I’ve spent almost 20 years researching the men and activities of the 37th Alabama Infantry. In that time, I’ve found quite a bit of information on more than 2,500 men who served in the regiment at one time or another. What little I know about these steamers I’ve stumbled across during my research of individuals in this regiment, rather than any sort of focused effort on my part.
So, let me be clear: I'm NOT an expert on Vicksburg nor any of the protocols surrounding the transport of the sick and wounded from there -- or anywhere for that matter.
Now that I’ve got that confession off my chest … please allow me to enter the realm of conjecture. It seems to me that if transport decisions were based on regimental considerations (keeping men of the same unit together), then it follows that all those Alabamians would’ve shared a single ship instead of four different ones over several different dates. Again, it’s only a guess, but since transport dates stretch out for several weeks, perhaps men were transported based more on individual medical status/readiness and their own ability to tolerate (even survive) travel rather than for other considerations. But, again, that’s purely speculation on my part.
That said, I do believe the best method of finding/compiling a list of men transported aboard a particular ship, may come from how I fell backward into that same sort of information: Look into known regiments present at the surrender ... and then ... the transports will surface.
Kerry – I do thank you for the tip on Josephus P. Brunson – of his presence aboard the St. Maurice. I’ve not seen that information previously, and I don’t find it mentioned in his CMSR. I have taken note of his services as a nurse at Vicksburg City Hospital. Could you kindly point me toward the source of the St. Maurice data?
Patricia and Kerry, I thank you both for your kind words and I wish you both well in your research efforts.
Cordially,
-Chip in Little Rock