Dear, Sir, hope all is well with you and your family. Last year you were kind enough to help me located one of my great, great Uncles, William Booker Preston. I would like to learn how to coduct research work so I can possibly locate my distant relatives. I Great, Great, Great Grandfather John Preston from Wilson County, Tennessee had six sons and three of them died while serving in the Confederacy. None of their graves were ever found and no one is living who can give me any information to the best of my knowledge. The only information I have is from a Family Book called The Preston Family of Bedford Co. Virginia.

Anyhow, one of my great Uncles, the above named, William Booker Preston, the second was 1st Lt. Thomas Pleasant Preston, who, died as a result of being injured at the Battle of Ranseca, and, the youngest brother was named James S. Preston. He may have enlisted under James Preston. From what little I've been able to find out, he may have enlisted in one of the Alabama Infantry Regiments. There is a James Preston listed in the 17th Alabama and another, however, I can't recall the name of it.

Four of the six Preston brothers joined Alabama Regiments and I haven't figured out how this happened. I think two may have been living in Alabama at the time, but, the youngest Pvt. James S. Preston was still living at his father's home in Tennessee?

If you could find out which Alabama Infantry Unit Pvt. James S. (Steptoe), Preston served in, I would appreciate it very much. He was about 18,19 and/or 20 years of age when he enlisted and was killed early in the War.

Also, any information on where any of these men are buried and/or how I can try and leave a message for their relatives would be deeply appreciate.

Sincerely,

John L. Preston