Let me explain my desire somewhat. It is related to prisoner exchanges, La troops and potential additional forces for the Confederates on late war Trans Miss.
The whereabouts of the parole list for the Louisiana soldiers that travelled back to the Trans Miss is part of this complex mystery.
Stryker, et al.-Don't get bogged down with all these details. It has potential for obsession.
8/19/63 The Richmond Daily Dispatch printed an article based off a piece it read out of the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune piece was titled "The Vicksburg Captives" & listed all the units captured & it also included numbers of included in the Regts.
3rd La, David Pierson, Maj 230 men
22nd La, Infy, S Jones, Capt
23rd La, John T
Plattiner, Col 153 men
17
th La, Robert Richardson, Col 382 men
25
th La, A
llen Thomas, Col 339 men
[ should be 28th aka 29th La]
26
th La, W. C. Crow, Lt Col, 494 men
27
th La, Joseph T Hatch, Capt 595 men
31st La, James W. Draughon, Col 523 men
[Total 2716 by math]
[See also lists entered under date of 9/15/63 & 4/1/64 & 6/4/64]
Richmond, S O #198/XXII
Such of the men belonging to the 3rd, 17th, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th & 31ST La Infy Regts paroled at Vicksburg & Port Hudson as have gone on furlough to W La will be assembled at Alexandria under the supervision of Gen H W Allen.
Withers-By command of the Sec of War
9/15/63 At Mobile, Gen H W Allen writes to Sec of War by Lt Clarke
[John G Clarke] who is sent on to Richmond with the best evidence we can get of the Vicksburg paroled prisoners.
The box containing the rolls has been lost-a most unaccountable piece of negligence. I have called on the provost marshal to help in the search, but it can't be found.
I have, therefore, in accordance with a telegram from J S Seymour, ordered Lt Clarke to proceed to various places & get all the information he possibly can from the field & staff officers & Brig Gen'ls of Gen
[M L] Smith's command. They are scattered about the country & it will take him some time to see them all, but this is the only way we can get any information on the subject.
Maj Stringer is here & brings with him a note from you. I shall go ... with him & hope to make a quick & safe trip. Thank you for all your many kindnesses to me while in Richmond.
Lt Clarke has acquitted himself bravely as Ord Off of the 3d Bgde La Vols. Please send him over to West La to report to me. He will make an excellent Inspector. Please give him the rank of Capt.
9/15/63 [?] [John G Clarke] At Hqs Allen's Bgde*, says I was apptd & commissioned Capt in the AAG Dept on 9/15 to take rank 8/15 [?] & assigned by Sec of War to this Bgde & have been with it since that time. I have been over 2 years in the service-signs As Capt AAG [Archivist adds pencil note * Gen Allen did not command a Bgde,
[rather] was cdg paroled prisoners]
9/17 Jared Sanders of the 26th La says he was asked for the duplicate parole papers of the 26th La by Lt Clarke.
12/20/63 Lt Fagan 3rd La appears on list of paroled officers & men from Vicksburg & Port Hudson declared exchanged.
Jan 64-"
The Story of the 26th La Infy in the Service of the CS" (Butternut Press, 1984) by Col Winchester Hall [with introduction by Edwin C. Bearss]. Col Hall commanded the Regt throughout the war. None of the muster rolls presented by Col Hall for Co G include "Steve" or "Stephen/Steven" EDWARDS.
The appendix contains several roster lists for Co G. Mitchell EDWARDS & Wood EDWARDS are named in the original organization muster roll dated April 3, 1862, the Sept/Oct 1862 muster roll, the March/April 1863 muster roll, & a re-organization roll in the Trans-Ms dated Jan 1864 which predates a formal declaration of exchange by several months.
The 26th La Infy Regt in Thomas' Bgde was formally disbanded on May 19, 1865 near Mansfield, & the men disbursed to their homes. The official surrender of the Trans-Ms Dept is dated May 26, 1865 at New Orleans, but was not formally accepted & signed by Lt Gen Kirby Smith until June 3, 1865 at Galveston. The troops covered by this surrender agreement were nowhere near New Orleans & most had disbanded & gone home days & weeks before hand.
