Civil War Service Records for George…

George Barclay served from August 15, 1862 to August 24, 1865.  He had 23 cards in his Civil War Service File with various numbers.  There was a #75 at the top of the summary card.  

D.C. Shoemaker a retired career military man who had served in the Quartermaster Department and a Civil War buff was kind to help me interpret some of the information on George’s Civil War service record cards.  D.C. and I were co-workers in years past and I was lucky to be able to sit with him and learn.  I have not had any military experience and D.C.’s help was greatly appreciated.  

D.C. began by pointing out that G.O. stands for “General Orders – “plan for attack.”  The other designation is S.O. (like S.O. 38) “Special Orders – “make part of another unit.”  

D.C. also explained that the term “muster” was more like a roll-call where they would line up the men and actually count them and physically take stock of what they had.  

George's Civil War Service Cards

 

1.  The Company Descriptive Book 

George Barclay, Co., I, 9 Reg’t Minnesota Inf.  

Description:  Age 18 years, height 5 feet 4-3/4 inches tall, Complexion: dark, Eyes: dark; hair dark . Where born:  Enfield Co., Conn. Occupation:  farmer 

Enlistment:  When:  Aug 15, 1862, Where: Shakopee, By Whom. Jos R. Ashley, term 3 y’rs, Remarks: none. J. Baker Copiest.  

The Civil War Pension file gives his weight at 125 lbs in 1892.  This information from his pension file, is of course years later.  As you can see he was not a large man.  

2.  Company Muster-in Roll:  

George Barclay, Wagoner, Co. I, 9 Reg’t Minnesota Inf. Age 18 years, Appears on 

Company Muster Roll of the organization named above.  Roll dated Fort Ridgely, Oct. 12, 1862.  Muster-in to date August 15, 1862.  

Joined for duty and enrolled: When Aug. 15, 1862, Where Shakopee, Minn. Period 3 years.  Bounty paid $25.00/100; due $ 0/100. Remarks: Premium paid $200; advanced pay $13.00. Signed J. B. Jones, Copyist.  

3.  Company Muster Roll Card 

George Barclay Wagoner, Co. I, 9 Reg’t Minnesota Infantry Appears on 

Company Muster Roll for Oct. 12 to Oct 31, 1862, Present, Remarks: Wagoner Q.M. Dept., signed J.B. Jones, Copyist.  

4.  Appears on Returns as follows:   

Return - A Summary

 

November, 1862. Teamster; Jan. 1863, Teamster in Q.M. Dept.; April 1863, Co. Cook. Oct. 1863. On extra duty in R.Q.M. Dept.; Dec. 1863, Acting Q.M. Serg’t.; Jan. to Sept. 1864, Mch, 1865 R.Q.M. Dept, *Appears also as Barklay & Barkly, signed C. H. Underwood, Copyist.   

Note:  R.Q.M refers to Regimental Quarter Master.  Teamster meant he drove the team. D.C. explained that as Acting Sergent at Q.M. it indicates that he was promoted to “brevet.” This means he had the title, the authority, but not the pay. 

5.  Company Muster Roll – Every card from this point on states he is a Wagoner with company I, 9th Reg’t. Minnesota Infantry. 

for from enlistment to Dec. 31, 1862, Present, sign J.B. Jones, Copyist.  

6.  Company Muster Roll 

for Jan. & Feb. 1863, Present, signed J.B. Jones, Copyist. 

7.  Company Muster Roll 

for March & April, 1863, Present, Remarks: Cook for Company, signed J.B. Jones, Copyist. 

8.  Special Muster Roll 

for dated April 11, 1863, Present, signed J.B. Jones, Copyist. 

9.  Company Muster Roll 

for May & June, 1863, Present, signed J.B. Jones, Copyist. 

Note:  D.C. thought he was put on light duty because he could have been sick or injured. 

10.  Company Muster Roll 

for July & Aug. 1863, Present, signed J.B. Jones, Copyist.  

11.  Company Muster Roll 

for Sept. & Oct., 1863, Present, Remarks: Daily duty Q.M. Dept., signed J.B. Jones, Copyist.  

12.  Company Muster Roll 

for Nov. & Dec. 1863, Present, Remarks: Daily duty in Q.M. Dept., signed J.B. Jones, Copyist.   

13.  Company Muster Roll 

for Jan. & Feb. 1864, Present, Remarks: Daily duty in Q.M. Dept., signed Howel, Copyist.   

