Don,

This is a tough one. According to Sifakis and Crute Robert R. Lawther of Jefferson City, Cole County, MO throughout the war was associated with 1st MO Cav Regiment, 6th Division, Missouri State Guard (in 1861), and later both the Confederate 1st MO Cav Regt (under COL Elijah Gates), and even later the 10th MO Cav Regt. However, nobody would call these partisan ranger outfits since they were regulars.

This means that your ancestor probably signed up with Major or Colonel Lawther during one of his behind-enemy-lines recruiting expedions probably during 1862. Lawther was issued a recruiting commission by Generals Earl Van Dorn and Sterling Price on 29 May 1862. His recruiting expedion during August and September 1862 was disastrous and he lost nearly all of his command captured or scattered in successive encounters with aggressive Union cavalry as he made his way back to central MO, first in Ozark County and then in Pulaski, Osage, and Cole Counties. Lawther himself was captured 25 August in Osage County, but some of his subordinates continued with the mission. Lawther may have been exchanged later in the war and carried out another recruiting mission in MO, but I am not aware that happened.

Was you ancestor imprisoned during the war and did he come from one of those counties I named or nearby? What is his name? With more clues perhaps we can find more information for you.

Bruce Nichols Mapmaker3@aol.com