you've already studied. No professionals want to be told that their work only duplicated what you've already done. But, they won't know what you've done, unless you tell them. Professionals want to cover new ground for you, so that they have a better chance of getting you the information you want. That way, you'll be impressed with their efforts, and they can feel good knowing that they helped yet another person find family. Done right, historical research can take time. So, while the research is going on, please be patient. Your professional is not going to have reached any conclusions about the research until they have used up all the hours you gave them. So, dropping them e-mail every week asking for an update will only take up your billable time, because they have to stop everything, analyze the records, and write up a summary. So, if you want them to commit all their billable time on actual research and then the final report to you, then trust your professional to get the work done on schedule, and trust that they will contact you, if something out of the ordinary arises. Professional genealogists want you to enjoy the results, and come back to hire them for more! So, they are going to do the very best they can for you. Ultimately, it is critical that you trust that the professional genealogist you've chosen will do the best work they can for you, so that you can both enjoy a rewarding relationship, working together to discover your family history. Thanks for taking the time to learn more about professional genealogists and how to find, and work with, the very best one for your needs. May you have many wonderful relationships with your future professional genealogists, and may you find every ancestor you seek! About the Author Natalie Cottrill is a professional genealogist who, for the past 15 years, has concentrated upon researching North American family histories. She specializes in solving research problems in difficult pre-1850 lineages, immigration, 20th century and common surnames. Natalie is an executive officer at ProGenealogists, Inc., a consortium of genealogists based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She belongs to the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and to Mensa, Intl. You can reach her at ncottrill@progenealogists.com or at the ProGenealogists website.

Genealogy Etiquette * Be polite to everyone. This include librarians, government employees, fellow genealogists, family members, and anyone else you run into. You never know who can help you with those big questions or grant you some huge favors, so it pays to develop a good reputation with everyone you meet. Greet everyone with a smile, and say "hello" or "good morning" (or whatever time of day it is). Say "please," "thank you," "excuse me," "could you tell me ..." (before questions rather than just saying "hey, where's the section on ..."), and other polite phrases when appropriate. Send thank you cards or notes whenever possible. * Don't ask, expect, or try to manipulate anyone to do the work for you. This again includes librarians, government employees, fellow genealogists, family members, etc. Don't ask a librarian to find all the information about Uncle Joe (you should have done your homework to find out what items you need to look at). You can, however, ask the librarian to show you where those items are. Don't try to guilt your mother into sitting down and filling out all of your genealogy charts for you because "she knows the answers better than you do" while you go out for a night on the town, but you can ask her to help you do it by sitting down with you or interviewing her. Don't send any requests by mail without a self-addressed-stamped-envelope. Don't assume that a fellow genealogist should want to give up his/her free time to study up on your ancestor (even if they are studying the same family), and don't assume that anyone else researching your family tree should give you all of the information they've found (you can politely ask for it, and pay for shipping, but don't expect it). * Be especially careful with sources. This includes books, journals, records, microfilm, CD-ROMs, photographs, and so forth no matter where you find or use them (e.g. at a library, at your uncle's home, in your own attic, and so forth). You go to a library, check out a database on CD-Rom, and discover that the disc has been scratched by another patron and can't be read; oh, the aggravation. Of course, the library could probably get another CD-Rom, but it's still a pain in the neck to have to wait and hope that they get the funds to purchase a new one. Some items can't be replaced, like official records, so once you spill your coffee on it, it's ruined for everyone else who looks at it after you; let's just hope it can still be read. It's also irritating to see that somebody has taken notes directly on the document or on a piece of paper that was on top of the document, indenting the document with their handwriting. Some people even use a highlighter. Other irritations include tearing pages (big or tiny tears), breaking spines in books, wrinkling pages (such as with paperclips, by placing all but the edges of it in a closed book, sitting on it accidentally, and so forth), trying to "fix" pages when you don't have the proper document restoration supplies or techniques to do it (such as taping up a tear, using whiteout on marks you or other people made on the page, or correcting a date that you think is wrong), and letting your dog, cat, child, or [fill in the blank here] get a hold of the document because you didn't keep it in a place where they couldn't get to it. * Look respectable. Dress the part of a serious researcher and you'll be treated like a serious researcher. While this is primarily to help you get assistance (a clerk will be much more willing to help you if you look like you just came out of a business meeting on casual Friday than if you dress like biker or punk star), it also helps the people around you to feel comfortable. * Don't be arrogant. So, you read the Genealogy for Dummies book; that doesn't make you an expert. Always be willing to learn from others, and never assume that your information is 100% correct and everybody else is wrong. Keep an open mind, and don't take criticism personally. You lean something new every day in this hobby / profession, so keep educating yourself. * Follow the rules. Don't go to a library, archive office, or even your grandma's house without knowing and observing the rules. Don't complain about them, either. If hours of operation are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, you need to be out the door at 6:00 pm. If you are supposed to sit and take notes at a specific table, do so rather than sitting in the aisle or going to some other area where you'll just be in everybody else's way. If grandma says, "no shoes in the house," take off those shoes. * Put things back where they belong. Don't you hate it when you go to a library, look up a particular book that you want in the catalog, make sure that it is available, go to the shelf where it's supposed to be, and discover that it isn't there because somebody put it where it didn't belong or left it where they were last using it? It drives me nuts, just as it drives other researches crazy. If you can't remember exactly where something should go, ask somebody who does know (preferably somebody who works there) to help you. The same goes for items in somebody's home. If you take a box out of the attic, put everything back into the box the way you found it, and put the box back in the attic (unless the individual has given you permission to organize it). * Give credit to others for their work. I know it's so easy to just download a GEDCOM files off the Internet, put it in our family tree, smile, and say, "I did that," then publish it on your website as your own, but doing so is completely unethical. When you use information from somebody else, give them credit (even if it's the U.S. government) and ask permission when necessary. * Share your work. There are many fellow genealogists struggling for a tiny clue to help them fill in their holes, and your work may provide them with that clue. Of course, don't share any information about any person who is still living without that person's consent, and make sure that all of your work is well documented and based on solid research. * Stick to the standards. Don't invent a new way to abbreviate the names of locations or to write dates. You'll just confuse everyone. If you insist that your method of [fill in the blank] is better, make sure you explain all of your abbreviations, format, and so forth whenever you share your work. * Know how to use your tools. If you use a library, learn how to look up information in the library (you can find tutorials and guides online and in print, talk to your librarian, or take a class). If you use a computer, know how to use it as well as all of the software and peripherals you use (look for tutorials or guides online and in print or take a class). Learn how to use office equipment, such as a photocopier, fax machine, and so forth, so you won't have to bother people to help you. * Tell people how you plan to use their stories, documents, and so forth. Don't take notes while having a conversation with a family member and use what you've learned in your work without letting your family member know about it. You can easily say, "Oh, I'll have to add that to my family history / genealogy project. That's so interesting." If you plan on sharing your work with others, be sure you tell your family members this as well. Ask them if they would be willing to let other family members, genealogists, and historians read a letter they wrote you or see the notes you took during your conversation. If they are not willing, ask them if you could simply put their name as the source for information you've collected. If they refuse that, you can still share your work but note that the individuals who provided some of the information wish to remain anonymous (you can always use their names as sources after they die, but that doesn't mean you get to start having morbid thoughts about waiting for your family members to meet the reaper, so you can publish their names).

