Hi, Donna:

Six years after you posted your inquiry, I just ran across it ... about Edward Chambers Craig and his connection with the Confederate Army Quartermaster Corps. By now, I am sure you have tracked that down, but here is what I found: He worked as a civilian with the Quartermaster Corps out of Petersburg. He was an Impressing Agent in Chesterfield County in 1863 and a Forage Agent in 1864. An Impressing Agent was authorized by the QM Department to go out and collect the government's tithe of goods from the people. The Confederate Congress passed a law requiring everyone to give a certain amount -- usually 10 per cent -- of their crops, livestock and goods to the nation to feed the widows and children of deceased soldiers and later in the war to help feed and clothe the Army. I'm thinking they were as popular as IRS agents knocking on your door today. I have seen letters where people wrote that they hid food when they knew an agent was in the vicinity. E.C. Craig probably took on the honorific "Major" when he moved from Virginia to Kentucky and figured no one would check his background when he ran for office in his new state.

-- Craig Rains
2nd Great grandson of Edward Chambers Craig