David --

Being from the Gulf Coast you know how 'blended' some of the long-time local families are. I'll take Art's word for or against any of this, but in my fleeting acquaintance with the coast during the war, let me offer the following.

Confederate authorities in Mobile were reluctant to enroll Creoles or other men of doubtful ancestry, or allow them to remain in service once questions were raised. I can cite specific examples from Mobile if you're interested.

That leads me to believe that any contemporary questions about R. L. Gibson's ancestry would have been investigated carefully, and probably resulted in his resignation.

Once a question like this has been raised, it's like being accused of witchcraft -- the more you deny it, the more people are convinced it must be true.