Charles Christian,
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First, we appreciate your researching the Confederate soldiers buried in the Santa Clara CA Rural Cemetery. ..I pasted your Feb 21, 2009 posting on
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. http://www.bourlandcivilwar.com/Feb1864WashitaIndianTerritory.htm
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I have no proof that John Wesley Clanton was the "Captain Clanton" other than Brig-Gen. H.E. McCulloch's Feb 3, 1864 letter - in easy-to-read handwriting - to Col. James Bourland that can be seen on my web page, see the large yellow arrow in the upper right-hand corner:
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http://www.bourlandcivilwar.com/Feb1864WashitaIndianTerritory.htm
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The next question is: "if Capt. Clanton wasn't JWC, who was Capt. Clanton in the Feb 1864 letter?" ..I am certainly not an expert on Gurley's 30th Cavalry, but few study deserters in Texas and Indian Territory more than I. ... The focus of my study is the last 1-1/4 years of the War on the North and West Frontier which is several orders of magnigude harder to outline than the first two years of the War.
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For example, "Henry Boren (1828-1868)" was never legally promoted to captain or called "captain" by his followers or McCulloch (that I have seen), but Henry Boren was the leader of about 500 deserters in the "bush." ... I think that the 40 men who followed J.W. Clanton simply tagged him with the moniker "captain," yes an unofficial captain. ..Don't forget, the families of the 40 men lived near the men who McCulloch saw on a daily basis. ... i.e., via word of mouth.
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To recap part of McCulloch's letter:
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1864 Fannin Co TX, Bonham, Feb 3......COLONEL [James Bourland, Commanding. on Frontier]:
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I have just learned that a Company of 40 men under Capt. Clanton is coming down by Washita claiming the cavalry of Marmaduke. ..I suspect them and if they get into Texas and have not the proper papers, arrest them and send them to me at once. This can be done under Genl. Smith’s order No. 58 without creating much ado. ...
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Fascinating paragraph from your posting:
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We had reports he and his father deserted another TX Cav unit for bounty money and then he alone later came back and was in the 30th. That is probably all wrong too. But all we have on hand here. No record of him ever going bad like his brothers and father ever.
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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