Fold3 Help: Edmund Pettus

[tony_gunter]

Eicher claims Pettus was captured December 29th, 1862. Can anyone confirm via Fold3?

It doesn't make sense because the 20th Alabama was still unloading from the train in Vicksburg I think.

 

[Stryker65]

Does not appear so. For Pettus's Lt Col card, the following timeline is shown:
- Oct 8, 1861: Appointed, with rank from same date
- Oct 28, 1861: Accepted
- Dec 13, 1861: Confirmed
- May 28, 1863: Promoted Col

There are no remarks, but it also could be that Pettus was exchanged extremely quickly.

20th Alabama, as you said, did not fight at Chickasaw Bluffs, as only the 23rd Alabama reached the field in time to fight. Considering that there were no Union breakthroughs, and that prisoner exchanges were not as frequent on the Mississippi front, I would think Pettus, if he were, was captured at Stones River.

Currently looking for records of prisoner exchanges occurring 12/62-5/63.

 

[Mike Serpa]

His Wikipedia page says he was captured twice.

Pettus served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. During the Stones River Campaign, he was captured by Union soldiers on December 29, 1862, and exchanged a short time later for Union soldiers. Pettus was captured again on May 1, 1863, while part of the surrendered garrison that had been defending Port Gibson in Mississippi. He managed to escape and return to his own lines. Pettus was promoted to colonel on May 28, and given command of the 20th Alabama.