688
William Davidson
Musician
"free man of color"
Company G, 1st (Olmstead's) Georgia Infantry
CSR
Proposed exchange of Davidson to the 18th Georgia Battalion:
"Battery Marion, February 9, 1864
Brig. General Thomas Jordan,
Chief of Staff & Assistant Adjutant General
[-of Beauregard's Staff, Dept. of SC, GA, & FL. Jordan was Chief of Staff, but not the AAG.]
General:
Having agreed to the exchange of Private J. H. Roberts, Company B, 18th Battalion Georgia Volunteers, for Musician William Davidson of Company G, 1st Regiment Georgia Volunteers, we make application for an order to effect the exchange. Private Roberts is at present on detached service in Savannah. Both he and Davidson have agreed to the exchange.
George D. Smith,
1st Lieutenant Commanding Co. B,
18th Georgia Battalion
Benjamin F. Cole,
1st Lieutenant Commanding Co. G,
1st Volunteer Regiment of Georgia
Note
Musician William Davidson is a free man of colour, was mustered into the company for the war....The Company is now with the Regiment and the Regiment Band is composed of white men while the band of the 18th Georgia Battalion are negroes. Davidson does not consent to the transfer, but he is of no use to the 1st Georgia and would be to the 18th Georgia making the transfer beneficial to the service.
B. F. Cole, Lt. Comdg. Co. G"
Endorsements on back (up the chain of command)-
William S. Basinger, Major, Commanding 18th Georgia Battalion:
"Approved."
Charles H. Olmstead, Colonel, 1st Georgia Volunteers:
"Approved and respectfully forwarded."
R. E. Colston, Brig. General, Colston's Brigade:
"Respectfully forwarded. I know of no authority under which a colored man can be enlisted or mustered into the Confederate service."
H. W. Mercer, Brig. General, District of Georgia:
"Respectfully forwarded."
John M. Otey ("JMO"), Assistant Adjutant General, Dept. of South Carolina, Georgia, & Florida (Beauregard's staff):
"Make exchange."
(my emphasis)