A couple of days ago I wrote a post The Legal Genealogist Inspires Me to Take Another Look at the Puzzle of Jeremiah which discusses why can I find no record of my 2nd great grandfather Jeremiah Gillespie fighting for the Confederacy? Or the Union for that matter.
Marian Regan mentioned in a comment that maybe she should go back and look for her ancestor who seemed to old being born in 1817, but who knew? Maybe he did fight. It is not out of the realm of possibility.
Robert Bryant discharge. Reasons include “old age” and “he is just worn out.
In 2011 I wrote a series of 6 posts for Ancestry.com on the Civil War. The last 4 were about Robert Bryant, who was born about 1802. Yep, 1802. He fought for the 7th Kentucky Calvary (Union) and died from complications from a skin infection in a military hospital. Don’t assume anything! 🙂
My two introductory posts:
Four posts about Robert Bryant:
- Is He or Isn’t He?
- It’s All in the Details
- Sorting Out Your soldier’s War story
- Exploring a Civil War Pension File
I sometimes regret publishing these — they would have been an awesome case study for conflicting evidence for my CG. It is what it is.
cluster genealogy 
Yes, it would have been great to use that project for your CG, but then…there would always be another topic that, in swapping as substitute, you might have found yourself thinking the same thing about, later. It is what it is. There is always another great mystery to ponder, when it comes to looking back on family history.
I’ve been thinking back over the past year, myself, and sorting out the year as a kind of personal review. I’ve enjoyed following your blog–as well as your Facebook and Twitter commentary–in the past year. I certainly have appreciated the topics you’ve brought up–not to mention the encouragement you’ve provided many bloggers through the links and mentions you’ve shared with your audience.
I’m going to take my cue from your title and never assume anything–though please forgive me if you don’t participate in this sort of thing–in designating Finding Forgotten Stories a Blog of the Year 2012.
I’ve explained more about the Blog of the Year 2012 award here.
Thanks again for everything–not only your encouragement to other bloggers, but for your own informative stories here on your blog. Best wishes as you tackle the challenges 2013 brings your way!