Bruce,

The only reason I lay credibility to the Provost Marshall's report in this case is because there was an accusation;

Boze and Shelton stole Lowry's horse

There was an affidavit signed by two witnesses and the horse was returned by a Lt Cotton who stated that he took the horse from Shelton.

As far as the statement about the 15th Missouri...I was refering to confederates (specifically William Lowry who lost his leg at Pea Ridge) who had been pressed into yankee service for the purpose of hunting down Partisans. This was the case at least three different times with William and seems to be the reason why the 7th Kansas hung his son John (he refused to help the Kansas Jayhawkers). I do not know who William served with the second time but am aware of the third, Oregon County Scouts (1868 I think). I do know that in his letter to his wife in 1865 that it weighed heavey on his heart that he was involved in the "capture" of friends in Alton. When William and his sons left Missouri they stayed a brief time in one of the areas known for harboring Missouri Partisans, Lewisville, Texas. The Lowry clan split at this time and half went to Cllingsworth, Texas and the others (my side) settled at "Younger's bend" in Oklahoma Cherokee country. In the later years, they spread into Stephens county near Ft Sill and lived out a peaceful life.

You will find William Lowry in both the census for Ripley County and the Missouri land patents. Jeptha Bowles lived with his sister, Martha and brother-in-law, Martin Van Buren Denning in Ripley County as well. Jeptha was never married and lived a rather wild life. Martin Van Buren Denning had a daughter by his second wife, Elvira Burnam and they had a daughter named Lucy Ellen Denning that married Barton Hudson Lowry, son of William Lowry Jr. You will also find the home of Roda Lowry (Williams Daughter) married to Thomas Denning (Martin VB Denning's son). Martin VB Dennings father was Bowles Denning, named for Jeptha's grandfather.

As far as the Boze connection, I know that Shelton, Boze, Lowry rode with Reeves for a period but were all better suited to rangering. I have tons of letters, bible records, and letters written by the Lowry clan but have relied mostly on "official records to connect them where information is lacking. However, I must say that I lend little faith to the Yankee record keepers for truth and validity.