He was present for duty until captured at Vicksburg & released on parole. These men generally went home to La to await a formal declaration of exchange which would allow them to return to duty. There is no indication in Booth's "Records" that Mitchell reported into parole camp to be available for exchange. However,
Col Hall's list for Jan 1864 includes Mitchell's name, as well as the name of Wood EDWARDS
2/8/64 Taylor to Liddell-The Gen cdg the district directs me to write you as follows:
1st. Col Allen Thomas has been ordered to report to you in person, but before he left this portion of the State, he was instructed to promulgate a G O to the troops of Allen's Bgde, now in camps of rendezvous, permitting those who had reported voluntarily at such camps to return home on furloughs. The furloughs are to be inspected semi-monthly by some officer of the Bgde designated for the purpose, & stationed in the same or adjoining parish of the men furloughed. As some confusion has arisen from a multiplicity of orders in regard to the reassembling of this Bgde, the Maj-Gen cdg has endeavored to make himself familiar with its condition & difficulties to be overcome in its reorganization, & he thinks a G O of the above purport will be attended with most beneficial results.
It was with this view & to avoid unnecessary delay, especially in relation to that portion of the Bgde reassembled in portions of the State not within your jurisdiction, that Col Thomas was instructed to issue such an order before conferring with you. The men who have reported voluntarily have been idling away their time at the various camps established, & are w/o arms. They were therefore discontented & a useless expense to the Govt. Moreover, at this particular season of the year their presence is most desirable at their homes, where they can render assistance needful to their families & give attention to the planting of their corn crops for the ensuing year. It is believed that such action as that above indicated will, in addition to other desirable results, so influence public opinion as to array it in favor of rather than against the Gov't in its efforts to reorganize the paroled Regts. By the system of semi-monthly inspection of furloughs the men can be half in hand, as it were, ready to be ordered to the field as soon as they shall be declared exchanged.
Nothing surely can do more to induce desertion or make troops discontented than to keep them idle in camps when no good purpose is apparently sub served thereby, & it is extremely desirable to cultivate the morals of the men by removing all causes conducive to arrested wherever found & kept in camp under guard, & thus a judicious distinction be maintained between the two classes; & in this connection Gen Taylor recommends that only one camp be established, to which all who are absent without leave should be sent.
Gen Taylor desires that you will furnish him complete lists of the paroled prisoners of the Bgde referred to, & indicate to him which organizations you would desire exchanged first. Meanwhile, as he has a surplus of 1,100 or 1,200 prisoners, he will push on the exchanges as rapidly as possible.
2/23/64 Col Winchester Hall 26th La appears on U.S. list of paroled prisoners in LaFourche Dist.
3/20/64 Examples from Booth's Records of La CSA Soldiers: One list dtd Hqs Allen's Bgde, Shreveport 3/20/64.
[Other examples say 3/24 & 3/29 & undated] Reported in camp for exchange at Alexandria before 4/1/64.
There was a list of those who had reported before 4/1, & it is dated 3/29 [& various other March dates] at Shreveport-
La soldiers who were at Vicksburg & Port Hudson were exchanged; those living west of the Ms River reformed their Regts, including the 17th La, & became part of the La Bgde. This Bgde was at Pineville & Alexandria participated in the construction of Forts Randolph & Buhlow. In Feb of 1865 they moved to a camp at Cotile Bayou & remained there until sometime in March then back to Alexandria, finally disbanding in Mansfield.
-It will be difficult to determine how many Vicksburg parolees returned to duty after G O's #56 of 7/21 were read & the Cartel of 7/28 was signed, since most of the Co muster rolls for units in the TM were destroyed when the units disbanded.
Since many if not most of the men had already disbanded & gone home, one of the surrender protocols required all CS soldiers of the T-M Dept to report to a Federal parole center nearest their homes to be accounted for & released on parole. Many did, many did not, & there is no way to distinguish between those who actually returned to duty after G O #56 & the Cartel of 7/28
[exchange of men captured from Taylor], & those absentees who had not, but simply (& properly) came in to clear their names. This "Final Parole" is frequently the only surviving record of service for soldiers in the TM for the last 18/24 months of the war. Absentees from Regts serving east of the Ms at home in the TM who had not previously been accounted for & released on parole were also covered by this.
Most of the Vicksburg parolees from the Trans-Ms went home for some well-deserved rest & recuperation while awaiting their exchange declaration. In Feb 1864, Capt Dixon, also at home, sent out word to the 12th La Infy parolees at home to report to parole camp at Vienna, La. Other cdrs of Vicksburg parolees did as well. The lists of all of those who reported into parole camp prior to 4/1/64 were sent to Richmond to be used in the exchange accounting process. Nathaniel's name was submitted on the list for the 12th La Infy as being present in parole camp & ready for exchange prior to April 1st.
3/26/64 Hqs Allen's Bgde, Shreveport-
Lt Lemie, 26th La appears on list of officers & men of the 26th La reported in camp for exchange at Alexandria before 4/1/64—list dated 3/26/64.
3/29/64 Shreveport, Hqs
Allen's Bgde-
Col Russell of 3rd La appears on the roll of officers & men of 3rd La at Natchitoches reporting in camp for exchange.
