John,

I have a new computer which seems to have all the security devices available in the world, but they won't allow me to read any of your hot links except the wonderful roster of Shanks' 12th Cavalry Regiment from the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I have the same problem with the MO Secretary of State's Office Missouri State Archives site, too. I can read everything there except the individual soldiers' cards. Rather than disconnect all the security devices available in the world, I am content (well, not really) to wait until I get to my computer at work on Monday and finally get to read what you are sending.

In the meanwhile, to whom does your 11:54 message refer? It says "Hey Bruce try this one on for size:" but has only the hot link and no name. It tantalizingly says this guy was a Second Lieutenant in Shelby's Brigade. I can't wait until Monday. Who is this man?

Lastly, John, in your 12:15 message about Mart Rider you stated that we now have listed a First Lieutenant and a Second Lieutenant. Was Mart Rider a 1st or 2nd Lieutenant? You also stated "I think this is starting to look a bit more organized that just a bunch of boyd heading back home." Until we have evidence that either of those lieutenants was leading the 30 men back to Jackson County with some inkling that they were acting under orders I really don't know what we have. I really don't want to call them "deserters" either until I know more.

Right now, all I have for certain from Welch's memoir (which is detailed enough that I believe it) is that Private Warren W. Welch of Company C, Shanks Jackson County Regiment and 30 unidentified soldiers from the Confederate Army came back to Jackson County in early October 1863 just days after Captain Quantrill and about 400 guerrillas and Confederate recruits headed south for the winter unbeknownst to Welch and his travelling companions. From other circumstantial evidence I gather that Welch and the other 30 guys remained in the Jackson County area the rest of the winter of 1863-1864 actively fighting in guerrilla style aganst the Yanks. It seems they were still there doing that when Quantrill and his other men returned in the spring of 1865. Interestingly, the poor Union intelligence apparatus referred to these 30 guerrillas all winter as "George Todd and his men," not knowing that Todd was in Texas. However, this probably suited the actual 30 guerrillas just fine having their identity protected so that their homes were not "scouted" any more that anybody else's.

Bruce