Jim,
Well, well, well. I do appreciate the leads. I just figured 30-some-odd years was long enough to wait for an answer, and, frankly, I couldn't figure this one out for myself.
Jim, odd enough, I met Darrell Maples at my speech a few weeks back to a local chapter of the SCV in St. Louis--Darrell was a guest from the Jeff City SCV--and he had just enough time to scribble for me on a scrap of paper I had in my pocket that the answer to my mystery about the identity of "General Crabtree" was either "L. G. or L. C. Crabtree." Darrell didn't have time to elaborate.
I was familiar with L. G. Crabtree, and rather rejected him as the "General," since I found it a stretch for a Missouri State Guard (MSG) lieutenant to grab such a title.
You are the first person to point out "L. C. Crabtree" and tell me who he was (Darrell just didn't have the time, as he had to drive back to Jeff City that evening). This does show promise. I really appreciate this. Any ideas how I can find material about this L. C. Crabtree who recruited for Company K of the 10th Missouri Infantry? Also, is that the 10th of the MSG or the Confederate infantry?
Bruce Nichols