14.  Company Muster Roll 

for Mch. & Apr. 1864, Present, Remarks: Daily duty in Q.M. Dept., signed Howel, Copyist.   

 15.  Company Muster Roll 

for May & June, 1864, Present, Remarks: On daily duty in Q.M. Dept., signed Howel, Copyist.   

16.  Company Muster Roll 

for July & Aug, 1864, Present, signed Howel, Copyist.   

17.  Company Muster Roll 

for Sept. & Oct, 1864, Present, Remarks: On daily duty in Q.M. Dept., signed Howel, Copyist. 

18.  Company Muster Roll 

for Nov. & Dec. 1864, Absent.  Remarks:  “On [D.S.] with Brigade Quartermaster since November 22, 1864, signed Howell, Copyist.  

19.  Apears on Muster Roll of enlisted men on detached service at Hd. Qrs. 2 Brig., 1 Div. , Detachment, Army of Tenn. 

Muster Roll - Army of Tenn

 

for Nov. & Dec., 1864, Station: in the field Tenn. Present, Detailed from Co. I, 9^th Minn, Infy in Q.M.D. SO. 38 Hd Qrs. 2d Bridg. 1^st Div 16, A.C. November 22, 1864, signed Granes, Copyist.  

Note:  Sherman’s March to the Sea started on Nov. 15, 1864! 

20. Company Muster Roll 

for Jan & Feb. 1865, Present, signed Howell, Copyist.  

21. Company Muster Roll 

for Mch & Apr. 1865, Present, signed Howell, Copyist. 

22. Company Muster Roll 

for May & June, 1865, Present, signed Howell, Copyist.  

23.  Co. Muster-out Roll dated 

Ft. Snelling Minn. Aug. 24, 1865, Muster-out date, Aug. 24, 1865, Last paid to Feb. 28, 1865.  Clothing account: due U.S. $10.72/100.  Bounty paid $25.00; due $75.00. Remarks.  Retains knapsack, haversack (like a duffel bag) and canteen, under provisions of G.O. No. 114 C.S. A.G.O. 

Note:  C.S.A.G.O means Chief of Staff, Adj. General Office.  

Mustering Out

 

Based on this service record, I don’t think George was at Vicksburg which was fought from March to July 1863 and he wasn’t at Chattanooga which was in late 1863.  

D.C. wrote to me in an email, in March of 2001, to help me understand the structure of the military units in the Civil War: 

“Here goes:  A regiment was the smallest independent unit at that time.  Regiments have (usually small) numbers like the 3rd Infantry or the 10th Artillery.  A regiment might have as few as one battalion or as many as eight.  Each battalion might have from two to five companies, each with a letter, starting with A, B, and so on.  Company letters would run in succession through the regiment; a second battalion might have companies D, E, and F, with the next battalion having G, H and so on.  Each company would have two to four platoons of about 40 men each, numbered 1st platoon, 2nd platoon, etc. which will give you an idea of the size.  So from smallest to largest, it runs platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division, and army.  Regiments could be formed into divisions of two or more regiments, pretty much at will.  Platoons always stayed with their companies, and companies always stayed with their battalions, but regiments could be switched around at times.  The composition of a regiment or a division might be hard to pinpoint without some official history from the time or the area and territorial forces would be less well documented than state’s divisions.“ 

Another website gives even more details on the structure of the military in the Civil War:  http://www.civilwarhome.com/armyorganization.htm 

Armies, Corps, Divisions, Brigades, Infantry Regiments 

So what is the Army of the Tennessee?  Back to Wikipedia for a description:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Tennessee

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George A. Barclay and Sherman?

My Aunt Miriam writes in her notes about George’s enlistment in the Civil War.  

Miriam's Notes - Civil War

 

The book from Pine River “Logsleds to Snowmobiles” gives this information about George’s service:  

“George became a wagoner with Company A, Ninth Volunteer Infantry.  Barclay was with General Sherman on his “march through Georgia to the sea.” He was honorably discharged on August 24, 1865.” page 105.   

The company is “I” and not “A,” that George served with.   

Did my great-grandfather George Angus Barclay “march with Sherman” as my Aunt Miriam states or did he “marched through Georgia to the sea” as the book reference suggests?   

Well let’s examine the evidence.  

