Helen --

The Alabama State Archives (ADAH) in Montgomery has letterbooks and papers of Colin J McRae. Frank E Vandiver, Ploughshares into Swords: Josiah Gorgas and Confederate Ordnance, mentions Colin J McRae frequently.

If you check the parole of James Boykin, please note that he received his parole at Mobile, June 23, 1865, not at Citronelle. General Richard Taylor went to Citronelle to arrange for surrender of all Confederate troops in Alabama, Mississippi and East Lousiana. Boykin received a parole long after hostilities concluded, and was never captured or a prisoner of war. The War Department filed paroles with prisoner of war records. That's the reason for the misleading title.

Captain Boykin applied for but never received a staff position. Responses to his petition of April 1864 make it clear that there are no staff vacancies he could fill. When Brig Gen James Cantey endorsed Boykin's petition for Major of Cavalry, President Davis asked the same question. What position is vacant on Gen Cantey's staff? Evidently at this time Boykin was an acting Aide-de-Camp, which is an informal staff position. When I used the word volunteer earlier, in this sense it means he was a civilian, not in Confederate service.

Captain Boykin resigned his commission on Feb 26, 1862. He was no longer associated with the company. His company was assigned to the 3rd Alabama Cavalry in July 1862. The 3rd Alabama Cavalry did not exist when Boykin was captain of this company. He signed two receipts for forage as Capt Co "G", 2nd Alabama Artillery Battalion.

He also signed a receipt at Mobile in early 1862 as Captain of the "Mathews Rangers".

Somewhere in my papers on the 3rd Alabama Cavalry I probably have Hagan's notes that you mentioned. I'm absolutely positive that Boykin never served with that regiment. The endorsement by John J McRae says he served briefly as a captain of cavalry at the begining of the war. Of course this fits with the statement I am making to you.

McRae also says that Boykin has been "conscribed" (drafted) and would have to report to Camp of Instruction. This was the situation in April 1864. I have no evidence to show that he ever entered Confederate service again.