Aubrey --

My paper concerning events in Shelby County AL during 1864-65 appears in the lower half of this site --

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/3071/crowd.html

To the best of my knowledge, Robert B. Blackwell never enlisted on either side but murdered officers and men of both sides. Federal provost marshal papers filed under 'Blackwell' include a pass given his wife for passage through the lines.

Based on the stories, Blackwell apparently appeared at Montevallo AL in the guise of a Confederate officer and assumed some sort of authority. We're sure that legitimate Confederate officers were there, so I've never understood how he managed to be accepted as "Colonel" Blackwell for a matter of weeks, perhaps months.

What do you know about Mrs. Blackwell?

Would you consider posting this on the Alabama board?