Lt Col Crow 26th La-appears on this list of officers & men of 26th La reported in camp for exchange before 4/1/64.
Girod appears on list of this date Hqs Allen's Bgde at Shreveport of men of 3rd La who have reported in camp for exchange at Natchitoches before 4/1/64
Not dated- M L Lyons Capt Co K, 28th La appears on list of men of Allen's Bgde who have reported in camp for exchange. [archivist note-according to other records this list is of names of men reporting to the various camps for exchange prior to 4/1/64]
Appears on list on or before 4/1/64 of Allen's Bgde who have reported for exchange.
4/1/64 McCutchen appears on list of officers & men paroled at Vicksburg who have reported for exchange at Shreveport.
Lt S. B. McCutchen returned to duty & was detailed as ADC on the staff of Gen Thomas, cdg a Bgde of troops in Gen Taylor's Dept. He had charge of the couriers attached to Hqs until April, 1864, when he was assigned to duty as AAG of Thomas' Bgde, which included his old Regt, the 27th La.
-
Undated list of officers & men of Allen's Bgde who reported in camp for exchange before 4/1
4/1/64 the 7 La Regts surrendered at Vicksburg were reorganized into "Allen's Bgde" based upon the
1,813 Vicksburg parolees who presented themselves in La parole camps to be ready for exchange prior to 4/1/64.
This April 1, 1864 list was sent to Richmond for a declaration of exchange. This did not happen until July 1864.
In parole camp at Pineville, Sgt Will Tunnard of the 3rd La Infy dates the declaration of exchange for all those who reported into parole camp before April 1, 1864 to July 21, 1864 based on G O #56 signed by Gen Kirby Smith. This declaration of exchange was unilaterally made in Richmond by Col Robert Ould, the CS Commissioner of Exchange. This was confirmed & the balance of the Vicksburg paroles who reported into parole camp (& remained) after April 1, 1864 were cleared by the special Cartel of July 28, 1864 signed between the T-M Dept & the Federal command in New Orleans. Federal POWs captured during the 1864 Red River campaign were returned as part of this exchange. The Vicksburg Regts were reformed, re-organized, & returned to duty.
Archivist notes: The list
"Recapitulation of the officers & men belonging to Allen's Bgde who have reported in camp for exchange" which will be carded, contains 1813 names.
My notes:
So far, I have yet to find this particular list with the 1813 names
See 6/4/64 here for list that is titled somewhat differently as:
general Recapitulation of the Officers & Men belonging to Allen's Bgde paroled at Vicksburg
4/13/64 War Dept-Richmond letterhead-
Steever Lt Col & AAAG to Lt Col Jack AAG
[Polk's]
Enclosed is a duplicate receipt for the rolls of 1291 paroled prisoners which is the total of the list I took from Demopolis. Col Ould thinks they will be able to exchange them on or about 5/1.
As I see no reason for remaining here longer, I will leave for Demopolis tomorrow.
I will take with me the original list furnished me by the cdg officer
& a copy of it made by me so there will be no difficulty in verifying the respective parties of their exchange when it takes place.
I have looked at the books in the AG's office & in the War Dept [Sec of War] to find the order given to Gen'ls Waul, Dockery, Allen & Thomas in regard to the assembling of the Vicksburg garrison in the TM Dept.
I have only been able to find those given to Gen Allen & enclose you a copy.
Rec'd Richmond 4/13/64 from Lt Col West Steever the rolls of 1291 prisoners captured at Vicksburg 7/4/64 & to be exchanged on the first opportunity.
Wm. Robinson for Ro. Ould Agent for Exchange
4/29/64 Richmond, J G Clark AAG to Seddon-I have the honor to enclose to you a letter from Brig Gen Allen Thomas [so why does Thomas sign himself as Col?] of La to which your attention is respectfully requested-having been sent here by Gov Allen of La on special [business], I shall be happy to receive an answer to Gen Thomas' letter.
Enclosure
4/4/64 Shreveport, Hqs Allen's Bgde-Allen Thomas, Col cdg Allen's Bgde to Sec of War Seddon-Since the inauguration of Gen Allen as Gov I have been in command of the paroled Bgde formerly commanded by him. As such, in pursuance of my duties, I have been at work reassembling the command & am happy to add with considerable success, some 1800 men having reported in camp for exchange, a list of who has been forwarded by the AAG of the Bgde to Col Ould.
