Looking for J. E. Duke, Va. troops

[DaveBrt]

J. E. Duke claimed to have been in the first rush of Virginia troops. In the summer of 1861, he became a clerk for Capt. Sharp, QM, in Winchester and stayed with him for at least a year. He survived the war and was living in Columbia, MD in 1895.

Duke was never paid by a voucher that was retained in the Citizen File, NA, so he was probably detailed from some army unit and paid through the army.

I have assumed that he was from a low numbered Virginia unit and have searched all of them in Fold3 through the 10th Va Inf/Cav/Batt. without success. I have also looked in the 1860 census for the counties near Winchester without finding him.

Anyone have any additional ideas on how to find him?

 

[ErnieMac]

I found an entry for a John E Duke on page 10 of the 1860 Census, Jefferson County VA (now West Virginia), Charles Town Post Office. He is listed as a merchant with a personal estate valued at $1500, aged 23 years and living with an Elizabeth J Duke, aged 22 years. The distance from the county seat of Charles Town is about 20 miles. I do not know if this is the individual you are researching, but seems a likely possibility.

 

[DaveBrt]

I found an entry for a John E Duke on page 10 of the 1860 Census, Jefferson County VA (now West Virginia), Charles Town Post Office. He is listed as a merchant with a personal estate valued at $1500, aged 23 years and living with an Elizabeth J Duke, aged 22 years. The distance from the county seat of Charles Town is about 20 miles. I do not know if this is the individual you are researching, but seems a likely possibility.

Yes, that is him -- thanks.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Yes, that is him -- thanks.

John E. Duke

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 5/15/1861 at Thompsons X Roads, VA as a Private.

On 5/15/1861 he mustered into "A" Co. VA 23rd Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)


He was listed as:
* Furloughed 2/12/1862 (place not stated)
* POW 6/1/1862 Strasburg, VA
* Exchanged 8/22/1862 (place not stated)
* Returned 8/22/1862 (place not stated)
* POW 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA
* Confined 5/16/1864 Belle Plain, VA
* Transferred 5/20/1864 Fort Delaware, DE
* Oath Allegiance 6/19/1865 Fort Delaware, DE (Released)


He was described at enlistment as:
5' 9.0", fair complexion, grey eyes, light hair

Source : - The Virginia Regimental Histories Series

 

[DaveBrt]

John E. Duke

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 5/15/1861 at Thompsons X Roads, VA as a Private.

On 5/15/1861 he mustered into "A" Co. VA 23rd Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)


He was listed as:
* Furloughed 2/12/1862 (place not stated)
* POW 6/1/1862 Strasburg, VA
* Exchanged 8/22/1862 (place not stated)
* Returned 8/22/1862 (place not stated)
* POW 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA
* Confined 5/16/1864 Belle Plain, VA
* Transferred 5/20/1864 Fort Delaware, DE
* Oath Allegiance 6/19/1865 Fort Delaware, DE (Released)


He was described at enlistment as:
5' 9.0", fair complexion, grey eyes, light hair

Source : - The Virginia Regimental Histories Series

This is not my man. My John E. Duke was being paid as a clerk (I did find him in the Citizen Files) for a QM Captain during several months your dates would have had him a POW.

I'm assuming he was in a militia company from Jefferson County that went to Harpers Ferry in May of '61. Being a merchant, he was able to get assigned as a clerk and stayed in that job until at least March of '64 (the date of the last voucher). I'm looking for two pieces of information now -- what militia unit was he in (and the name of his Captain) and what happened to him after March of '64.