Help with sorting through Confederate records

[sdmarsh]

I am trying to sort out a conflict between compiled service records and widow's pension records. My ancestor, Zachariah Nichols, appears to have served in the Confederacy and died at the end of the war from disease. He lived in Dale Co, AL in 1860 and had recently married his second wife Nancy. The only record I can find in compiled service records is with the 11th Florida Infantry, Co F, joining in Campbellton in 1863. Campbellton is just south of what would have been Dale Co, AL in 1863. However, his widow filed a pension from Alabama in the 1890s and received one. The application indicates he died during the war. However, it also indicates Zachariah served with the 54th GA Volunteers on one page and on another the 54th AL Infantry. He was from GA and it was just across the AL/GA border so it is a possibility. Unfortunately, I found no record in either of these for Zachariah. Anyone else run into this problem? Is it possible that either of the 54th regiments was consolidated into the 11th? I can't find any indication of that but maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I am trying to sort out a conflict between compiled service records and widow's pension records. My ancestor, Zachariah Nichols, appears to have served in the Confederacy and died at the end of the war from disease. He lived in Dale Co, AL in 1860 and had recently married his second wife Nancy. The only record I can find in compiled service records is with the 11th Florida Infantry, Co F, joining in Campbellton in 1863. Campbellton is just south of what would have been Dale Co, AL in 1863. However, his widow filed a pension from Alabama in the 1890s and received one. The application indicates he died during the war. However, it also indicates Zachariah served with the 54th GA Volunteers on one page and on another the 54th AL Infantry. He was from GA and it was just across the AL/GA border so it is a possibility. Unfortunately, I found no record in either of these for Zachariah. Anyone else run into this problem? Is it possible that either of the 54th regiments was consolidated into the 11th? I can't find any indication of that but maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

Welcome. As you stated, I couldn't find him on any rosters of the 54th Ala. or 54th Ga. Here's a brief history of the 11th Fla.


Eleventh Florida Infantry

The 11th Florida Regiment was composed of the 4th Florida
Battalion, seven companies, the companies of Captains Ochus
and Robinson, of the 2nd Battalion, and Cullen's unattached
company.

There is some confusion in the records that makes the
assignment of two of the companies; in this Regiment
uncertain. W. J. Robinson was Captain of Co. A; Adams A.
Ochus, of Co. D; Charles Beggs, of Co. E; John Tanner, of Co.
F; G. W. Bassett, of Co. G; W. E. Anderson, of Co. H;
Joe J. Chaires, of Co. I; D. D. McLean, of Co. K.

Like the 10th the story of the 11th follows closely that of
the 9th until the fateful April 6, when this Regiment with the
5th and 8th, under the command of Colonel Brevard, was sent by
Colonel Lang, then in command of the Brigade, Finnegan having
been transferred to Florida, by order of General Lee to
protect the wagon train.

These Regiments were captured by General Custer's Cavalry.
This accounts for the Regiment surrendering but 4 officers and
19 men on the morning of April 9 at Appomatox.

Source: Soldiers of Florida in the ... Civil War ... page 236


********************************************************************

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I am trying to sort out a conflict between compiled service records and widow's pension records. My ancestor, Zachariah Nichols, appears to have served in the Confederacy and died at the end of the war from disease. He lived in Dale Co, AL in 1860 and had recently married his second wife Nancy. The only record I can find in compiled service records is with the 11th Florida Infantry, Co F, joining in Campbellton in 1863. Campbellton is just south of what would have been Dale Co, AL in 1863. However, his widow filed a pension from Alabama in the 1890s and received one. The application indicates he died during the war. However, it also indicates Zachariah served with the 54th GA Volunteers on one page and on another the 54th AL Infantry. He was from GA and it was just across the AL/GA border so it is a possibility. Unfortunately, I found no record in either of these for Zachariah. Anyone else run into this problem? Is it possible that either of the 54th regiments was consolidated into the 11th? I can't find any indication of that but maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

Then I found this: http://archives.state.al.us/civilwar/soldier.cfm?id=147926

 

[UCVRelics]

Here are his Fold3 records he was indeed with the 11th Florida Inf.

