Hi Glenn:

I just "discovered" the Maryland CWMB and am reading through the previous postings.

My SIMMONS family arrived in Pike County, Mississippi while Mississippi was still a territory. They began moving to Caldwell Parish, Louisiana around 1859. Don't know of any Maryland or East Tennessee connections, but two of the SIMMONS brothers (my ancestors in the 31st Louisiana Infantry) were surrendered and released on parole at Vicksburg. Also, my TEAGLE ancestor from the 12th Louisiana Infantry was surrendered at Vicksburg and released on parole.

All three Compiled Military Service Records contain not only the parole record card, but also a copy of their parole certificates containing their personal signatures. The Federals were meticulous about this paroling process. Vicksburg was locked down tight and those very few who slipped out without signing their paroles did so by small boat from the riverside and most likely were headed home to the Trans-Mississippi.

If you have not found a clear record in Jackson C. SIMMONS' CMSR, perhaps he was not there at the end - which would make for an interesting story! If you don't have a copy of JCS' CMSR, the answer to your query is probably in there!

Hugh Simmons
12th Louisiana Infantry Research
Fort Delaware Society