Look up the following: Confederate Postal System for overall view of that operation. Go to catalog.archives.gov/id/7349292 for List of Contractors on the Routes in Texas for the term commencing July 1st, 1862 and terminating June 30, 1866. This book shows alphabetical index of all the Texas contractors-Michael Urban is the only name under the letter U. Beside his name is the notation Route 199, Serbin, Bastrop County. The index (first page) is prefaced by a Copy of Circular regarding the exemption of mail contractors and discharge from military service of those appointed prior to date of enrollment. Go to Image 197 of 219 images to see Michael Urban's record. His route was #199 from Cunningham's by Serbin and Evergreen to Lexington: 35 miles and back once a week. There is also an exchange of correspondence which shows commencement of service of Contractor 22 Aug 1862 and the temporary hiring of William Price from July 1st, 1862 until August 22, 1862. On November 21, 1862 a request for payment to Mr. Price for that term of service (approx. 7 weeks). The dates of Price's service correspond with the dates for Michael Urban's enrollment and discharge from the military. Note: It appears to me that Michael Urban's "postal carrier" designation needs some thought as to the system. Michael was to make this 35 mile trip and back once a week. In Serbin Engelke was the Postmaster who also owned a business. It probably worked the same as in villages in England to this day. Local people came to Engelke's store to pick up their mail and shopped while there-Michael Urban did not drop off mail to residences. He must have had a horse-drawn conveyance (wagon)to carry goods. As no other contractor is named for this route, it raises a question for me as to the content of the letter from Pastor Kilian complaining to Cunningham's that "in the waning days of the Confederacy" "since Engelke left" packages were accumulating and not being picked up. I have wondered why Kilian did not mention Michael Urban in that letter. Michael was the Contractor until 30 June 1866, why was he not named in Kilian's complaint? See Kilian's letter in earlier reference.