Thanks so much, Les, for that additional detail. I'm still a little confused because I found a pension application by Lockwood Birdsell, filed in Aransas County in 1899, on which it states his military service consisted of "two years Captain Harby's Company," and I further discovered on-line that there WAS a Captain (Levi) Harby who abandoned his Revenue Cutter Service ship (the Henry Dodge) at Galveston to join the Confederate forces. According to the article, the 68-year-old Harby was then given command of the fighting ship "Neptune" and "proved a factor in the South's victory in the Battle of Galveston" and "was decorated for his leadership and bravery."

Are these two bits of information compatible? Could Lockwood Birdsell have been part of Company G of Hobby's 8th Texas Infantry and at the same time have been on a fighting ship with Captain Harby? It wouldn't seem so, and I'm wondering if the person doing the actual writing of the pension application for him (Lockwood Birdsell signed with his mark) simply misheard Birdsell's New York accent and wrote down "Harby" instead of "Hobby."

The pension application was a real revelation, however, because I thought Birdsell lived in Karnes, Bexar and perhaps Gillespie Counties, and now I can begin doing some sleuthing down in Aransas County, where Birdsell says he has lived for five years as of 1899.

Again, thanks for all the help. Pat