Family Chronicle's top picks for genealogy: http://www.familychronicle.com/webpicks.htm Remember, ".com means $.$$."

African Ancestry in Mississippi sites: http://www.afrigeneas.com/states/ms/

I know loinger contribnute to trees on Ancestry.com.  I have my on FTM on my computer.  I do subscribe to them to get infomation.  This info use to be free on the internet.  I will not assist someone if I know they are going to charge for the information I give them.  Sammie Jean Gregory Fairchild LDS is great resource for looking up information.  I use it a lot also

This site was fruitful, in that I found a distant cusin born in Ethel, MS that settled in California California Digital Newspaper Collection http://cdnc.ucr.edu/about_us.html The California Digital Newspaper Collection covers the years 1846 through 1922, plus a few months in 2006 and 2008. The collection includes the following newspapers: Daily Alta California, 1849–1891; San Francisco Call, 1890–1912; Amador Ledger, 1900–1911; Imperial Valley Press, 1901–1911; Sacramento Daily Union, 1851–1895; the Los Angeles Herald, 1905–1910; the Californian, 1846–1848; the California Star, 1847–1848; California Star and Californian, 1848; Sacramento Transcript, 1850–1851; Placer Times, 1849–1850; Pacific Rural Press, 1871–1922; Marinscope, November 2008; Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 2008; Sausalito News, 1885–1922; and Black Voice News, March, April, and June 2006. Database users may search the collection by entering keywords in the search box. Searches may be limited to a specific newspaper. You can also browse the collection by newspaper title or by publication date. When browsing by title or date click on the month in the desired year. This will open a new page with a calendar for the month you’ve chosen. Newspaper title links will appear on the dates on which issues were published. Click on the title link to access the issue for the specific date. Compliments of Valerie Beaudrault

This site you make a project, enter stuff, experts are supposed to bid $$ on the project and you choose one. Could be helpful, if you had the data to lead a bidder up the correct path and you had no chance to turn those rocks yourself. ................. I have no quarrel with your statement about this site…… I treat all commercial dealings as if I was gonna buy a tractor or a team of horses. I would kick the tires, crank it up and take a look in the horse’s mouth. A research copyright clause deeded to me would be necessary before accepting "anyone’s" research. No copyright, no $.$$ The last time I saw a lengthy response as yours, was my son’s 1st legal brief. Impressive, all the pertinent points were well covered. (By the way, the Judge told my son, “All I wanted was a simple yes or no.” He won his 1st case though.) Best regards, Doug

Doug, from your description of this, I am left with questions regarding Ancestry.com's role and responsibilities inasmuch as their involvement in this Research Expert Connection is concerned. In my own opinion, I am reluctant to spend my time, effort and resources, alone or with others, in breaking down anyone's brick wall, if I know in advance the fruits of that labor are subsequently going to be transferred to ancestry.com so they, in turn, may charge others to gain access to that information which they did not contribute to discovering. This raises the question of what is commercially available genealogical information sharing really worth as measured against whether the information found in, e.g., Ancestry.com is sufficiently well validated by the contributor to be considered reliable, and how often might a genealogist, having paid the annual fee for services such as Ancestry.com's, expect to find something of value in their genealogical holdings? Again, speaking only for myself, I favor and have had a great many successes via people networking with folks from many locations without regard to my cost (if any) in accomplishing what you propose and then sharing those genealogical findings (including pictures if available) at no charge with any other seriously interested responsible person - where "responsible" means the person has tried and failed to find the needed information and are not just contacting others on a genealogical fishing expedition to see what data they can harvest with minimal expenditure of their own time and resources. Am I missing something on this Research Expert Connections program, Doug? If I misuncerstand this program, Doug, when you have the time, might you please address the concerns expressed above? Likewise, I encourage any others receiving this email to also share their reactions since I stand ready to be corrected or persuaded to change my own position on this entire subject Very thought provoking subject - once again, Doug Dennis Boswell -----Original Message----- From: msattala-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:msattala-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Douglas Cummins Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 11:56 AM To: MSATTALA@rootsweb.com Subject: [MSATTALA] Genealogy Research Expert Connections I don't know if Attala's site will accept this in it's current format. The duty site honcho may have a solution. This site you make a project, enter stuff, experts are supposed to bid $$ on the project and you choose one. Could be helpful, if you had the data to lead a bidder up the correct path and you had no chance to turn those rocks yourself. If you haven't already, add ancestry@email.ancestry.com to your address book to make sure you don't miss an email. [image: Ancestry.com]<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?GYGo22FVKJyok_87p3E=11> You don't have to be an expert, you just have to know one. Let Expert Connect Custom Research help you get past the hard part. There's a mystery in your family tree, that person or story that has always eluded you. You know it can be solved, but you haven't found the answers quite yet. That's when it's time to call for reinforcements - the independent researchers from Expert Connect. Find the right person to help you find answers. Expert Connect is your link to seasoned professionals who can use their masterful family history knowledge and tried-and-true tricks to uncover the details that have confounded you. An Expert Connect Custom Research project gives you a flexible, affordable way to break through a brick wall or get started on a tricky branch of your tree. Connect with one of hundreds of experts and you might just solve your family history riddle. 