Hi Alan,

Thanks for your ideas and the information.

"It's not likely that anyone other than a veteran member of that command would have known this. That is, unless a veteran shared his story with another man who happened to have a great memory, like the character Richard Gere played in "Sommersby". [Click on the link below if you enjoyed the movie.] I'll let you decide about that."

Didn't see all of the movie you referenced, but I did see enough to understand that Horace Townsend had four years to learn about Jack Sommersby's life. Did enjoy what I saw of it. Thanks for the link. Is the church also in that vicinity? Alexander C. Martin had a much longer period of time in which to learn his information (applied for pension 1914) if he obtained it second hand.

Looked for Alexander C. Martin on an 1850 U. S. Census, Fayette Co., Alabama to see if he was of that county. Not there. Am in the process of trying to see if he is on the 1860 U. S. Census for Fayette, which is posted at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/al/fayette/census/1860/

Also found Hayes Lowe's previous message referencing George Wright's list of soldiers of the 13th Ala.Cav.
http://www.geocities.com/coh41/13thBtlnAlParRgrs.html
Thanks to both of them as well! There were quite a few soldiers listed for Co. E, which now makes me wonder why
Alexander C. Martin's record would not have been found.

This may be another of those questions that will never be answered satisfactorily!

Appreciate your help!

Margaret