McClurg's 8th Cavalry MSM were valiant, hard fighters, but they also had a reputation for waylaying their local enemies. That does not mean some of those troopers committed those murders, but the unit had that hard reputation.

During 1863 and 1864 a number of 8th men deserted and killed and stole throughout that region before Union authorities sent other troops to bring those renegades to justice. My source is "The Records of the Rebellion" in several places.

Bruce Nichols