 

[sdmarsh]

Thank you both for the links, unfortunately, I have or have seen all of these records and therein lies my problem. He does appear to have served in the 11th Florida but his widow's pension states the 54th GA. I am sure this is his second wife who filed the pension. I've certainly had conflicts between records before but not quite this big a conflict. I guess I'm wondering if the State of AL did any confirming of records before giving a widow's pension and for some reason she was off in almost every point of fact. I still need to research the two witnesses in the affidavits but I know one is the brother of Zachariah's first wife (my ancestor) and the other I believe was a neighbor. I was given the attached photo that is claimed to be him but frankly, something doesn't seem right about it. Thanks for the help.

 

[GS]

My Civil War ancestor Oliver Perry Williams was also from Alabama, and yes, I had a similar problem tracing the paper trail. In my case, the the regiment which conscripted him was consolidated numerous times, due to being nearly wiped out in battles. My ancestor died of disease caused by the war, though he lived well past the war. His wife submitted papers for widows benefits at least twice, and neither document had the regiment in which he was mustered, served, mustered out of and paroled with. His superior officer lived to sign the document stating he remembered my ancestor's serving. Did she ever receive the pittance pension Alabama offered? Only God knows.

I've come to believe that the record keeping in the conquered South is the problem. Many records were destroyed as it became evident we were doomed. Then, we were reestablished under Northern rule, Alabama being controlled by appointed former slaves and non-secessioners, as a conquered territory. Today, Alabama State Archives has a comparatively pitiful of Civil War era records and images.

 

[sdmarsh]

Gladys, thank you for your response. Yes, I too have found the South, both in compiled service records and in government records in general, leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to detail or accuracy. I can't find any record that the 54th GA Battalion was consolidated into the 11th Florida and I can't find any record of him with the 54th GA. That's where I get hung-up. Seems if AL had done any research into whether he served, they would have run into the same problem. But maybe not or maybe they did but didn't bother to correct her application. She did get the pension. I'm going to try researching the two witnesses that gave affidavits in her application. As I mentioned, I know one is Zachariah's brother-in-law by his first wife. Not sure about the other, but his name seems familiar to me so he too may be related somehow. My inclination is to stick with his service with the 11th Florida Infantry and assume that his second wife just had things all wrong.

 

[bschulte]

@sdmarsh Although the numbers don't exactly match up, I have do have knowledge of an unusual arrangement involving the 11th Florida and two companies of a Georgia Artillery Battalion.

Starting at some point in August 1864, companies F and H of the 28th GA Artillery Bn (aka Bonaud's Bn), were attached to the 11th Florida and served as infantry. This seems to have continued to the end of the war.

So my open questions here are:
1. Was the 28th Ga Arty Bn ever called the 54th GA?
2. Were other random GA companies attached to the 11th Florida earlier than the Siege of Petersburg (that's my area of interest)?

While this also doesn't match the "54th Georgia", it does provide an example of what seems like inaccurate records at first glance possibly having another explanation. Not saying it does in this case, but wanted to mention it.

 

[Zella]

@sdmarsh Although the numbers don't exactly match up, I have do have knowledge of an unusual arrangement involving the 11th Florida and two companies of a Georgia Artillery Battalion.

Starting at some point in August 1864, companies F and H of the 28th GA Artillery Bn (aka Bonaud's Bn), were attached to the 11th Florida and served as infantry. This seems to have continued to the end of the war.

So my open questions here are:
1. Was the 28th Ga Arty Bn ever called the 54th GA?
2. Were other random GA companies attached to the 11th Florida earlier than the Siege of Petersburg (that's my area of interest)?

While this also doesn't match the "54th Georgia", it does provide an example of what seems like inaccurate records at first glance possibly having another explanation. Not saying it does in this case, but wanted to mention it.

I could definitely see that happening with more than 1 unit.