Little Al,

You really need copies of this soldiers records to understand what happened with him. The records for him may have very little info. but you may find many pages with things like eye and hair color, prisoner records wounds etc. You can order the records at this site.

http://history-sites.com/research/index.html

John W. Cureton (First_Last)
Regiment Name 25 Texas Cavalry
Side Confederate
Company K
Soldier's Rank_In Private
Soldier's Rank_Out Private
Alternate Name
Notes
Film Number M227 roll 8

CONFEDERATE TEXAS TROOPS

25th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (3rd Texas Lancers) (Gillespie's)

25th Cavalry Regiment [also called 3rd Texas Lancers] was organized by C.C. Gillespie early in 1862. The unit was soon dismounted and ordered to Arkansas. Here it was captured in January, 1863, at Arkansas Post. After the exchange the regiment was consolidated with the 17th, 18th, and 24th Texas Cavalry Regiments (dismounted) and was placed in Deshler's, J.A. Smith's, and Granbury's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. This command fought with the army from Chickamauga to Atlanta, moved with Hood to Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. The 25th was organized with about 900 men and had 552 in action at Arkansas Post. At Chickamauga the 17th/18th/24th/25th suffered 200 casualties and in December, 1863, totalled 690 men and 520 arms. Only a remnant surrendered on April 26, 1865. The field officers were Colonel Clayton C. Gillespie, Lieutenant Colonel William M. Neyland, and Majors Joseph N. Dark and Edward B. Pickett.

One more note! This is why you need the records.
A detachment was surrendered by General E. K. Smith, commanding Trans-Mississippi Department, on May 26, 1865, a month after the April surrender.
Does this mean that after Arkansas Post some of the soldiers of this unit fought the rest of the war in the Trans-Mississippi (Louisana)? So was Private Cureton fighting in the East or West? Maybe the records will clear this up.

I hope this helps,
Gary D. Bray