As an amatuer part-time researcher,I have also responded to inquiries for further information on a particular post. In the past two years I have given 95% more than I have received. But don't be discouraged! I just want to see more names, places and leads to filling in the blanks. I have couple of cousins who won't share information; so what's new? The idea is; let the receiving persons cross check the information to their satisfaction, then you have done your best.

I became interested in the thousands of black civilians who worked for the Union Army, after finding that an ancestor of an in-law was a scout and blacksmith in the Civil War. He was a slave who was recruited by the 1st Conn. Cavalry, in Fairfax County, Virginia in 1862. I copied the regimental returns and I am still trying to verify his whereabouts.

This led to finding; that it is estimated that 225,000 black civilians worked for the Army and the government. They were laundry workers,nurses, spys, cooks, teamsters,stevadores, foragers, servants, blacksmiths and scouts and any other jobs that they could perform. It is estimated that there were 8,000 -10,000 teamsters alone. There is a painting showing a black teamster driving a wagon in the Shenandoah offensive in pursuit of Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

I am also researching the number of Confederate massacres of USCT troops after they surrendered. Most know about Fort Pillow, Tenn., but I have discovered about 5 other sites of massacres in other states and one exceeds the number of troops killed at Fort Pillow.

Lets get the information out there!