Jim Martin,

I agree with Jay Longley and Bruce Nichols. ..Stick to the rigid study of the regiments by all names. ..The data will eventually fall into line.

Confederate Brush Battalion

In about 30 pages I address the brush battalion (2,000 or more camping in the creek bottoms) and the Confederate Brush Battalion (480 of the about 2,000 enlisted Confederates) of North Texas. ..I labeled them “brush battalion” and "Confederate Brush Battalion" respectively, while others simply use lower case and upper case: “brush battalion” vs. “Brush Battalion.” ..Thus far, most historians only have one or two paragraphs about the brush battalion of North Texas.

Quantrill

Numerous books have been written about Quantrill in North Texas that do not even mention the term brush battalion, Brush Battalion, nor the Confederate Brush Battalion even though General H.E. McCulloch hired Quantrill to flush the brush battalion out of the creek bottoms. ..I feel that your recommened website would encourage more of these books based on hearsay.

The Bourland Papers

My 1,014-page book is the first to address this topic because I have transcribed The BOURLAND PAPERS, the best source for studying the Confederate Brush Battalion who were legitimately enrolled in the Confederacy and camped at Oxford Lake in Collin County, Texas. ..Moreover, they gained credibility when they were included in Acting General James Bourland’s defensive plan to quell the December 21, 1863 attack of the marauding Indians who had been camping on the South Canadian River. ..This study of the brush battalion and the Confederate Brush Battalion is is one of my major contributions to the history of Texas and Indian Territory.

Arizona Brigade

If you want a topic for a needed message board, please consider the Arizona Brigade. The Bourland Regiment records (beginning Mar 1, 1864) and the BOURLAND PAPERS mention the Arizona Brigade several times.

Patti, prochette@Juno.com