Gap in Service

[juliew]

My ancestor, William Palmer Pillans, does not seem to be attached to any unit between 5/12/1862 and 2/11/1863. He was a captain with the 2nd Florida Infantry, Company L, and was dropped at reorganization on 5/11/1862. I have been unable to find what he did after he was dropped until he joined the 2nd Florida Cavalry on 2/12/1863. He was also with the 5th Florida Cavalry from late 1863 to the end of the war. I thought I read somewhere that he was furloughed for a period of time, but I could be mistaken. Any suggestions as to why he was not active duty between May 1862 and February 1863? Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[kel1985]

Maybe convalescing after an illness or injury.

 

[juliew]

Maybe convalescing after an illness or injury.

Very true - I can't believe I didn't think of that!

 

[thomas aagaard]

If he been on the union side, he might just have been home doing nothing.
Since he lost his job in a reorganization, they might told him to go home for a bit until they could find him a new company.
And for some reason that took almost a year.

But with the CSA conscription in effect, Iam not sure if he would have been able to do that or if they would have ordered him to a "job" as a private...

 

[lupaglupa]

I've got that for several of my ancestors. One was sent home sick so I'm pretty sure his was a convalescence. The other just went AWOL for a while! So many soldiers felt needed at home - to help with crops, to manage businesses, to attend to elderly parents, etc. In areas where the South was occupied they really wanted to be back with family. Your ancestor also did what several of mine did - leaving an infantry unit for cavalry which was based closer to home. This seems to have been a good way to be on the legal side of the conscription laws while still staying close to family.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

My ancestor, William Palmer Pillans, does not seem to be attached to any unit between 5/12/1862 and 2/11/1863. He was a captain with the 2nd Florida Infantry, Company L, and was dropped at reorganization on 5/11/1862. I have been unable to find what he did after he was dropped until he joined the 2nd Florida Cavalry on 2/12/1863. He was also with the 5th Florida Cavalry from late 1863 to the end of the war. I thought I read somewhere that he was furloughed for a period of time, but I could be mistaken. Any suggestions as to why he was not active duty between May 1862 and February 1863? Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Companies in the Confederate Army elected Captains & Lieutenants. William was dropped probably because he wasn't reelected at the army's reorganization in spring, 1862. My guess is he was home. I couldn't enlarge his record any more than this, rather lengthy. Hope you can read it ok. (helps to click on it)

 

[ErnieMac]

A good number of officers resigning their commissions or dropped during reorganization did not serve again. As former officers they were not subject to conscription laws. He was probably at his home until the urge to to do something hit.

 

[juliew]

Companies in the Confederate Army elected Captains & Lieutenants. William was dropped probably because he wasn't reelected at the army's reorganization in spring, 1862. My guess is he was home. I couldn't enlarge his record any more than this, rather lengthy. Hope you can read it ok. (helps to click on it)

View attachment 319393

This is the first I've seen his entire service in the army in one place. Very helpful. I did notice they have his death date incorrect - he died in 1895, not 1865. But helpful, nonetheless. Thanks for the info!

 

[juliew]

If he been on the union side, he might just have been home doing nothing.
Since he lost his job in a reorganization, they might told him to go home for a bit until they could find him a new company.
And for some reason that took almost a year.

But with the CSA conscription in effect, Iam not sure if he would have been able to do that or if they would have ordered him to a "job" as a private...

Thanks, Thomas. I find this absence puzzling. He was an older soldier - he would have been 39 when the first conscription was enacted, when the age of men were 18-35. I know that later in the war, they changed the upper age to 50, so I don't know if he volunteered, or if he had to serve. I appreciate your response.

 

[juliew]

A good number of officers resigning their commissions or dropped during reorganization did not serve again. As former officers they were not subject to conscription laws. He was probably at his home until the urge to to do something hit.

Thanks, ErnieMac. I did not know that former officers were exempt from the conscription laws. Good to know! Appreciate your help.

 

[Zella]

There's a lot of great info in this thread! I have discovered through my own research that absences were far more common in my ancestors' CSRs than not. Everything from going to AWOL to family issues causing them to resign commissions to lengthy convalescence periods at home. One also spent several months out of duty because he was under arrest.

 

[juliew]

There's a lot of great info in this thread! I have discovered through my own research that absences were far more common in my ancestors' CSRs than not. Everything from going to AWOL to family issues causing them to resign commissions to lengthy convalescence periods at home. One also spent several months out of duty because he was under arrest.

Thanks for your helpful response, Zella. I appreciate it.

 

[John Hartwell]

No help with your question, I'm afraid. I find no obituary, only:

Savannah Morning News, 5.5.1895

 

[juliew]

No help with your question, I'm afraid. I find no obituary, only:

View attachment 319541 Savannah Morning News, 5.5.1895

Thank you John, I hadn't seen this before. I appreciate you posting it.