This is the correct Howell. It's my understanding that Major "Buck" Howell joined the Bigby Grays, Co. C, 3rd Tennessee in Mt. Pleasant, TN--present for roll call on 1861. Then he enlisted with the Union Army Co. H 5th Tenn. Calvary, volunteering on July 15, 1862.

There was an "incident" with this Major Howell and Lt. Coffee, resulting in Coffee's death, back in Coffee's hometown of Mt. Pleasant, TN, when he was shot in 1864. This shooting was not in a battle. Morrow was also in the picture.

It's been a family story for years..but no one knows all the pieces of the event.

Was Lt. William Coffee in the same confederate unit as Howell (Bigby Grays, Co. C, 3rd Tenn.) before Howell joined the Union troops?

Does anyone know about the "Diary of J. W. Matthews"? It has some info in it. How can I find this source?

Thanks for any info someone might know!