Dear Mr. Pitts,

Thank you for your patience. I am reading and trying to understand how the CSA was organized to better understand what to ask. Here are a couple of question but first some addtiional background on James.

My family has evidence that James attended the University of Alabama up until his Junior year. We also have a letter from General Hagan when he is old talking about James and he going to the Mexican War together. I have a very old Alabama biography book that has a passage on General Hagan that specifically mentions that Gen Hagan fought with James Boykin at Monterey. The Mexican war was the training ground for many CSA soldiers. James returned to civilian life after Mexico. Yancey "a fire brand" is mentioned somewhere as having recruited James early just after secession. I am assuming now - James has trouble getting his Calvary Co. to behave and Tomlinson takes it over or did Colin McRae pull him for other work? Everything I have read so far indicates that the States formed volunteer militias before becoming absorbed into the CSA. It appears that this is the case with Boykin Co. that later became Co. E

1. Is this true?
2. Did Boykin's Co. see any action prior to February of 1862?
3. If so how do you know what source should I look for?
4. Did Lee organize the entire army or just the army of Virginia?
5. If he didn't how many armies were there and what were they called and who ran them?
6. How is General Hagan's note that James Boykin was promoted to staff jell with what you are seeing? It seems that if he was there - 1st hand that he would know?
7. George Martin is the one you named General Gladden back last year - where did he get this information?
8. Is it possible that he worked closely with Gladden but as a private citizen for some reason?

There appears to be evidence that James while in business with Colin McRae as Boykin and McRae very possibly were involved with supplying the CSA. I suspect most of those records were destroyed in order to protect people after the war.

9. Where woulod you look to find evidence of the company supplying the CSA?

I have read a book on Colin McRae that stated that the company owned a schooner implying that they may have be involved in running Winfield Scott's Anaconda blockade.
10. Does evidence still exist about how and where the CSA got their supplies?

In 1864 James is drafted or conscripted into the Senior Reserves.

11. Reading 'Gods and Generals' the reserves are used to plug a hole in A.P. Hill's line at Fredericksburg. Did the Senior Reserves actually fight or did they hang out protecting the homefront? Were they the old men?
12. How could James have been paroled at Citronelle if he had resigned out of the reserves? Is it possible there is confusion between James Boykin and James O. Boykin?

I truly appreciate your patience. James is a rather enigmatic figure and as my great, great, great grandfather I would like to know him better. There is evidence from family members that he was loved and well respected. He lost everything after declaring bankruptcy in 1866 (date an approximation) and family said that James told them it was one of the hardest things he ever had to do - going from being a Prince to a Pauper. He signed the Oath of Alligance in 1866 retoring him as a United States citizen and subjecting him and his family to the U.S. Confiscation Act. (fact - I have the paperwork) Colin McRae was sued by the U.S. government but because the British recognized the Confederacy in international law McRae who was in England at the close of the war won his case and left for British Honduras never to return to the United States.

Thank you for helping me piece together his story.

Helen

PS: Do you know anyone who is researching another family member of Boykin's Co. that mighthave family letters revealing the early goings on of the company?