My efforts would have been crowned with far better results had I met at the hands of the line officers proper support. Many of these officers for a long period of time persistently refused under a series of orders nearly embracing a period of 6 months to make any effort to collect their men for exchange. In some instances they have absented themselves from the state without leave, & in others, they have advised their men not to report to camp fearing lest they should do so, & their services be needed to take charge of them.
Upon assuming command of the Bgde I ordered Regimental cdrs to drop from the rolls all officers who had failed to report in accordance with existing orders.
This action was based on G O #15 A&IG's office, 2/6/63: the Lt Gen cdg Dept of TM has however decided that G O #15 was not continuous in its application for which reason I respectfully beg an order be issued from your Dept directed to me instructing me to drop from the rolls & report to the conscripting bureau officers failing to report in obedience to orders, & who may be proved to have used language contrary to good order & military discipline in the presence of their subordinates.
The possession of this order would remove one of the greatest difficulties now experienced in the collection of this Bgde.
5/25/64 Richmond, from J. A. Celantz, AAG, to Allen Thomas. [Celantz was in Richmond awaiting exchange; Thomas was in La] Gen--I have just met with Hon Duncan F Thomas. He arrived in the city this morning. He informed me that you had not received Your Commission as Brig Gen up to the time he last saw you. You should have received this Commission long since for I am Officially informed in the A&IG's office here that it was forwarded to Gen E Kirby Smith immediately on Your Appointment which was about 2/2 last. You should have received this Commission before I left Shreveport. Fearing the Commission may have been lost or got astray. I have Concluded to forward this official Copy which I have had made out in my hand to you by Mr. Wagner which you will find enclosed.
In regard to your Nominations of Staff I have mentioned to Mr. Kenner the making of the List of Men said for Commissions I do but says he will see the List of Men personally said since the appointment of Trist as your ADC he does not think he will be able to change Mr. Sedden's mind regarding Cook for Commissary.
I received a letter from Th. Cook yesterday He stated that he had received your letter announcing his Nomination as Commissary & that he would be very glad to accept the position said was only waiting the creation of the List of Men.
I forwarded the letter of Th. Cook + stated the endorsement of Mr. Sedden on the Conversation Nominating him for the position he desired & that since the ruling would not receive the appointment but if he could bring any influence to bear upon the Sect of War to cause him to change his mind The matter was open & that I would assist him in any way I could
I today have had a lengthy interview with Col Ould on exchanges This question stands much the serious as I stated in my letter this morning. Nothing can be done in affairs of exchange until the [2 words crossed out] struggle of Arms now raging in the State is ended. When this will be the God of destinies only knows for Mortal Man cannot predict but I hope the trial of two weeks will tell the tale that Grant's "On to Richmond" is a failure, that his army is defeated & driven across the "Rapid Ann" + Potomac & that Butler the Beasts army now behind fortifications between the James & Appomattox rivers are driven to their boats or the fleet & to the James River in Fortress Monroe or elsewhere beyond our Army lines. When Grant's forces are defeated + the James River is open we will have a Flag of Truce or if is reasonable to look for one at that time send them not till then will opportunity arise to open negotiations with the enemy for the Exchange of our Bgdes & your Official Exchanges.
I have today conferred with Sect of War + Col Ould as to whether I [am] to proceed Remain here until an Exchange is effected or proceed to La They tell me to act in the matter according to my firm judgment for they are unable to give instructions I have likewise conferred with Mr. Kenner + he advises me to remain here until I can get more definite Conclusions on Affairs of Exchange. I shall remain here for an Indefinite time- don't know how long- I advise you to write me immediately + give full intimations as to the Course I am to pursue- If you write immediately upon the reception of this, I think I will get it here or in Mobile - Most likely in Mobile for should go there soon - I think Mr. Wagner will return & if he does send letter by him for, he is a first Cousin & he will be sure to find me. I might start to La before your Communication reached me. Send it first chance in that Case it would amount to only to this cost of theirs in writing it & c-
Col Ould informed me this morning that the Unjust matters in Col Crow's Connection relating to Arrest & Confinement of Paul M[illegible] was presented to the Federal authorities by him by last Flag of Truce to City Point but that he did not receive an answer- an answer may be reasonably effected by first Flag of Truce, but it is not certain as the enemy are extremely precarious &c-
I would suggest that it might be well for you to continue to assemble the men of the Bgde who have up to the time I left Shreveport failed to report in Camp.
I mean to assemble them so as to get their names as "Been Reported." I do not think Col Ould will exchange any men who have not been reported in Parole Camps & it will be necessary to assemble these men to get them exchanged & the sooner their names are forwarded to Col Ould as "Been Reported in Camp for Exchange" the sooner will they be released from their Paroles & ready for the field.
