Interesting you mention this. My gr-grandfather was captured at Sayler's Creek and sent to Point Lookout where he was paroled in June 1865. No doubt he was not in the best condition, but he did make it home. When he got home he learned his father had remarried to a woman his own age (who in February 1866 had the gall to name her first child Ullyeses S. G. Kilby*), his grandmother had remarried her brother-in-law the same day her sister died, and his uncle was suing her over ownership of a slave--a suit that was filed in late April after the war was over. (This dismissed on advice of counsel the following September.)

No wonder he moved to St. Louis County, Missouri--along with two of his brothers!**

CSA pensions can be very revealing as to physical disabilities--especially rheumatism--are blamed on conditions during the war.

Craig Kilby

* The family legend for the shocking name is that the mother, Caroline Wise Kilby, had promised the Union troops to name her first born son after the General if they would spare her farm. Why she felt obligated to keep such a promise is an open question.

**I don't remember where I picked up this tidbit.  Missouri was a popular destination for CSA veterans after the war, being Confederate-friendly. My gr-great grandfather had served in the 13th Infantry under Pickett.....here is what I don't remember clearly, but somewhere along the way I remember being told that either Pickett himself or a close associate had procured a promising position in St. Louis and was encouraging former members of Pickett's brigade to move there. I have never tested that theory and it may be that I just dreamed it up.

On Oct 12, 2012, at 6:02 PM, John Carter wrote:

>  The Union soldiers' descriptions of the Confederate soldiers at the Battle of Sayler's Creek and at Appomattox indicate that many of them were not only ragged and weary-looking, but were undernourished and weak. The men who were released from prisons like Fort Delaware and Point Lookout were in even worse shape.


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