Here is another military report for those of you interested in the military activities of Greenbrier Co. men. George Shafer is mentioned in an article on p. 161. He purchased a small farm from Matison McClung and built a log house there in 1876. The neighborhood is known as Kesslers, WV. There is an interesting story about George and the Civil War. It indicates that The Union side was made up of volunteers. The Confederates drafted their soldiers. Those who did not volunteer for the Union army, were forced into the Confederate Army. George was twice captured by Confederate scouts and both times escaped the foes. He was once attacked near Kesslers Cross Lanes, while going home from a neighbor's house with a bucket of milk and a sack of apples. His captors told him, that they would carry his milk, if he would promise not to run. Shafer dropped the bag of apples and darted down the sharp descent and ran away anyway. The second time, they were disturbed at breakfast, and he was told to go with the confederates. However; he ran away. He had two nephews who fought in the Union ranks through the war. One was captured and held as prisoner for 18 months. Both survived the war and came back home. It does not give the names of these nephews. The story says that George and family "joined the Amwell Baptist Church at an early date." They were erased from the curch record along with 200 other members because they would not conform to some resolutions by the Pastor, who was at the time Rev. G.A. Winebrenner. They remained non members until 1909 when the Big Clear Creek Paptist Church was organized. This information is from Greenbrier Co. WVA Family Heritage 1997. Info submitted by Boyles, written by Tim Masters. There is more to the story, but I have shortened it and included the outline version of it. If you would like the more complete story, let me know. Thought it was an interesting story. Joyce in Ca. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/3231 http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/a/r/m/Joyce-C-Armstrongcooper/ http://www.rootsweb.com/~carvgs/rgs.htm Main names I am researching, VINCENT, TAYLOR, BRUNS,LIVESAY,ELLIS,MCCLUNG,JOPLING, COOPER, and many more, too numerous to post....