There were two Blanton families in Fannin County and two Ben Blantons and the families are not related. My great great grandparents were Joshiah and Lucy (Westbrook) Blanton. My great great great grandfather Howell Wesbrook is honored by a statue in Charleston, SC. He was hanged by British Col. Banestre Tarleton in 1782. The best way to distinguish the two Blanton families is by their religious affiliation. My Blanton family is Methodist and the other Blanton family is Baptist. Stephen Blanton (Methodist) married _____Blanton (Baptist). Stephen Blanton was my great great grandfather's brother. That is the only connection between the two Blanton families. Rev. Ben Blanton (1838-1917) died of natural causes and is buried in Fannin County.

Rev.Ben Blanton was my great grandmother's brother. He was ordained in 1872 and founded the Blanton Chapel in 1876, near Leonard,Texas. He was a Methodist minister and served all four years of the war in Col. Peter C.Hardeman's 1st Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade and was furloughed at Hempstead, Texas on May 26, 1865.

Col. Trezevant C.Hawpe's 31st Texas Cavalry is sometimes confused with Col. Hardeman's 1st Texas Cavalry due to a clerical error at the Confederate headquarters when numbers were assigned. That error is explained in the files at Hill College.

Major Michael Looscan served in both the 1st Texas and the 31st Texas but he first enlisted in the 1st Texas Cavalry when it was first orgainzed under Lt. Col. Peter C. Hardeman in Colorado County Texas as part of the proposed Arizona Brigade. In 1863, at Fort Towson, Indian Territory, the 1st Texas Cavalry was combined with Col.Richard M.Gano's Squadron to form a brigade. Col.Gano was promoted to brigidier general and placed command.

Brig.Gen R.M.Gano was slightly wounded in action during the Camden Expedition and Maj.Looscan was place in command of a detachment of the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment at the battles of Poison Springs and Massards Prairie Arkansas.