[J. A. Celantz, AAG-So far, no info found]
6/4/64 Writing from Richmond [John G Clarke] says he was sent here with lists [perhaps in ref to the recapitulation shown next] of officers & men of Gen Thomas' Bgde to effect an exchange xxx; that he arrived here 4 weeks ago xxx; that he will leave for the TM Dept in a few days-signs Capt AAG
Found undated in Officers/John G Clarke CSRs
Note-It could be inferred that as a recapitulation this represents only the totals of a list not found
General Recapitulation of the Officers & Men belonging to Allen's Bgde paroled at Vicksburg
J G Clarke AAG
Can't read the headings for the 2 columns of numbers which appear to be unofficial scribbling
| Can't read heading-perhaps says parole file | Can't read heading |
| 302[6]5 | 4295 |
3065--------------4295 [line drawn from 1st set of numbers across to 2ndGen Recapitulation
| Command | Col | LtCol | Maj | A | QM | ACS | Cpt | 1Lt | 2Lt | Tot | Sgt | Corp | pvt | Tot | Agg | remarks |
| 3 Regt La Infy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | List already in Richmond |
| 8 Bn La HA | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 37 | 41 | |
| 12 Regt La Infy | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | 2 | 5 | | 87 | 92 | 941 | |
| 17 Regt La Infy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 38 | 40 | 26 | 308 | 374 | 412 | |
| 26 Regt La Infy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 51 | 39 | 467 | 557 | 599 | |
| 27 Regt La Infy | | | 1 | 1 | | | 8 | 10 | 17 | 57? | 47 | 34 | 550 | 631 | 668 | |
| 28 Regt La Infy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 26 | 19 | 21 | 239 | 279 | 305 | |
| 31 Regt La Infy | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 41 | 46 | 32 | 481 | 559 | 600 | |
| Drew's Btry of 1 Ms LA | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 62 | 73 | 77 | |
| Total | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 45 | 41 | 83 | 194 | 218 | 163 | 2221 | 2602 | 2796 | |
1st Archivist's Note-The paper herein is endorsed "Gen Recapitulation of the officers & men belonging to Allen's Bgde paroled at Vicksburg." Although it appears to be written by the same hand [John G Clarke] as the paper which is endorsed "Recapitulation of the officers & men belonging to Allen's Bgde who have reported in camp for exchange" yet it is believed to have accompanied some record other than the one which has been sent here for carding.
The list "Recapitulation of the officers & men belonging to Allen's Bgde who have reported in camp for exchange" [list of those who reported before 4/1/64] which will be carded, contains but 1813 names, while the paper under consideration shows 2796 officers & men of Allen's Bgde-in addition to the number in the 3rd La-were paroled at Vicksburg
2nd archivist says-the data by Mr. Lee shows "2 named recapitulations" were with these records, & does not indicate that it accompanied any other record when he investigated it.
Consequently, we are unable to give any definite reply to this communication, it is supposed by the index section that the two were made at Shreveport & sent to Richmond to accompany list herewith.
1st archivist- It is evident that this "general Recapitulation" does not refer to the "list of the officers & men belonging to Allen's Bgde who have reported in camp for exchange" & as it contains no names for carding it is returned to you for filing. The record to which it belongs has not been found here.
[See also list of those surrendered at Vicksburg under date of 8/19/63]
6/8 Taylor to Boggs-Major Levy, in his late interview with Col Dwight, the Federal commissioner of exchange, obtained an acknowledgment of the prisoners captured by me at Brashear City last summer & so improperly returned to duty by Gen Banks. Lists of those paroled & delivered to the Cdr of the Federal outposts are being made out. The number will reach some 1,500. For these I propose to exchange a portion of Gen Thomas' Bgde if it meets the approval of the general cdg the Dept. This will give Polignac a respectable division.
6/27/64 "Richmond-"All officers & men of the Vicksburg capture of July 4,1863, who reported for duty either at Enterprise, Ms, Demopolis, Ala, Jonesboro, Tn, Vicuna, Natchitoches, Shreveport, or Alexandria, La, at any time prior to April 1,1864, & whose names have been forwarded to me by the proper officers, are hereby declared exchanged. "R Ould, "Agent of Exchange."
7/21/64 Hqs Trans-Miss. Dept Shreveport G O #56 [see also 6/27 above]
All officers & men captured at Vicksburg, who have reported at Enterprise, Demopolis, Vienna, Natchitoches, Shreveport & Alexandria, at any time prior to 4/1/64, have been declared exchanged by the Commissioner of Exchange.
All those in this Dept who are embraced in this list will immediately rejoin their commands in the field.
By command of Gen. E. Kirby Smith S. S. Anderson, AAG
Bringing the