Regarding the Southern Claims Commission file for Zachariah White: Zach died about 1866. The claim was filed on behalf of his estate. The only two heirs were his son, Thomas J. White and White's nephew, Willie. The Mail Guard was originally conceived by the Unionists as a means by which to keep young men out of the Rebel service since they were exempt if the served in the Mail Guard. Unionists like Andrew J. Ingle was a member and he actively encouraged other men to join. Eventually, however, Major Pickett of Roddy's command ordered the men to report to Confederate camps in the Tennessee Valley and they were made a part of the Confederate Cavalry. As such, they all probably took an oath to support the Confederacy. For the Southern Claims Commission, any type of Confederate oath taking was a sure ticket to get bumped out of their system. For that reason, when Zachariah's estate was settled, the Commission found in favor of the estate. However, they continued to call into question T.J. White's loyalty and refused to award him any money. Instead, they awarded $515 to his nephew, Willie White.