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I don't know if Attala's site will accept this in it's current format. The duty site honcho may have a solution. This site you make a project, enter stuff, experts are supposed to bid $$ on the project and you choose one. Could be helpful, if you had the data to lead a bidder up the correct path and you had no chance to turn those rocks yourself. If you haven’t already, add ancestry@email.ancestry.com to your address book to make sure you don’t miss an email. [image: Ancestry.com]<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?GYGo22FVKJyok_87p3E=11> You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to know one. Let Expert Connect Custom Research help you get past the hard part. There’s a mystery in your family tree, that person or story that has always eluded you. You know it can be solved, but you haven’t found the answers quite yet. That’s when it’s time to call for reinforcements — the independent researchers from Expert Connect. Find the right person to help you find answers. Expert Connect is your link to seasoned professionals who can use their masterful family history knowledge and tried-and-true tricks to uncover the details that have confounded you. An Expert Connect Custom Research project gives you a flexible, affordable way to break through a brick wall or get started on a tricky branch of your tree. Connect with one of hundreds of experts and you might just solve your family history riddle. Get started with your own Custom Research project right now. Start a project<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?HYGo22FVKJyok_87p3Qi=181> [image: Start a project]<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?OYGo22FVKJyok_87p3Qn=191> We all have questions about our family story. What are yours? Brooke Shields was looking for her royal heritage. Matthew Broderick was in search of his military past. If you watched *Who Do You Think You Are?* you saw how experts can uncover answers. Want to learn more about who you are? The first step could be finding someone to help through Expert Connect. *Logging in to Ancestry.com<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?XYGo22FVKJyok_87p3Rs=41> :* You can log in to Ancestry.com<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?B4Go22FVKJyok_87p3Rh=51>at the top of any page on the site with the username and password from your registration confirmation email. If you lose track of your login information, simply click on the “Forgot username/password” link at the top of any page on Ancestry.com<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?I4Go22FVKJyok_87p3Rm=61> . <http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?MYGo22FVKJyok_87p3Qc=201> Find us on Facebook<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?GYGo22FVKJyok_87p3QR=211> <http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?Y4Go22FVKJyok_87p3QW=221> Follow us on Twitter<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?S4Go22FVKJyok_87p3QL=231> Look out for our next email about searching for your ancestors on Ancestry.com<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?b4Go22FVKJyok_87p3RP=111> . © 2010 Ancestry.com PRIVACY STATEMENT<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?f4Go22FVKJyok_87p3RE=121> Ancestry.com does not sell, rent or otherwise distribute the personal information you provide us to third party advertisers. Questions? Comments? Please don’t reply to this email as we cannot respond to messages sent to this address. Instead, visit our online help center<http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?PYGo22FVKJyok_87p3QA=241>to get answers to common questions or send us a message <http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?S4Go22FVKJyok_87p3QF=251>. You can also contact us at: Ancestry.com <http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?S4Go22FVKJyok_87p3Qz=151>Operations Inc. Attn: Customer Service 360 West 4800 North Provo, UT 84604 USA Edit <http://link.ancestry-update.com/u.d?E4Go22FVKJyok_87p3T6=261> your account options or unsubscribe<http://ancestry-update.com/unsubscribe.jsp?s=ZJWu&i=747880425032>from this communication. You are subscribed to Ancestry Special Offers as: dec405@comcast.net.

Odom family reunion; Laverne Moss Everyone is invited. Sarurday at 12:00 p.m.The picnic will be out side at the tables ( inside if raining) bring finger foods, sandwiches, chips, drinks, etc. Will have fun time, games . and fellowships. Cake walk will begin around 5:30 p.m.on the 29 For evening meal bring meat, etc. that you would like to have grilled. On Sunday bri...ng a covered dish for dinner, starting 12:00 p.m.(however the kitchen will be available at 9:30 a.m.for Guests from out of town, that need to cook or prepare their meals) Let Bobbie Deason know if you can bring a cake for the cake walk. Hope to see you the there!

