Greg Lee,

Yes, your Abel Lee is mentioned three times in my book as being age 40 and in "bad health" in February 1864 in Stephenville, Erath County. He is also listed as a militia member of Erath County who was not drafted into the Confederacy in August 1863.

Since your family tradition states that your Abel Lee was in Bourland's Regiment, he probably was. Bourland's Border Regiment was first organized for guard duty along the Red River and on the Western frontier in February 1863, but the names -- or most of the names -- were not recorded until March 1864 when the Confederacy agreed to pay them. As the War progressed the marauding Comanches and Kiowas attacked more frequently, usually a few Indians at a time.

Click on "Extra Soldiers" on my website, www.bourlandcivilwar.com, for the names of some soldiers who served as guards for the white settlers and their livestock, but their names did not appear on Confederate monthly returns. This is best illustrated by studying the Battle of Elm Creek in Young County. Before this October 13th, 1864 battle, in which five men were killed, only Lt. N. Carson was listed. I suppose we would not have the names of any of Carson's men if this unfortunate battle had not happened, but the names of eleven men were recorded as wounded, dead, lost horse, etc.

Many men served only a few weeks or months and most felt it was their duty to protect their and their neighbors' families and livestock. It seems that many of these men organized themselves for guard duty on the North and West Frontier, i.e, they decided who would serve when without the benefit of officers or pay from the Texas Legislature.

Please send me the vital data of your Abel Lee, i.e., birth year, birth county, death year, death county and marriage information.

Patti, prochette@Juno.com

P.S. My website describes my 1,014-page BOURLAND IN NORTH TEXAS AND INDIAN TERRITORY DURING THE CIVIL WAR: FORT COBB, FORT ARBUCKLE, & THE WICHITA MOUNTAINS with a 128-page Name Index.