Bob--

Greetings from Arizona!

We're talking about Capt Frank E Burke, Co "C", 7th Confederate Cavalry. Cannot locate on the 1860 census, but appears to be a resident of Athens GA. Capt Burke received authority to recruit a battalion exempt from conscription in Georgia and Alabama. Went home to assemble dismounted men of his regiment, became associated with Maj G W Lee, post of Atlanta, and eventually was discharged (Sept 1863) due to physical disability. On that count, while in Atlanta he may have gotten acquainted with Belle Watling.

Capt Burke noticed large numbers of men at home discharged from service. He believed a substantial part of them could be mounted and perform good service under General Forrest's command. Authority was issued by the War Department on Dec 22, 1862, S O 299. (See OR Series IV, vol 2, p 253).
http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=128/0253

The War Department revoked it by S O 47/19, A&IGO, Feb 26, 1864.

Fold3 reference --
http://www.fold3.com/image/#271|248945478

According to his service file, Capt Burke was in camp at Albany GA in March 1864. He signed a document relating to the muster roll of Capt E B Newton at Columbus MS, May 1, 1864. Capt E B Newton, formerly of Co "C", 26th Alabama Regt., has a document in his service file signed as Capt of Co "A", Burke's Battalion. Newton later (October 1864) appears on an inspection report of General Roddey's command as a Captain in Stuart's Cavalry Battalion. The inspection report by Capt W H Hammond, AAIG of Roddey's cavalry, Nov 17, 1864, is on file at the ADAH.

http://www.fold3.com/image/#271|208361881

Georgia State Archives has two documents he wrote while at "Camp Rescue", Aug 26-27, 1864. At this time he was reporting to Gen Wayne, Georgia State Troops. These are found in Ancestry.
http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=2051&path=Incoming.Brown%2c+Thomas+E%c2%b7+-+Candler%2c+Miton+A%c2%b7.213&sid=&gskw=Frank+E+Burke

When you locate further information, would like to know more about this topic.