I am trying to determine whether or not a particular William Patterson served in the Civil War for Texas or perhaps in the Texas State Troops.

He was born ca. 1845 in AL. His father was Robert Patterson and his mother was Ann M. Johnson (Patterson), sister of Colonel Middleton Tate Johnson. Col Johnson was the founder of the 14th-18th Tx Cavalry Regiments, known as Johnson's Brigade.

William had 3 older brothers, all of whom served in the 14th Tx Cav. along with their Johnson cousins, plus 2 more Patterson cousins. The brothers were Middleton Tate Patterson, Robert L. Patterson, and Berryman Cicero Holt Patterson. The cousins were John Joseph Patterson and Wilson Lumpkin Patterson.

William also had an older half-brother named John Sydney Patterson who served in the 3rd Tx Brigade. He also had an older brother-in-law named Tillotson Carleton who first served in the 3rd Tx Brigade, then later the 18th Tx Infantry. Also in the 18th Tx Infantry was yet another cousin of William's, a guy named Silas Kimsey Patterson.

In other words, ALL (literally) of the males in these Patterson families served in the war in some capacity. There WERE a few Williams or W.'s who served, but I don't know if they were "my" William Patterson.

Any suggestions as to how to determine this?

Wes Patterson
wespatterson@triad.rr.com