Civil War Anniversary Prompts Push to get Records Online The Civil War Sesquicentennial, which begins next year, is expected to heighten interest about what happened on and off the battlefields 150 years ago. That means archivists are scrambling to post information online to feed that curiosity. Missouri State Archivist John Dougan detailed the effort to those at the St. Louis Genealogical Society's 40th annual family history conference, the largest such gathering in the Midwest, on Saturday. You can read more in an article by Leah Thorsen published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch web site at http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/BB4761F624C6672D86257724007EA133?OpenDocument Thanks to David E. Cummins for this info

"Note, there's a fee!" Society Of Genealogists & Pharos Announce New Teaching Partnership The following was written by the Society Of Genealogists (in London) and by Pharos: The Society of Genealogists & Pharos Teaching & Tutoring today announced a new joint programme, the distance learning Certificate of Family History Skills and Strategies (Intermediate). The Society of Genealogists, in conjunction with Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd is now bringing its popular classroom programme to the Web. Following successful pilot courses last year, the Society and Pharos have teamed up to make available a full course of instruction, with assessment, to any interested genealogist anywhere in the world. First modules in the Skills and Strategies programme will be offered in September 2010. It will be possible to complete all 10 modules in an 18 month period. The modules are listed here in alphabetical order: Apprenticeships & Guilds Employment Records Lists & Sources from Georgian England Migration in the British Isles Military Ancestors Nonconformity in England and Wales The Poor, the Parish and the Workhouse Victorian Crime & Punishment Wills and Administrations 17th Century Sources Tutors include the well-known authors and genealogists, Gill Blanchard, Liz Carter, Else Churchill, Simon Fowler, Sherry Irvine, Michael Isherwood and Stuart Raymond. All have made significant contributions to the world of family history and bring a wide array of records knowledge and teaching experience to the online classroom. The Skills and Strategies course is suitable for genealogists who have had at least two years experience in family history research in England & Wales and have mastered the fundamentals of census, civil registrations and parish registers but who now wish to move on to new records and a greater understanding of research methods and skills. Students choosing to take all ten modules as a full programme with assessments leading to the Intermediate Certificate can sign up now at an introductory price of £450. This represents a saving of £42.90 on the full listed price.  Each module is monitored by the Society to ensure excellent standards of content and teaching. Students may, alternatively, choose not have work assessed and to take any arrangement of individual topics. Courses taken individually without assessment cost less. To find out more or sign up for this great learning opportunity, visit www.pharostutors.com Information abut the course and a link for bookings can also be found on the Society of Genealogists’ website at www.sog.org.uk Helen Osborn, Managing Director of Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd, said today “We are very pleased to continue and build on our collaboration with the Society of Genealogists. We know that many Pharos students are interested in working towards a certificate that acknowledges their achievements and that others are looking for a wider range of choice in online programmes. The Skills and Strategies course meets those needs, offered by organizations and teachers with shared standards of excellence.” Else Churchill, Genealogist at the Society & tutor on the new programme, said today “The Society of Genealogists is delighted join forces with Pharos to offer the highly regarded SoG courses and education programme to a wider audience than can attend the Society’s classes in London. The Skills and Strategies course will offer a practical opportunity for family historians to take their research further and to develop their own expertise and understanding of genealogical sources and techniques. Presented by Dick Eastman

Citing your source(s)........... * * In this week's posting , www.genealogyandfamilyhistory.com<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103404924360&s=30596&e=001FXCBUVnAAw7MPe0aUF9VCCi_MjitFQs2V_SHzPSFcFOXbboNsGImt11Gs-JjzhlqfCDFp96t3AME3QzTQIJ_8Rh5jU_NtbA1pawATWGz_HxTz6lcOaWfuqti9kvxxCVnWN0DiKnyz0o=>, Carolyn Barkley comments on the recently published Second Edition of *Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace*, by Elizabeth Shown Mills, and emphasizes its importance for genealogical research.

First, I am sorry for all those question marks in the first part - they were apostrophes but show up as question marks! Guess they will be the same way in this one!!! Enjoy - hope some of you find some of your kin in these 2 parts. TO THE SEAT OF WAR Trip of M. A. Clark From Kosciusko to Virginia (Continued – second and final part) Sept. 13. Attended the burial this morning of John Chapman from Winston Co., Miss. Another of the Regiment named Baker will be buried this evening. Visited the graves of all the soldiers who have died here. Saw the grave of W. I. Blunt. Visited the sick in town, then called at the Ladies’ hospital, and saw Mrs. Teazle, for whom I had a letter. Having secured our tickets of transportation we went back to the hotel, where we were shaved and had a good dinner. Railroad ticket from Lynchburg to Chattanooga, $18.00. Left Lynchburg at 3 p.m. Sept. 14. At sunrise we met a train in Washington Co., Tenn., with 600 Texas soldiers. The balance of the regt., 500, were ahead. They say there are 1000 Texas soldiers just behind them. Passed Henderson’s depot in Green Co., Tenn., at 8 a.m. Some soldiers are stationed there. This is East Tenn. There are a good many Union men around here in the mountains. The company here went out and took 60 prisoners this week. They took the last of them away yesterday, to Knoxville for trial, only killing two. Reached Knoxville at noon and changed cars for Chattanooga. Over 12,000 soldiers are here. Pass through Bradley county, Tenn., where there are coppermines. It is being shipped from here all the time for different points fo (sic) make cannon ou___. (fold in article). There are copper mines near here in Polk County, Ga, Reached Chattanooga at 7 p.m., had supper and took cars for Grand Junction, Tenn. Railroad ticket, $10.50. Paid $4 for a berth _______ sleeper and slept well. Sept. 15. Sunday. At Iuka, Miss., we took on a train of soldiers for Memphis. There are about 15,000 troops there now. Breakfast at Corinth. A broken _____ on our engine made us miss connection at Grand Junction, which we reach at 11 a.m. The Canton train had left 5 minutes before. Our tavern here, the Percy House, is quite a common, dirty house, full of bedbugs and fleas. Sept. 16. Left Grand Junction at 10:45 a.m. Ticket to West Station $6.10. A train of Texas soldiers passed here this morning for Virginia. The story of the trip ends with a list of towns between Grand Junction and West Station. The diary ends with the following list of volunteers from Attala Co., Miss., by Beats. It probably does not contain names of those who volunteered after September, 1861: Beat No. 1. Riley Allen, Henry Ashmore, R. H. Anderson, George Armstrong, W I Bain, Hugh Bain, Samuel Browning, J C Bridges, Daniel Baum, Edward Barry, A J Boyd, Robert Boyd, G W Bullock, R B Bullock, P M Burt, John C Burt, Richard F Burt, J S Bain, W S Blackwrll (sic), I M Bailey, A WBuffkin, C H B Campbell, George B Campbell, James S. Comfort, John A Comfort, Benjamin A Clark, George W Crowder, John Cole, T Carrigan, J J Conway, James Canson (sic), John Crowley, Wm. H Davis, J W Davis, John L Durha, M L Durhan, Rodi Donoho, John Dory, J B Dennis, Wm Dyer, Peter F Ellis, Charles C Ellis, W P Finley, Ben R Ford, John W Ford, C M Fuller, O L Fuller, J T Fendren, T L Forrester, Stephen Francis, Joe Grunwald, John L Goff, R S Grice, John Groe, W C Gober, John Gore, J D Groe, W C Gober, John Gore, J. D Holmes, A S Herring, Louis Herring, Jno W. Henderson, W J Hammond, J W Harrell, W A Hanan, W F Holmes, J R Hemphill, Robert James, James Jensall, J Carr, W C Lewis, Wm Long, M D McAfee, J M McAfee, WT McAfee, John M. Moore,

Thanks so much for this info. The Civil War has always been my favorite subject. Is the Beat 1 the only beat listing that you have? Thanks again David

thank for post the Clark diary; will be look ford for the other part; Charles McAdams, p o box 20184 white hall ark 71612 tenman.1@sbcglobal.net phone 870 247 5123 ________________________________ From: Ellen Pettit <eopettit@hughes.net> To: MSATTALA@rootsweb.com Sent: Fri, May 14, 2010 10:21:15 AM Subject: [MSATTALA] MICAJAH A. CLARK'S DIARY DESCRIPTION OF TRIP TO BATTLEFIELDS IN 1861 The following article was published in “The Star Ledger” – Kosciusko, Mississippi on March 6, 1908. It was located by the submitter, Ellen Oakes Pettit, in “SPECIAL COLLECTIONS” - the CLARK COLLECTION, Z 0031.000 at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. It has been typed per the newspaper article with no change to spelling, etc. Mr. Clark relates a day by day description of a trip that he made from Kosciusko to the battlefields in Virginia during the War Between the States in August 1861. Mr. M. A. Clark, Micajah Adolphus Clark, was born 06 Dec 1822 in Anderson, SC and died on 02 Sep 1905. He married Annie Theresa McNulty on 13 Apr 1859. They are buried in the Kosciusko City Cemetery. M. A. Clark was the son of Major James Greene Clark and Frances Webb Clarke, who are buried at Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery in Attala Co., MS. TO THE SEAT OF WAR Trip of M. A. Clark From Kosciusko to Virginia On Wednesday evening, Aug. 28, 1861, we left Kosciusko for West Station, Miss., the nearest point on the railroad. It is still raining; the roads are heavy and our progress slow. We find the Apooktah Creek swimming, about one-half mile wide, so we could not get our wagon across until the next morning. Aug. 29. We reach Big Black River, but find it too deep to ford; so we send our wagon back, and have the ferryman take us and our baggage across in a skiff. We then had to pack our baggage one mile to West Station. We left on the train at 1 p.m. Aug. 30. We had breakfast at Holly Springs, dinner at Corinth and supper at Huntsville, Ala. Reached Chattanooga Saturday morning, Aug. 31; and changed cars for Knoxville, reaching there Sunday morning, where we again changed cars. We have a company of Georgia soldiers on our train. They carry muskets, pistols and heavy knives. At Strawberry Plain, 130 miles from Knoxville, two companies from Rayburn County, Tenn., guard the bridge across the beautiful Holston river. We pass Johnson, Tenn., where the 14^th Miss. Regiment is encamped. We have been traveling all the evening in view of the Blue Ridge mountains. At Bristol, on the borderline of Tenn. and Va., we change cars for Lynchburg, Va., at 5 p.m. Sept. 1, Sunday. We reach Lynchburg at 6 a.m., and rest for the day. We stop at the Norville House, and have a good breakfast; after which we get a carriage and go out to the Fair Grounds where Dan Russell’s Miss. Regiment is in camp. We went to visit Capt. Patterson’s Company, the Cooper Guard of Attala county. We found them doing well. A good many had been sick, but all were improving. W. D. Rimmer was quite sick with relapse from measles. John Smith was quite sick. They are in a beautiful place. After dinner at the tavern I visited the James River and canal. I then visited the Ladies’ Hospital, where I found E. Brister waiting on his son, who was improving. This hospital is under entire control of the ladies of Lynchburg, and everything is neat and clean, and the ladies very attentive to the 130 sick soldiers therein. I visited the regular army hospital, a large beautiful building, formerly a female seminary, situated on an elevated place where can be had a fine view of the city. There are 200 sick soldiers there. There are said to be 16,000 soldiers in Lynchburg. This city beats Vicksburg for hills. The streets run up the mountain, with bridges, 40 or 50 feet high from one hollow to another. Sept. 2. After an early breakfast we take the train for Richmond, 125 miles distant. A freight train wreck ahead detained us one hour, after which our train made up the time at a dangerous rate of speed. Our cars are crowded with soldiers from Cal., Tex., Ark., La., Miss, and other states. At Burksville, Va., we change cars, and find more soldiers here than at any other place. Reached Richmond at 1 p.m., stopping at Mrs. Grave’s boarding house. After dinner we get our passports, and then visited the Capitol square and saw the magnificent monument to the Virginia Revolutionary heroes. H. F. Moore and I went to the Fair Grounds and visited Capt. Love’s company from Attala county. They were doing fine. Some had been sick with measles and colds, but were all getting up and doing well except Johnson and one other man, a stranger to me. We reached our hotel after dark. Sept. 3. Left Richmond at 6 a.m. for Manassas, a two hours’ run. When the cars stopped at Louisa Court House, the ladies brought large baskets of peaches which they gave to the volunteers, and insisted on them taking them without charge. At Gordonsville we change cars for Manassas. Culpepper county is level and beautiful. In all my trip the cars have not been so crowded as between Gordonsville and Manassas. Quite a number were left behind, among whom were Capt. L. D. Fletcher, James McAdory, H. F. Moore, N. B. Whitehead, son and servant. As the cars started I caught hold of the steps and rode 30 miles to Culpepper court house, holding on. When the conductor opened the door I rushed past him and got a seat in the ladies’ car. There are about 2000 sick soldiers at Culpepper. Their disease is mostly measles. Manassas was reached at 6 p.m. A great many soldiers were stationed here. I went out and looked at the defences. On the breastworks are many cannon, Beauregard’s and Johnson’s headquarters are here. I was surprised at the magnitude of the war preparations. I am certain the place can be held against almost any force. Sept. 4. Capt. Fletcher and H. F. Moore came up. After much trouble we engaged a two horse wagon and left at 9 a.m. for Leesburg, 30 miles distant. In about 5 miles we struck the battlefields of Manassas. The road for two miles was almost intolerable from the scent of the carcasses of dead horses and dead Yankees, who had been buried about one foot deep and were dug and scratched up and lying on top of the ground. Their bones will be scattered all over the field. This was to me perfectly shocking. Where Sherman’s battery was taken, the dead horses lay thick. I went to the house where the old lady was killed, and found it literally shot all to pieces. I would have looked over the battlefield more had not the scent been so bad. Was satisfied with what I saw. After hard driving we reached Leesburg a little after dark, where Evans’ brigade was encamped. Found the boys getting along fine. Some few were out in the country sick. Sept. 5. Found Jo Weatherly, Chas. S. Cone, N. L. McWhorter and Larken Towers quite sick. They were at the Odd Fellows’ Hospital, except Weatherly, who was at Col. Ramy’s. Lieut. O’Briant and Wm. C. Lewis were at the latter place. I spent the day visiting the sick. There are over 200 sick soldiers in Leesburg. Sept. 6. I hired a horse and rode out 8 miles in the country to Waterford, 15 miles below Harper’s Ferry, to Col. N. S. Braden’s house, where I found my brother Benj. A. Clark, and young Harrison. In the evening I went one mile further and found M. L. Durham. Mat is doing well, and spoke of returning to camp in a few days. Sept. 7. Worked all day trying to get a discharge for B. A. Clark, but can’t do anything until he comes in to be examined. Sept. 6 (sic), Sunday. With H. F. Moore and others, went over to the entrenchments, about 3 miles from camp, where we had a good view of the Potomac river and a brigade of the enemy’s camp. We went nearer the river where Capt. Eckford’s company was stationed as a picket guard. The Yankees shot some bomb shells at this company, one bursting in 200 yds. Of the camp, and another just beyond them. One struck without it bursting; I had it in my hands. It weighed about 10 pounds. Some of the boys, from our side and some from theirs, after making an agreement to quit shooting, went in swimming from either side. One man from Eckford’s company and one from the enemy swam until they met each other, and exchanged newspapers. The Yankee papers are cast down over the great defeat at Bull Run, their name for Manassas. We got back about dinner and found that B. A. Clark had reached camp. After dinner I got Dr. Gilmore, the surgeon, to examine him. He said he ought to be discharged for disability. I had the papers fixed up and signed by Capt. Fletcher, Dr. Gilmore, Col. Barksdale and Gen. Evans. Sept. 9. I visited all the sick today, finding them much improved. Sept. 10. I went up town to see Dr. Most for B. A. Clark. I then got our hack and came on back to camp, where I found our regiment fixing up to move on a little nearer to the Potomac. We bade them good bye and left for Manassas. At 9 a.m. we reached the battlefield. H. F. Moore and I took a general survey of it for an hour. We saw where the hardest fighting was done. Reached Manassas at 5 p.m., where we met Rev. J. R. Farrish, J. D. Fletcher and some others from Madison county, Miss. I went up to Gen. Beauregard’s headquarters to see Maj. Peyton, one of his aides. I found them busy examining six Yankee prisoners who had been taken the day before; consequently could not attend to any business until next day. I returned to Manassas where we had difficulty in getting supper. I volunteered my services in bringing water for a lady, and after bringing three buckets got supper which I paid for. I looked around for a place to sleep. H. F. Moore and I went into a car and did well. The rest of our company slept in a house which was being built. Sept. 11. After breakfast I had an interview with Maj. Peyton at Gen. Beauregard’s headquarters and secured his assistance in getting a discharge for B. A. Clark. I then carried him up to the hospital to be examined by the medical directory. After this we witnessed the burial of a soldier named Leach, from Wilkinson county, Miss. I then visited the guard house to see more Yankee prisoners. I talked to one some time; found him to be a saucy fellow. He did not blame us for fighting; but said we could not have the same views. I then went out to visit the Miss. regiment here. Spent some time with Capt. Dudley’s company. A great many of them were sick. One of them, named Roby, I think was dying. H. F. Moore and I went out in the evening to Gen. Johnston’s headquarters, where I had the pleasure of seeing Gen. Johnston. I succeeded in getting a full discharge for B. A. Clark. I wound up my day’s labors by visiting the artillery