Tombstone puzzle

[SWMODave]

I need some help. One of my ancestors (grX3 uncle) has a head stone with a unit marked that I do not find in the Soldiers and Sailors Database.

His actual name was Marcellus Henry Long
Family records show he served with the 1st AR Cavalry Union till he deserted in 63, then joining the 2nd MO artillery. Since he showed as 11 years old in the 1860 census and a family member with his pension papers says he was born in 1949 in Cedar County, MO, he was too young to be in the 1st (although S & S verifies it) and still too young to join the 2nd MO LA. Can anyone offer any assistance or suggestions?

I am curious because this is a photo of this particular battery in 1864 - would be cool if I had a relation in that group somewhere

 

[Jimklag]

I need some help. One of my ancestors (grX2 uncle) has a head stone with a unit marked that I do not find in the Soldiers and Sailors Database.

View attachment 157806

His actual name was Marcellus Henry Long
Family records show he served with the 1st AR Cavalry Union till he deserted in 63, then joining the 2nd MO artillery. Since he showed as 11 years old in the 1860 census and a family member with his pension papers says he was born in 1949 in Cedar County, MO, he was too young to be in the 1st (although S & S verifies it) and still too young to join the 2nd MO LA. Can anyone offer any assistance or suggestions?

I am curious because this is a photo of this particular battery in 1864 - would be cool if I had a relation in that group somewhere
View attachment 157807​

Looks like Company M, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery.

 

[chubachus]

*1849 I would imagine. He could have probably lied about his age.

 

[Lnwlf]

He might have been a drummer/musician. You might check if a near family member also joined the same time. Either one may account for his age.

 

[mofederal]

Unless he was big for his age, I would have to say he was a musician or a drummer. I am surprised the pension application does not say anything about his position/status in the unit., company.

 

[SWMODave]

We have a letter written by my great grandfather, his grandson, that said Henry was a #3 man. I just don't find him in Soldiers and Sailors and he was awfully young. At best he would have been 16 at the 'end' of the war.

Soldiers and Sailors has him in the 24th MO Infantry with his brothers thee years before that. He deserted with one of the in 63, only to turn around and join the artillery in early 64.

 

[chellers]

Where is this tombstone located?

as member

 

[SWMODave]

Where is this tombstone located?

as member

Hale Cemetery Oak Grove Carroll Co, Arkansas
Family and relatives of this line lived along the Missouri/Arkansas border

 

[chellers]

See info here, including different name spelling

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Long&GSiman=1&GScid=590010&GRid=25414292&

 

[FZ11]

See info here, including different name spelling

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Long&GSiman=1&GScid=590010&GRid=25414292&

Nice work!

 

[lelliott19]

The carded records for Henry Long, Pvt Batty M 2nd MO Light Artillery list him as age 19; 5 feet 7 inches tall; blond hair; grey eyes; fair complexion.

 

[mofederal]

I did not know the muster and descriptive rolls were available anywhere on line. I guess I need to pay for the whatever service this is from, so I can get clean records on my great-grandfather. A good job of detective work @lelliott19. I can see that he was of average height 5'7", and listed his age as 19. He would have passed easily.

 

[SWMODave]

Three things I learn from the muster rolls lelliott19 was gracious enough to post - our family copy disappeared when the family member who had them passed away and her genealogy files disappeared.

First he was a liar about his age and being six foot tall myself, the #3 position would be very difficult for some one 5 foot 7" tall.

Secondly, this is the most undisciplined group of brothers I have ever seen. My direct ancestor in this family only lived for 8 months in the service before dieing of disease and he still figured out a way to desert for a few months first. Sheesh!

Thirdly - He was not in that Battery picture.

Thank you very much lelliott!! moederal, if you are interested in a membership with Fold3 might check with lelliott19 to see if she gets a referral credit. I do know they are running a sale this month according to an email I got.

 

[lelliott19]

Thank you very much lelliott!! moederal, if you are interested in a membership with Fold3 might check with lelliott19 to see if she gets a referral credit. I do know they are running a sale this month according to an email I got.

I'm happy to help. Before you join Fold 3 you should probably know that while the Confederate files have multiple carded records, only some of the Union records contain more than an index card. We just lucked out on the 2d Mo LA. and their files have cards. If its just an individual record you need, Fold 3 occasionally does "Free" access days or weekends. Or you can always ask someone here - Most who have membership will be happy to do a look up. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Laura

 

[connecticut yankee]

Three things I learn from the muster rolls lelliott19 was gracious enough to post - our family copy disappeared when the family member who had them passed away and her genealogy files disappeared.

First he was a liar about his age and being six foot tall myself, the #3 position would be very difficult for some one 5 foot 7" tall.

Secondly, this is the most undisciplined group of brothers I have ever seen. My direct ancestor in this family only lived for 8 months in the service before dieing of disease and he still figured out a way to desert for a few months first. Sheesh!

Thirdly - He was not in that Battery picture.

Thank you very much lelliott!! moederal, if you are interested in a membership with Fold3 might check with lelliott19 to see if he gets a referral credit. I do know they are running a sale this month according to an email I got.

Just an added word on C.W. Union enlistments----Contrary to popular belief, it was very common and relatively easy for an underage boy (i.e. less than 18) to enlist. The army had no available means to verify age and in addition were very anxious to take any healthy male that stepped forward. Also, if the parents gave written permission, a boy under 18 could be enlisted. The problem for under 18 enlisted soldiers was when parents who never gave permission came forward and demanded their son be returned home. The army nearly always complied in these cases. When parents weren't involved and army officials learned later on their own that a boy was underage, the army nearly always found sound reasons to justify keeping the boy. It always generated a lot of official paperwork with a chain of officers explaining such an action.