Chuck, I can certainly relate to that. One of the "oral traditions" I heard as a little feller was that one of my great-great-grandfathers was a Confederate general (we don't fool around -- when we tell a story, we tell a whopper). I grew up believing the story, as did everyone else, I guess. When I began doing Civil War research, I discovered that my "general" ancestor was in fact a "high private" in the 38th Arkansas Regiment, who was AWOL more often than he was present for duty. He showed up for muster when it suited him, and went home when he felt like it. I still can't figure out why wasn't stood up before a firing squad.