The story of the dreadful hangings of a group of men from Williamson County in Bandera Co., Texas by Maj. Alexander from Camp Verde was first told long ago by J. Marvin Hunter in the Frontier Times. Those hanged near Julian Creek in 1863 by Confederates were named: brothers CJ Costen Sawyer and WM William Sawyer; George Thayre, a brother-in-law of the Sawyers; William Shumake; Jack Whitmire; Jake Kyle; John Smart; and Mr. Van Winkle. Their names are on a marker there.
For more background, you can read Hunter's article at:
http://www.txgenweb2.org/txbandera/ceme-tragedytree.htmlI am trying to find out the identity of the "Mr. Van Winkle" of this incident. Can you help, please? Our branch comes from Hill County Texas, where D. L. Vanwinkle (a ggg-grandfather) moved to from Mississippi and then served as a Confederate soldier. He is buried at Peoria Cemetery.