Because I am a curious creature I ordered George’s Civil War Service record from the National Archives (NARA) and waited impatiently for its arrival.  I also ordered his Civil War Pension Record but NARA didn’t have it?  NARA wrote back to tell me that it was with the Veterans Administration.  So of course, I wrote for it immediately.  It came – all 3 inches thick of it!  The pension file was huge and covered 1892 to 1942.   

After studying both the Civil War Service Record and the Civil War Pension files of George A. Barclay I cannot state with certainty that George  “marched with Sherman” or ‘marched through Georgia to the sea!”  George never mentions it in his pension file. The goal of the pension file application is to get a pension and it is probably better to keep your answers short.  The Service Record is more like an attendance record for the soldier.   

George writes in his own hand on an affidavit from his pension file:   

I have not been in the military or naval service of the United States since August 24th, 1865.  That I served as Wagoner in Company I, 9th Minn. Vol. Inft. for the period of 3 years and 9 days and was never in any company.”  From G.A. Barclay Civil War Pension File.     

We need to understand the history of George T. Sherman’s military career.  The History Channel website has this interactive video of the three of the campaigns of Sherman:  Sherman’s March. 

http://www.history.com/topics/william-t-sherman  

1.  The Atlanta Campaign.  It started in the Summer and he took Atlanta on September 7, 1864.  It is from Atlanta that Sherman started his march to the sea.  

2.  The Savannah Campaign started on November 15, 1864 and went for 300 miles. This is the famous “March to the Sea” campaign.  He did march across Georgia to Savannah, NC to accomplish this goal.   This link to the History Channel gives more on this specific march.  

http://www.history.com/topics/shermans-march/interactives/shermans-march  

“Sherman’s Army:  Sherman had a massive army.  Over 60,000 troops, 8000 horses and mules, 2500 wagons.  Two 900 foot pontoon bridges to cross the many rivers and streams of Georgia.  In some places the army would march by a house or plantation for 2 straight days without a break during daylight hours.  The March proceeded in two wings.  Each wing was divided into two columns.  Often the four columns were on separate roads.”  

Wikipedia’s – Sherman’s March to the Sea has a really good explanation and even details the “Opposing forces” which breaks down the various army groups that participated in this march in more detail along with links.  They have some maps with details of the campaigns and you can click to make them bigger.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman%27s_March_to_the_Sea  

3.  The Campaign of the Carolinas.  In this campaign Sherman marched north through these two states starting on January 15, 1865. 

George T. Sherman had a very long military career even before the beginning of the Civil War.  He was involved in many other campaigns.  To dig deeper on G. T. Sherman let’s go back to Wikipedia for a biography on Sherman.   There is a lot of great information at this particular Wikipedia site but always be sure you check other sources and there are plenty on the web referencing the Civil War. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman  

Scrolling down the page to Civil War Service you see that Sherman was involved with other campaigns prior to the three mentioned above.  

1.  First Battle Bull Run or First Battle of Manassas. I have had the privilege of visiting this park twice.  The park is west of Arlington, Virginia and easy to get to by car.  I believe it is haunted. The battle took place on July 21, 1861.  So if George mustered in on August 15, 1862 he most definitely was not in this battle. The National Park Services has wonderful websites of the major battlefields of the Civil War:  http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm  

2.  Shiloh is in Tennessee and the battle took place April 6-7, 1862.  The National Park Services also has a website for this battlefield:  http://www.nps.gov/shil/historyculture/shiloh.htm  Again George musters in August 15, 1862 he misses this action as well.   

3.  Vicksburg, Mississippi Dec 26, 1862 to July 4, 1863 and Chattanooga, Tennessee October and November 1863.   Now there might be possibilities in these campaigns?  We will see.  

Let us review George’s military card service cards in the next post and see if we can find anything in them that will help us figure out this puzzle.  

WARNING!  Researching and reading about the Civil War can be addicting! 

Here are some other websites to explore:  

The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA is a wonderful place to visit.  I was able to wander this archive back in September of 2008. 

http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org/index_1.php 

  

Civil War:  http://www.civilwar.com/  

Don’t forget Google Images of the Civil War go here http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi  and type in “Civil War” or “Civil War Wagons” and click! 

Civil War Home Page http://www.civil-war.net/  

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/  You can search for a soldier and more.  

The Civil War (PBS) http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/  

American Civil War.com http://americancivilwar.com/  

Time Line of the Civil War:  http://rs6.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/tl1861.html    

The National Civil War Museum

 

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