Mary,

I found two online Missouri military service cards for one or two Martin Trails

The earlier card is from Martin Trail who enrolled in Kansas City 9 August 1862 in Company A of the 77th Enrolled Missouri Militia, about when the EMM began in the state. This Martin Trail served 40 days active duty probably in the Kansas City area from 22 October 1862 until 2 December 1862, when he was relieved of duty. The 77th EMM hardly served outside Kansas City in 1862 because William Quantrill and his band were very active in the countryside all around Kansas. The EMM were poorly trained, equipped or led and were intended purely as a defensive force. Martin would have remained at his normal occupation unless Rebel forces threatened the city, except for those 40 days he was on active duty. There seems to be no further record of this Martin Trail in the 77th EMM. This Martin Trail may or may not be your ancestor because of his second military service card described in the next paragraph. Frankly, the 77th EMM hardly ventured outside of Kansas City, because they would have no chance surviving in a fight not only with Quantrill's bushwhacker band but with one or two other bands that operated in the Jackson County area. None of those guerrillas raided inside Kansas City during 1862, except for small groups taking a fast ride in and out of town mostly on a dare.

A later card for a Private Martin Trail, age 29 states he enlisted 23 May 1863 at Harlem (I never heard of a town called Harlem in Missouri) in Company L, 1st Regiment Missouri Engineers. Private Trail mustered in with his Company L 15 July 1863 at New Madrid, New Madrid County, MO. I would assume all or part of the 1st MO Engineer Regiment was formed at the large Union base at New Madrid to build or strengthen the fortifications that overlooked the Mississippi River there, which was intended to help keep the Mississippi River open to Union boat traffic. Later, the 1st MO Engineer Regt was transferred out of Missouri, I think to Tennessee.

The remark at the bottom of Private Trail's service card states in the remarks: "While on furlough issued Sept. 22, 1864 was killed by guerrillas at Centralia, MO. Sept. 26, 1864." There is also a mention below saying "(over)," but the online version of this card fails to state what was on the back of the card. Of course, the card is in error that Private Trail was killed 26 September, as the killing of the Union soldiers taken off the train by guerrillas at Centralia took place 27 October 1864.

George Martin will surely have more information for you about Private Trail in the 1st Engineers and perhaps could also tell us what was written on the back of his service card.

I hope that helps.

Bruce Nichols