company’s breastworks. Gen. Beauregard is moving his headquarters today up to Fairfax court house. We have to eat and sleep here anywhere we can. There are lots of thieves here. Two were arrested today. We slept in the cars tonight. Sept. 12. We left Manassas at 7 a.m. In 20 miles we reach Beleton Station, where James and John Comfort and Calvin Winters had been sick. James Comfort and C. Winters left the day before for camp. John was still there, sick but improving. They think he has consumption. James has gone to try to get a discharge for him. At Culpepper we pass a Virginia company, King William Artillery. There are 2500 soldiers here. Reached Lynchburg at 4 p.m., where we stop at the Norvell hotel until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Took a carriage and went out to visit Col. Russell’s regiment. Found Capt. Patterson’s company doing well. A few more sick, viz.: Sam Sanders, Wm. Bain, W. D. Rimmer and Joe Hollingsworth. Rimmer and Hollingsworth were at a private house and doing very well. We remained in camp until next morning. (To be continued in one more series which will close with M. A. Clark’s listing of volunteers from Attala Co., Miss. by Beats. It probably does not contain names of those who volunteered after September, 1861.) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MSATTALA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The following article was published in “The Star Ledger” – Kosciusko, Mississippi on March 6, 1908. It was located by the submitter, Ellen Oakes Pettit, in “SPECIAL COLLECTIONS” - the CLARK COLLECTION, Z 0031.000 at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. It has been typed per the newspaper article with no change to spelling, etc. Mr. Clark relates a day by day description of a trip that he made from Kosciusko to the battlefields in Virginia during the War Between the States in August 1861. Mr. M. A. Clark, Micajah Adolphus Clark, was born 06 Dec 1822 in Anderson, SC and died on 02 Sep 1905. He married Annie Theresa McNulty on 13 Apr 1859. They are buried in the Kosciusko City Cemetery. M. A. Clark was the son of Major James Greene Clark and Frances Webb Clarke, who are buried at Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery in Attala Co., MS. TO THE SEAT OF WAR Trip of M. A. Clark From Kosciusko to Virginia On Wednesday evening, Aug. 28, 1861, we left Kosciusko for West Station, Miss., the nearest point on the railroad. It is still raining; the roads are heavy and our progress slow. We find the Apooktah Creek swimming, about one-half mile wide, so we could not get our wagon across until the next morning. Aug. 29. We reach Big Black River, but find it too deep to ford; so we send our wagon back, and have the ferryman take us and our baggage across in a skiff. We then had to pack our baggage one mile to West Station. We left on the train at 1 p.m. Aug. 30. We had breakfast at Holly Springs, dinner at Corinth and supper at Huntsville, Ala. Reached Chattanooga Saturday morning, Aug. 31; and changed cars for Knoxville, reaching there Sunday morning, where we again changed cars. We have a company of Georgia soldiers on our train. They carry muskets, pistols and heavy knives. At Strawberry Plain, 130 miles from Knoxville, two companies from Rayburn County, Tenn., guard the bridge across the beautiful Holston river. We pass Johnson, Tenn., where the 14^th Miss. Regiment is encamped. We have been traveling all the evening in view of the Blue Ridge mountains. At Bristol, on the borderline of Tenn. and Va., we change cars for Lynchburg, Va., at 5 p.m. Sept. 1, Sunday. We reach Lynchburg at 6 a.m., and rest for the day. We stop at the Norville House, and have a good breakfast; after which we get a carriage and go out to the Fair Grounds where Dan Russell’s Miss. Regiment is in camp. We went to visit Capt. Patterson’s Company, the Cooper Guard of Attala county. We found them doing well. A good many had been sick, but all were improving. W. D. Rimmer was quite sick with relapse from measles. John Smith was quite sick. They are in a beautiful place. After dinner at the tavern I visited the James River and canal. I then visited the Ladies’ Hospital, where I found E. Brister waiting on his son, who was improving. This hospital is under entire control of the ladies of Lynchburg, and everything is neat and clean, and the ladies very attentive to the 130 sick soldiers therein. I visited the regular army hospital, a large beautiful building, formerly a female seminary, situated on an elevated place where can be had a fine view of the city. There are 200 sick soldiers there. There are said to be 16,000 soldiers in Lynchburg. This city beats Vicksburg for hills. The streets run up the mountain, with bridges, 40 or 50 feet high from one hollow to another. Sept. 2. After an early breakfast we take the train for Richmond, 125 miles distant. A freight train wreck ahead detained us one hour, after which our train made up the time at a dangerous rate of speed. Our cars are crowded with soldiers from Cal., Tex., Ark., La., Miss, and other states. At Burksville, Va., we change cars, and find more soldiers here than at any other place. Reached Richmond at 1 p.m., stopping at Mrs. Grave’s boarding house. After dinner we get our passports, and then visited the Capitol square and saw the magnificent monument to the Virginia Revolutionary heroes. H. F. Moore and I went to the Fair Grounds and visited Capt. Love’s company from Attala county. They were doing fine. Some had been sick with measles and colds, but were all getting up and doing well except Johnson and one other man, a stranger to me. We reached our hotel after dark. Sept. 3. Left Richmond at 6 a.m. for Manassas, a two hours’ run. When the cars stopped at Louisa Court House, the ladies brought large baskets of peaches which they gave to the volunteers, and insisted on them taking them without charge. At Gordonsville we change cars for Manassas. Culpepper county is level and beautiful. In all my trip the cars have not been so crowded as between Gordonsville and Manassas. Quite a number were left behind, among whom were Capt. L. D. Fletcher, James McAdory, H. F. Moore, N. B. Whitehead, son and servant. As the cars started I caught hold of the steps and rode 30 miles to Culpepper court house, holding on. When the conductor opened the door I rushed past him and got a seat in the ladies’ car. There are about 2000 sick soldiers at Culpepper. Their