Got to know "the rest of the story". I have heard from Diane about her

ancestor, who happened to be in the same unit as my 4 ancestors (4th great

grandfather & uncles). One of these ancestors (Samuel Atcheson) joined up

early in the 22nd PA Cavalry with brother (John) and brothers-in-law George

& Henry (Robson), but he made his first mark by being in a different

company than the rest of the group. Seems as if Samuel took a hike for 4

months, and then rejoined his company (? harvest, hunting, extended conjugal

visit.?). Got busted at a court martial, with a judgement that he lost the

back pay for the months missing, reduced in rank to Private (which he was),

spent 4 months in the brig, and then was returned to the company his brother

John was in for supervision. Not a month later, he took a "ball shot" to

the chest, was in the hospital where they decided to leave it in, he

finished the war on active duty after he "recovered from the wound", and

lived until he was very old with the ball still in his chest. Talk about

someone born under a cloud! Another 4th great Uncle, John McAlister

contracted measles the first month in the service, and was so debilitated by

the disease, that he spent all of his war years as being a hospital orderly

(when he wasn't confined to bed!). He lived 10 years beyond the end of the

war, but died as an invalid.

I have had so much fun in the 3 plus years that I have been doing genealogy.

I now live in Pittsford, NY due to a Kodak transfer (born & raised in Las

Vegas, Nevada; college and first part of marriage in Colorado, and now

here). Good Thing! I now am closer to PA for my father's side to research.

I have become enthralled with the Civil War from finding my first ancestor.

I now have about 20 with bits and pieces of their records, and the more I

read, the more I learn. I hope to be able to help any student/adult with

their search for a Civil War ancestor, and particularly from the Fayette or

Washington county area of Pennsylvania. The Internet has been my "escape"

from the everyday life we all lead (laundry, bills, kids, etc), and I thank

my husband for goading me until I tried it out (now he rarely gets on!).

The family kind of pats me on the head in passing, but someday, they will

pick up the family papers and continue on...the bug is hereditary! I loved

a signature found on the Pennsylvania roots: Genealogy: where you confuse

the dead and irritate the living!

My background is in teaching Anthropology, and one son said that is why I

liked doing genealogy. Like a dig, but not as dirty ! I am currently a

substitute para-professional in our elementary school's computer lab, and

have gotten them excited about the project.

Karen Souhrada