William Alford
Help Reconcile Record Differences
Mon May 14 22:50:46 2001


Can anyone help me reconcile differences in records of my CSA ancestor, Richard Redden Alford (some of the records spell it as Allford)? I've obtained many of the records and find differences listed for where he joined the service. He was in the 5th Alabama Infantry, Co. K, of Rodes' Brigade and served through the war until he was one of only two privates left in Co. K at the Appomattox surrender. On his application for a pension in 1916, it states that he enlisted in Sept, 1862 at Greenville, AL. Richard was apparently illiterate since he made an "x" for his signature on the pension application, but it was witnessed by his brother M. A. (Miles) Alford who also was in Co. K, but captured at Spotslyvania. On MANY of Richard's army records obtained from the US Archives, it states that he enlisted in Coffee County, Alabama. But a hospital muster roll showing dates of April 30, 1864 and June 18, 1864 (Hospital Muster Roll, Convalescent Division, General Hospital, Howard's Grove, Richmond, VA) says he enlisted at Notasulga. An Alford Family Association publication says Miles A. Alford enlisted at Notasulga in Sept 1862, and it would be reasonable to think brothers enlisted together, but then MA witnessed that Richard entered in Greenville. After the war both returned to marry and lived the rest of their lives in Coffee County (this region split off to be Geneva County), where they had lived before the war. If he was illiterate, perhaps record keepers made mistakes when asking him questions? Thanks for any advice. yours, William