This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: sturkey1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.virginia.counties.washington/4191.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thank you so much. I am confident that this is the man. When Martin Gary's Cavalry Brigade was paroled at Appomattox, the acting brigade surgeon was listed as "H. Barr." Civil War historian Robert R. Krick believes that "H. Barr" is in fact William F. Barr. There is circumstantial evidence to support this. Gary's brigade was composed of two South Carolian cavalry regiments, the 7th S. C. Cavalry and Gary's old unit, the Hampton Legion Mounted Infantry; a small contingent from the 7th Georgia Cavalry, and two Virginia units, COL William Todd Robins' 24th Virginia Cavalry, and Captain James Hankins' Surry Light Artillery (which was not at the surrender, having got out after the fight at Appomattox Station on the evening of the 8th). Unlike many Civil War officers, Gary, to his great good credit, was meticulous in placing men from states other than his own on his staff. My personal belief is that it greatly strengthened the team concept of the brigade. One other piece of circumstatial evidence is that Gary did show a preference for appointing Methodists to positions around him. His father had moved to the Up-State village of Cokesbury, where there was a thriving Methodist academy, and Gary and all of his brothers attended. Gary himself was one of the most profane men in the Army of Northern Virginia, and I suspect not very devout personally, but he did show a preference for Methodists in many of his appointments. I wonder if Barr had any connection to the Cokesbury Methodist School. It was attended by people from over the South. At Appomattox, when told of the impending surrender, Gary told the Federal who brought the news that "We are South Carolinians, and do not surrender." True to his word, Gary and a small party of friends, including Ham Chamberlayne, a Virginia, cut their way out of the Federal lines and made their way to Greensboro, where they met up with Jefferson Davis. Gary and about 150-200 of his men formed a small part of Davis' escort to Charlotte, and Gary accompanied the President across northern South Carolina. Davis and several prominent members of his party actually spent the night in the home of Gary's mother at Cokesbury, where Gary left the entourage. Do you know where Dr. Barr was educated? Again, thank you so much. Lee Sturkey Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.