Hi Patti:

You asked: >>> What is the difference in the Booth records and the CMSR? I thought it was the same thing? How would I get that? Would that include the Union service? <<<

They are almost the same - the CMSR is a first order copy presenting data extracted from the actual muster rolls, transfer records, etc. preserved in the National Archives. Booth is a second order copy, a copy of the extracted material, and not made directly from the actual records. In the copying and condensation process, Booth's archivists sometimes left out tidbits of information that might otherwise provide clues to questions such as you have posed. And they often failed to make obvious consolidations of multiple records that belonged to the same man. The War Department extracts were microfilmed in the 1930's and are referred to as the Compiled Military Service Records. You can order photocopies of an individual soldier's (or sailor's) file.

You can obtain Confederate and Union CMSRs, and a Union Navy CNSR(?) for Michael McGrath either directly from the National Archives [http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/] or through the Military Records Service that supports this website. See their linkage at the top of this page. Remember you are looking for three separate files.

Glad to have been of help!

Hugh