Near the end of November, I entered a post concerning John Short, an ancestor of my cousins. With the help of some respondents, a search of census records, obtaining Short's pension application, and verifying with my uncle's brother, I have positively identified John H. Short of the 16th Texas Infantry as the correct man.

However, the pension application also indicates another unit. Short attests he enlisted in Company B of the 16th Texas Infantry on March 10, 1862. However, he also states, "In 1864 I was transferred to J.E. Graves' Company and served until the close of war in that Company." It is pretty clear, from the other handwriting in the application, that the initials are "J.E.," or, perhaps, "I.E." In response to the question as to which branch of the service he enlisted, Short states, "In the infantry first and then in the dis-mounted cavalry." He also states he surrendered at Galveston at the close of the war. The War Department verification to the State of Texas states that he did serve in the 16th Texas, and the last record found (the January/February 1864 company roll) states that Short is "absent on detached service since Feby. 4, 1864."

I have ran the name "Graves" on the NPS site, but found no officer that would seem to match the company commander identified by Short in his 1910 application. My guess would be that "Graves'" company would be in one of the Cavalry Regiments dismounted and made a part of one of the Infantry brigades in Richard Taylor's army, but that is speculation. Can anyone identify this company?