Cannot thank you enough for the link to the library at UMSL and the suggestion that I try Cairo. Your previous post about pilots and engineers being required to be licensed due to the law of 1852 ( I believe), is very good information. Then, when you said, "engineer" I began to wonder if my neighbor, who was born around 1900, and raised in the proximity of the individual, that the story being retold in his household for 40-60 years, if an "engineer" had become a "captain", or, even if a lesser grade person on the boat had been promoted to "Captain" over the years in the story.

Back in the late 70's, when I was attending SIU in Carbondale, I did quite a bit of research on who the "Captain" might have been. The neighbor had told me the general area that he was supposed to have lived in, but that resulted in about four, or, five names. If I could find one of those names on property, and, also, on a list of licensees, then I will feel that I found my man. When I graduated, I moved from the area, and this adventure went to the back of my mind for forty years. Now, I am in much need of diversion, to distract me from a situation that I did share with Bryce, and this seems just the thing.

It would be interesting to know just how far south he moved before he felt safe. Did he stop in New Madrid, did he join the Confederate Navy? I believe that shipping came up the Black River as far at least as Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and I think that a gunboat, or, two, made it there, as well. Was he ever in service and made it into Missouri. It would be interesting to me to find out, if he did.

Years ago, I went to the archives at Southeast Missouri University and read from the original issues of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. I am not sure if they allow that now.

With the suggestions that you and George have provided, you have given me enough to chew on, and that will help me greatly in many ways.

Thank you,

Dex