disease is mostly measles. Manassas was reached at 6 p.m. A great many soldiers were stationed here. I went out and looked at the defences. On the breastworks are many cannon, Beauregard’s and Johnson’s headquarters are here. I was surprised at the magnitude of the war preparations. I am certain the place can be held against almost any force. Sept. 4. Capt. Fletcher and H. F. Moore came up. After much trouble we engaged a two horse wagon and left at 9 a.m. for Leesburg, 30 miles distant. In about 5 miles we struck the battlefields of Manassas. The road for two miles was almost intolerable from the scent of the carcasses of dead horses and dead Yankees, who had been buried about one foot deep and were dug and scratched up and lying on top of the ground. Their bones will be scattered all over the field. This was to me perfectly shocking. Where Sherman’s battery was taken, the dead horses lay thick. I went to the house where the old lady was killed, and found it literally shot all to pieces. I would have looked over the battlefield more had not the scent been so bad. Was satisfied with what I saw. After hard driving we reached Leesburg a little after dark, where Evans’ brigade was encamped. Found the boys getting along fine. Some few were out in the country sick. Sept. 5. Found Jo Weatherly, Chas. S. Cone, N. L. McWhorter and Larken Towers quite sick. They were at the Odd Fellows’ Hospital, except Weatherly, who was at Col. Ramy’s. Lieut. O’Briant and Wm. C. Lewis were at the latter place. I spent the day visiting the sick. There are over 200 sick soldiers in Leesburg. Sept. 6. I hired a horse and rode out 8 miles in the country to Waterford, 15 miles below Harper’s Ferry, to Col. N. S. Braden’s house, where I found my brother Benj. A. Clark, and young Harrison. In the evening I went one mile further and found M. L. Durham. Mat is doing well, and spoke of returning to camp in a few days. Sept. 7. Worked all day trying to get a discharge for B. A. Clark, but can’t do anything until he comes in to be examined. Sept. 6 (sic), Sunday. With H. F. Moore and others, went over to the entrenchments, about 3 miles from camp, where we had a good view of the Potomac river and a brigade of the enemy’s camp. We went nearer the river where Capt. Eckford’s company was stationed as a picket guard. The Yankees shot some bomb shells at this company, one bursting in 200 yds. Of the camp, and another just beyond them. One struck without it bursting; I had it in my hands. It weighed about 10 pounds. Some of the boys, from our side and some from theirs, after making an agreement to quit shooting, went in swimming from either side. One man from Eckford’s company and one from the enemy swam until they met each other, and exchanged newspapers. The Yankee papers are cast down over the great defeat at Bull Run, their name for Manassas. We got back about dinner and found that B. A. Clark had reached camp. After dinner I got Dr. Gilmore, the surgeon, to examine him. He said he ought to be discharged for disability. I had the papers fixed up and signed by Capt. Fletcher, Dr. Gilmore, Col. Barksdale and Gen. Evans. Sept. 9. I visited all the sick today, finding them much improved. Sept. 10. I went up town to see Dr. Most for B. A. Clark. I then got our hack and came on back to camp, where I found our regiment fixing up to move on a little nearer to the Potomac. We bade them good bye and left for Manassas. At 9 a.m. we reached the battlefield. H. F. Moore and I took a general survey of it for an hour. We saw where the hardest fighting was done. Reached Manassas at 5 p.m., where we met Rev. J. R. Farrish, J. D. Fletcher and some others from Madison county, Miss. I went up to Gen. Beauregard’s headquarters to see Maj. Peyton, one of his aides. I found them busy examining six Yankee prisoners who had been taken the day before; consequently could not attend to any business until next day. I returned to Manassas where we had difficulty in getting supper. I volunteered my services in bringing water for a lady, and after bringing three buckets got supper which I paid for. I looked around for a place to sleep. H. F. Moore and I went into a car and did well. The rest of our company slept in a house which was being built. Sept. 11. After breakfast I had an interview with Maj. Peyton at Gen. Beauregard’s headquarters and secured his assistance in getting a discharge for B. A. Clark. I then carried him up to the hospital to be examined by the medical directory. After this we witnessed the burial of a soldier named Leach, from Wilkinson county, Miss. I then visited the guard house to see more Yankee prisoners. I talked to one some time; found him to be a saucy fellow. He did not blame us for fighting; but said we could not have the same views. I then went out to visit the Miss. regiment here. Spent some time with Capt. Dudley’s company. A great many of them were sick. One of them, named Roby, I think was dying. H. F. Moore and I went out in the evening to Gen. Johnston’s headquarters, where I had the pleasure of seeing Gen. Johnston. I succeeded in getting a full discharge for B. A. Clark. I wound up my day’s labors by visiting the artillery company’s breastworks. Gen. Beauregard is moving his headquarters today up to Fairfax court house. We have to eat and sleep here anywhere we can. There are lots of thieves here. Two were arrested today. We slept in the cars tonight. Sept. 12. We left Manassas at 7 a.m. In 20 miles we reach Beleton Station, where James and John Comfort and Calvin Winters had been sick. James Comfort and C. Winters left the day before for camp. John was still there, sick but improving. They think he has consumption. James has gone to try to get a discharge for him. At Culpepper we pass a Virginia company, King William Artillery. There are 2500 soldiers here. Reached Lynchburg at 4 p.m., where we stop at the Norvell hotel until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Took a carriage and went out to visit Col. Russell’s regiment. Found Capt. Patterson’s company doing well. A few more sick, viz.: Sam Sanders, Wm. Bain, W. D. Rimmer and Joe Hollingsworth. Rimmer and Hollingsworth were at a private house and doing very well. We remained in camp until next morning. (To be continued in one more series which will close with M. A. Clark’s listing of volunteers from Attala Co., Miss. by Beats. It probably does not contain names of those who volunteered after September, 1861.)