Good Grief! If I would have read this form I would have seen that he went to Tennessee! Thank you so much for pointing that out. Now I know where to look next. That family always said he never returned to his wife. I had heard that he was born in either NC or TN so maybe he went back to his borth place although he had land in MS. I believe he must have passed away then about 1890 as that look like about the time his son began to live on that land in Jefferson county.

Was it common for them to demand soldiers pay a bond? Especially $1000 which is pretty steep. I would think most people could not come up with that kind of money. I guess I assummed that the US government just made confederates sign an oath not to fight against the US anymore.

I just want to say again that you have been of tremendous assistance and I appreciate it so much.