It is certainly unfortunate for history but understandble perhaps that General McCulloch had those army papers burned. An invading army was coming. The Southerners who supported the Confederacy did not yet know of their fate. Many of the names on those army papers may have been used by the victorious federal government to their detriment.

I do not know when the first federal troops arrived in Bonham. But believe it was December of 65 when a detachment of cavalry first arrived in Dallas. I suspect they would not have been well received. Unless perhaps to restore some semblence of order as the local civil authority seems to have collapsed at the disolution of the Confederate government.

I recollect that when a former Alabama soldier named George Jeffcoat arrived in a small community up in Collin County he said: "When I first came to Snow Hill in 1867 there were few people here,mostly men with two six-shooters on their belts,wearing spurs and with lariets on the saddle. The one could cuss the loudest was the man."

Not much law in Texas for the next ten years after that war. Except for perhaps Colt's Law.

MWT