Martin,

My grandfather, one James Ollie Lee was born near Blaze Kentucky on Martin's Fork in Morgan County, KY. My most prominent family names from Morgan, Elliott and other counties down there in that Southeast corner are Lee, Lewis, Henry, Amyx, Perry, Jackson, Caskey, etc. My Lees are not the Lees of Virginia, even though unscrupulous or social climbing members of my family have tried to make them such. My Lees were poor Irish people who came to Virginia and Maryland about 1800 and shuffled over to Eastern Kentucky about 1830. My Kentucky ancestors were about 80% pro-Union and about 20% pro-Southern. I agree absolutely with what you say about not wanting to take part in the war. Most of my Eastern Kentucky ancestors were slow to enlist and did their best to stay in units close to home. I have some uncles & cousins in the 39th Kentucky (US), which I noticed you mention in one of your postings. I also have several uncles in the 24th Kentucky Infantry, one is buried at the Shiloh cemetery. For some reason, most of my direct ancestors (grandfathers) were either too young or too old for military service in the 1860's. I do have two grandfathers; however, who were members of the 54th Kentucky Mounted Infantry (US) and prior to that the "Three Forks Battalion". My Confederate ancestry served, at least at first, in the 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry (CS) and the 6th Battalion Confederate Cavalry (CS).

I'm trying to respond "off the top of my head". If you'd like more detail just tell me.

Jim