George, Thanks for your input. My info comes from my mother by word of mouth from her grandmother, James's daughter. Another source is a handwritten account from another McConnel family member, Little Rock native Foster McConnel, dec'd. He also states that James was in a battle in the boston mountains on Dec the 7th 1862. Third i have found a Montgomery co. court record showing where his wife Harriet McConnel petitioned the court in april, 1863, to be appointed as administrator of his estate. This was granted and approved by the court.