Robert Silas GriffinGracie's Brigade & 43rd. Al Inf RegTue Sep 12 16:06:07 2000 ry project but have stalled for lack of time and also for gathering more data on the subject. I feel that these French, Scottish, Irish, and German American soldiers did about "all that brave men could do." Overall, The desertation rate was rather low and the casualties were high and apparently their hopes of Independence weren't completely dashed until Appomatox. At one time these "boys" were in Mahone's Div. along with the Florida Brigade, especially at Petersburg where they continually confronted the aggression of Grant, Custer and Sheridan. The recently discovered records and grave of my maternal Great Grandfather--Reubin S. Roberts who was in Co. E, 9th Fla Reg Inf, in the Fla Brigade under Gen. Finegan and also in Mahone's Div in A.P. Hill's Corps, has taken us on a historical and genealogical search that has lasted for 136 years. Apparently, no one in the family knew what happened to Reubin after he went to VA to fight at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. That my paternal great uncle and my maternal great grandfather fought almost shoulder to shoulder in the same CSA Div. in VA is tremendous stuff! The 43rd AL and 9th FL were a few good men!Most Sincerely; Robert Silas Griffin43rd Ala & Florida — Jacques Jolie, Fri Sep 15 10:41 Gracie's Brigade - part 1 — Robert Silas Griffin, Tue Sep 12 19:41