I believe that many from the Mountains had received land grants after the Revolutionary War and the war of 1812. Not my area of expertise. I've read that many of these mountain people still felt a great loyalty to the old flag. I'm sure that Martin's family were also hard working farmers and not Harvard graduates(correct me if I'm wrong Martin...lol). Be that as it may they stayed with the Union and I have no doubt whatsoever fought as valiantly for the blue as your family did for the gray. You mention in your post about not messing with a Mountain man's home or family. In one of Martin's earlier post he told of the murder and rape of his family members by pro-southern thugs. Now sir, I'm not from the mountains but I for one call that messin.

Now about Asia. My family were Quakers until my grandfather join the serviceduring WW1, my father was also in the corps at Sapian and other islands during WW2. C'est Moi, I did my time in the Coast Guard. Not as candy a job as one might think.