The Marrasts buried in Greenwood Cemetery are the same. Anna's father was an attorney and postmaster of Tuscaloosa. Her uncle John Marrast was a large landowner, physician and president of the Alabama State Bank. The Mabrys would be distant relatives. I think my family might have removed themselves to Tuscaloosa after the fall of Ft. Donelson, since there were several marriages between the families. Anna married my great, great grandfather in 1868.

Four of Lawrence's five brothers died in the war, as did he. Anna's cousin John C. Marrast was killed in battle as well.

Lawrence was a 44 year old attorney when he enlisted as a private. His letters give an educated and contemporaneous narrative of the war from an enlisted soldier's perspective.