Alan J. Pitts
Re: No Subject
Fri Jun 22 10:17:33 2001


Very insightful questions. Militiamen were able to sleep in their own beds; Confederate soldiers usually slept out in the open. Veterans remembered this as one of several key distinctions between their service and whatever service was rendered by home guards and/or militia. Time in camp at Loachapoka would have been devoted to drill, drill and more drill. Quite likely they entertained visitors from home, home being nearby, but if an officer allowed one man to go home to attend to crops or whatever, he might as well let them all go, and that would defeat the purpose of having men in camp.

The dates for Company "D" are March 6, 1862 (enlistment) and March 13, 1862 (entered Confederate service). Pay and term of enlistment were likely based on the latter date.

The status of any muster roll could be determined by calling the ADAH in Montgomery. Documents for each command are identified as belonging to one of three types: muster rolls, historical records and correspondence. When available, muster rolls are kept in acid-free oversize containers. They also have negatives from the National Archives which show the title headings (date, place, events) of any muster rolls in Washington.

Muster rolls are certainly not the only document that describes Confederate military service. Compiled service records are available on microfilm in Birmingham and at Wallace State College if you live nearby. Otherwise, you may request them from the National Archives. Also, I have begun taking requests to make CSR copies for a fee.

In order to know more about the experiences of the 34th Alabama from Corinth, Tupelo and other points, you may wish to acquire a copy of Arthur Middleton Manigault's book. His South Carolina regiment joined the brigade to which the 34th Alabama was attached at Corinth, and Manigault led the brigade during most of the war. His recently published memoirs are titled, A Carolinian Goes To War: The Civil War Narrative Of Arthur Middleton Manigault, R. Lockwood Tower (editor) / Paperback / Published 1992 / $14.95.

The only reason men from camp would have gone home *might* have been serious illness or death in the family, and maybe not then. Of course, someone discharged from the service would go home immediately.