Help Understanding Muster Roll

[Wardens93]

Recently I found out my great great great grandfather fought for the confederacy. Sense then I found out his brother as well as his father did. The weird part is it mentions about how either my uncle either fought on behalf of his father or backwards. I was wondering why this would happen and if based on the muster rules someone could maybe explain it to me what date each exactly enlisted, thanks ! Also if anyone can find somewhere that states what wars he may have fought in as my x3 grandpa on the battles website had him listed with these seems harder not sure how to look. William Carr was Thomas A Carrs son. His other son who fought who I researched was Robert Thomas Carr or RT Carr.

 

[captaindrew]

Just taking a guess at it from the way I see it. The son took his father's place for a time, maybe the father had medical issues or some other issue. When the son turned 18 he was probably required to enlist on his own at which time he did and his father returned to duty as noted on the card.

 

[lelliott19]

I agree with @captaindrew 's interpretation of these carded records. William served as a substitute for his father, Thomas, from August 4, 1862 until August 17, 1864 when he turned 18 and was required to enlist on his own. Assuming that August 17, 1864 was young William's 18th birthday, he served in his father's place starting when he was 15 years old (Aug 4-16, 1862); when he was 16 years old (Aug 17, 1862-Aug 16, 1863) and when he was 17 years old (Aug 17, 1863-August 17, 1864.)

 

[Wardens93]

Thanks guys on William's one muster role entry it says "Enlisted in company bounty due" attached is one with little more detail curious if anyone knew what it meant. Also attached aetter with it that's very faded but if anyone can read any of it would be good to know.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Recently I found out my great great great grandfather fought for the confederacy. Sense then I found out his brother as well as his father did. The weird part is it mentions about how either my uncle either fought on behalf of his father or backwards. I was wondering why this would happen and if based on the muster rules someone could maybe explain it to me what date each exactly enlisted, thanks ! Also if anyone can find somewhere that states what wars he may have fought in as my x3 grandpa on the battles website had him listed with these seems harder not sure how to look. William Carr was Thomas A Carrs son. His other son who fought who I researched was Robert Thomas Carr or RT Carr.

View attachment 308267

View attachment 308268

View attachment 308269

View attachment 308270[
/QUOTE]

Welcome ! Here's a report from the Official Records on one of the battles the 26th took part in.

Report of Lieut. Col. J. Calvin Councill, Twenty-sixth Virginia
Infantry.

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,
Chaffin's Farm, August 8, 1863.
Maj. T. O. CHESTNEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: I have the honor to inclose herewith the official reports of
an attack made on the enemy's gunboats, on the 6th instant, by
Lieutenant-Colonel Councill, with eight companies of the Twenty-sixth
Virginia Regiment, and Major Stark, with four pieces of light
artillery.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. R. PAGE,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

BURTON'S FARM,
August 8, 1863.
COLONEL: At 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening, August 5, I was
ordered by you to proceed immediately to Deep Bottom, on James
River, with two sections of artillery commanded by Maj. A. W.
Stark, and eight companies of the Twenty-sixth Virginia Infantry,
under the command of Maj. J. L. Garrett, and there to make such a
disposition of the forces as, in my judgment, would enable it to
inflict the greatest damage to the gunboats of the enemy that had
ascended the river in the evening and would probably return in the
morning. The command reached Deep Bottom about midnight, and
the troops were immediately placed in position, and every arrangement
completed for an early attack in the morning.

At 5 o'clock Thursday morning, the enemy's fleets, consisting of one
monitor, a large side-wheel steamer, and a tug, was discovered coming
down the river. They approached our position without shelling, as
they had done the evening before, which satisfied me that our presence
was entirely unknown to them. The attack was not made until the
fleet was fully abreast of Deep Bottom. The action was begun by
the artillery and followed immediately by the infantry. The enemy
replied immediately, but only for a short while, being driven from
their guns by our small-arms. The side-wheel steamer was sadly
disabled, and had to be towed off by the other boats. I had no means
of ascertaining the loss the enemy sustained in killed and wounded,
but I feel satisfied it was not inconsiderable.

The fleet passing beyond the range of our guns, the command was
promptly moved to Turkey Island, a point on James River about 10
miles below Deep Bottom, with a view of renewing the attack. The
boats passed Turkey Island at 9 o'clock, and the attack was renewed
by artillery and infantry, with equally as disastrous a result to the
enemy as at Deep Bottom. With heavier guns, there is not a shadow
of doubt that the two wooden boats would have been sunk at Deep
Bottom. Unfortunately, our pieces were too light to effect it.

I herewith send Major Stark's report. The only casualties occurred
in his command, amounting to 3 wounded, 2 slightly and 1 seriously.

I cannot conclude without commending in the highest degree the
zeal and alacrity manifested by the officers and men of the entire
command in the discharge of their duties. The heat of the day was
excessive; yet they bore their trying march without murmur or
complaint.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. CALVIN COUNCILL,
Lieutenant-Colonel 26th Va. Infty., Comdg. Detachment.

Col. P. R. PAGE,
Commanding Brigade.

Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLI.] SKIRMISH NEAR MUDDY RUN, VA. PAGE 25-48
[Series I. Vol. 29. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 48.]

 

[SJU5]

The last Carr also served in the same unit, maybe a cousin?

 

[Zella]

I don't have anything new to add, but I also concur with @captaindrew's take.

 

[kellbells74]

The "bounty" is possible the Homestead Act. He might have been entitled or entered in for land. I currently ran into that situation with a Confederate soldier of mine. At 1st I thought it was a crime bounty, but not so.

And we might be cousins! My maiden name is Carr & are from the West Virginia-Virginia area!!

 

[huskerblitz]

The "bounty" is possible the Homestead Act. He might have been entitled or entered in for land. I currently ran into that situation with a Confederate soldier of mine. At 1st I thought it was a crime bounty, but not so.

And we might be cousins! My maiden name is Carr & are from the West Virginia-Virginia area!!

It wouldn't be land under the Homestead Act since the man is Confederate. Bounty meant they were paid additional money for enlisting. This was very common throughout the war on both sides.

 

[lelliott19]

lso attached aetter with it that's very faded but if anyone can read any of it would be good to know.

The letter reads as follows:
Chimborazo Hospital No 5
Jany 31st 1865
R_____ and report for ___ Wm C Carr Corpl 26 Va Infry Furloughed to Republican Grove Halifax Co Va.
E M Seaborn
Surg in chg
[illegiible]

Rec'd the above Passport
Jany 31st 1865 E M Seaborn
Surgeon in Charge
____ Taylor

 

[2nd Alabama Cavalry]

Once enlisted or conscripted the soldier had to serve the agreed upon term of enlistment, unless he could find a suitable substitute to take his place, for what ever reason, and serve the remainder of his term of enlistment for him. Sometimes the substitute would come forward for money, but more often than not it would be a family member or close friend who out of a sense of loyalty or urgency would come forward and volunteer himself to serve the term of enlistment in place of the other, as long as he himself was not already serving in the army, at which point he would not be able to substitute himself for the other. In message #1 of your OP it appears that William C. Carr substituted for Thomas A. Carr to serve for a period of time in his stead. I have seen quite a few examples of this in my own research regarding the service records of the 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry.