CSA records later in the war

[rgtaylor61]

Is it just me or do run into a lot of issues with records from 1864 on till the end of the war. Im assuming as things got worse record keeping dropped off but i have several family members records (thanks to the help of those on here) and its pretty common for any CSA soldiers to suddenly just stop.
The USA records are much more complete and appear more accurate as well.

 

[lupaglupa]

Oh it is not you! CSA record keeping gets worse and worse as the War goes on. The whole bureaucracy of the Confederacy develops gaps and a lot of things just fell through.

 

[DaveBrt]

Is it just me or do run into a lot of issues with records from 1864 on till the end of the war. Im assuming as things got worse record keeping dropped off but i have several family members records (thanks to the help of those on here) and its pretty common for any CSA soldiers to suddenly just stop.
The USA records are much more complete and appear more accurate as well.

The surviving records are spotty for the first year, as organizations were created and people learned their jobs. Records are reasonably complete for 1862 to mid-1864, then casualties became so heavy that new men frequently never picked up vacant jobs. You also have great destruction of records in the mail due to numerous cavalry raids, the loss of major cities (especially Atlanta), and the calling out of the clerks in the War Department to man the trenches for weeks in 1864.

Then, the BIG ONE, the working files were out loose when the Richmond fire consumed the War Department buildings. Historical files (ie previous years) had been packed for rapid evacuation and they are most of what we have now. Even the most complete record sets (ie the outgoing letter books of the War Department, Quartermaster Bureau, Engineer Bureau, etc) are missing weeks to months just before the evacuation.

 

[lupaglupa]

The surviving records are spotty for the first year, as organizations were created and people learned their jobs. Records are reasonably complete for 1862 to mid-1864, then casualties became so heavy that new men frequently never picked up vacant jobs. You also have great destruction of records in the mail due to numerous cavalry raids, the loss of major cities (especially Atlanta), and the calling out of the clerks in the War Department to man the trenches for weeks in 1864.

Then, the BIG ONE, the working files were out loose when the Richmond fire consumed the War Department buildings. Historical files (ie previous years) had been packed for rapid evacuation and they are most of what we have now. Even the most complete record sets (ie the outgoing letter books of the War Department, Quartermaster Bureau, Engineer Bureau, etc) are missing weeks to months just before the evacuation.

A much better answer!

 

[Lampasas Bill]

The last record in My great-grandfather's Confederate file is his parole, dated Sept. 26, 1865, in San Antonio, Texas. It allowed him to "return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States Authorities, so long as he observes his parole and the laws in force where he resides. By order of Major General Wesley Merritt." Like many in the Trans-Mississippi, (he served in Louisiana in the 5th Texas Cavalry), he didn't bother waiting around to surrender and just went home. The Confederates may have given up keeping records, but the Federals certainly didn't.

 

[lupaglupa]

Mine vary so much from man to man. I think some units did a better job - or as @DaveBrt says above, the pertinent records were taken in transit. I see the official records as a starting point - there are so many other bits of information out there which add to my knowledge. They just take a lot longer to find.

 

[rgtaylor61]

The surviving records are spotty for the first year, as organizations were created and people learned their jobs. Records are reasonably complete for 1862 to mid-1864, then casualties became so heavy that new men frequently never picked up vacant jobs. You also have great destruction of records in the mail due to numerous cavalry raids, the loss of major cities (especially Atlanta), and the calling out of the clerks in the War Department to man the trenches for weeks in 1864.

Then, the BIG ONE, the working files were out loose when the Richmond fire consumed the War Department buildings. Historical files (ie previous years) had been packed for rapid evacuation and they are most of what we have now. Even the most complete record sets (ie the outgoing letter books of the War Department, Quartermaster Bureau, Engineer Bureau, etc) are missing weeks to months just before the evacuation.

Thank you. I understand much better now.

 

[OldSarge79]

Case in point:
Records for one of my Confederate ancestors from Co. K, 26th Georgia end with the July/August, 1864 muster roll and I always wondered why. What happened after that? Did my ancestor desert or what?

Well, about three years ago, what pops up on ebay but the muster roll for his company for September/October, 1864, and he is on it!
Needless to say, I made sure I got it, and it is now hanging on our foyer wall.

It would seem, therefore, that the muster roll was completed but never made it to Richmond, or wherever it was supposed to go. Maybe, like @DaveBrt said, it was captured by the Yankees and kept as a souvenir or something. It makes me wonder if the Nov/Dec, 1864 muster roll or even some from early 1865 are still floating around out there.

 

[lupaglupa]

Case in point:
Records for one of my Confederate ancestors from Co. K, 26th Georgia end with the July/August, 1864 muster roll and I always wondered why. What happened after that? Did my ancestor desert or what?

Well, about three years ago, what pops up on ebay but the muster roll for his company for September/October, 1864, and he is on it!
Needless to say, I made sure I got it, and it is now hanging on our foyer wall.

It would seem, therefore, that the muster roll was completed but never made it to Richmond, or wherever it was supposed to go. Maybe, like @DaveBrt said, it was captured by the Yankees and kept as a souvenir or something. It makes me wonder if the Nov/Dec, 1864 muster roll or even some from early 1865 are still floating around out there.

It would make me really happy to know that you have in some way shared that muster roll. There must be lots of other descendants who would like to see what's on it!

 

[OldSarge79]

It would make me really happy to know that you have in some way shared that muster roll. There must be lots of other descendants who would like to see what's on it!

I've thought about that. If there were some practical way to do so without going to extremes, I would certainly consider it.
Any suggestions?

 

[lupaglupa]

I've thought about that. If there were some practical way to do so without going to extremes, I would certainly consider it.
Any suggestions?

Wow - lots. First thing I'd do is get a very good scan of the document. Any place that makes copies can do this (like a Staples or similar store). Some libraries have this technology too. Then you or someone who has access to the scan can transcribe the document so the text is shareable. I would do it!

After you have both an image of the muster roll and a text file of what it says, it's easy to share. There are many websites which share information about CW regiments and companies. You could contact the ones for the 26th GA and Co K and share the info with them. You could also contact the Georgia state archives. I'm sure they would LOVE to have this to add to their records.

 

[rgtaylor61]

Case in point:
Records for one of my Confederate ancestors from Co. K, 26th Georgia end with the July/August, 1864 muster roll and I always wondered why. What happened after that? Did my ancestor desert or what?

Well, about three years ago, what pops up on ebay but the muster roll for his company for September/October, 1864, and he is on it!
Needless to say, I made sure I got it, and it is now hanging on our foyer wall.

It would seem, therefore, that the muster roll was completed but never made it to Richmond, or wherever it was supposed to go. Maybe, like @DaveBrt said, it was captured by the Yankees and kept as a souvenir or something. It makes me wonder if the Nov/Dec, 1864 muster roll or even some from early 1865 are still floating around out there.

I wonder the same. I have a relative whose last record I have is his wounding at Peachtree Creek on July 20 1864. I wonder if he rejoined his Regiment or went home. His regiment went on to fight at Franklin and surrendered with Johnston in NC but I don't know if he was still with them at that point. Franklin is a huge interest of mine so I'd love to eventually know but doubt I ever will as the records of those last months seem to be few and far between.

 

[OldSarge79]

Wow - lots. First thing I'd do is get a very good scan of the document. Any place that makes copies can do this (like a Staples or similar store). Some libraries have this technology too. Then you or someone who has access to the scan can transcribe the document so the text is shareable. I would do it!

After you have both an image of the muster roll and a text file of what it says, it's easy to share. There are many websites which share information about CW regiments and companies. You could contact the ones for the 26th GA and Co K and share the info with them. You could also contact the Georgia state archives. I'm sure they would LOVE to have this to add to their records.

Sounds feasible. I will look into it. Thanks!

 

[lupaglupa]

Sounds feasible. I will look into it. Thanks!

Anytime we can get more info out into the world, I'm a happy lady