Hi Cousin Virginia!

John Robert is also my great grandfather. His records probably do not exist. My aunt, Charleen Wood, searched for them for several years, and the conclusion was that enlistment/muster out records simply do not exist for many Confederate soldiers. Many courthouse records were destroyed by the invaders, and the Reconstruction era was punitive. The Reconstruction principles were part of the "total war" methods of the Union -- they wanted their enemies to have no resources. By the end of the war, the beaurocracy simply no longer existed, and soldiers just went home if they still had one.

John Robert is an interesting guy. We have strong circumstantial evidence that he had come out here to California for the gold rush, but went back for the war. He was a very skilled wood worker, and one of the family stories tells that he was wounded, we don't know where, and went home to build wagons for the Confederate army. His chairs are serious collector items.

Cousin Dave Swanzy, also decending from John Robert, has lots of family information, and has traveled the world to get much of it. His Magazine is at:
http://www.shelbycountytx.com/

email me at eezey1 at gmail dot com, and I will send you his email address.

My very best to you and yours,
Ed Swanzey