William J. Beard, Private, enlisted in Captain R. C. McCay's Company, 38th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers,* March 19/20, 1862 at Rocky Spring/Claiborne County/April 1, 1862 in Hinds County, by Captain McCay for 3 years or the war, deserted October 14, 1862, captured at Abbyville, Mississippi December 2, 1862, received at Military Prison, Alton, Illinois January 10, 1863, released March 12, 1863 on Oath and Bond, reported on the October 31, 1863 muster roll as "Absent without leave Take Oath to U. S.," never paid, recorded on his companies June 30, 1864 as age 32,
* This company subsequently became Company B, 38th Regiment Mississippi Cavalry
M269: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Mississippi
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William J. Beard of Ft. Gibson, Clairborne County, Mississippi signs bond of $`1,000 March 12, 1863, having been arrested on the charge of rebbelling against the government of the United States of America, signed his Oath of Renunciation and Allegiance March 12, 1863, Description: Age, 28 years, Height, six feet, Color of Eyes, Blue, Color of Hair, Brown, Characteristics, Square faced, sandy beard, weigh in health 160 pounds
M347: Unfiled Papers and Slips, Belonging to Confederate Compiled Service Records