Sometimes I like to post something from my own research that has never occurred to me before. In this case it is the handling of wounded soldiers who are members of units that are transferred long distances.

My wife's ancestor, David H. Williams, was a member of the 13th Mississippi Infantry, Co. K. He joined the Confederate army prior to the battle of Chancellorsville. I presume this was due to the fact that his brother, Erasmus Williams, a first sergeant in this unit was home (Meridian, MS) in Jan/Feb of 1863 picking up conscripts and told his older brother David it was time to serve.

According to the "Engagements" card, included in David's service record, he participated in the battle of Chancellorsville and then was wounded severely during "Barksdale's Charge" at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2nd, 1863. His record shows him in a hospital in Lynchburg, VA in July/Aug. His CSR shows him as present in Sept/Oct of 1863. On the "Engagement" card, it shows him as "AW" or absent wounded for the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. He subsequently was captured at the battle of Knoxville and spent the rest of the war in Rock Island Prison.

So here's my question. The 13th Mississippi was a part of the two (2) divisions transferred in September of 1863 to North Georgia to reinforce the Army of Tennessee and participated in the battle of Chickamauga and the early stages of the battles around Chattanooga. As the engagement card shows him "AW" in Sept/Oct. Does his participation in the battle of Knoxville show that he was transported, while yet unfit for service with the 13th Mississippi Infantry to North Georgia and regained his health "in the field"? Or, might he have been sent individually to join the regiment after regaining his health in Virginia?

I've never thought about how "walking wounded" might have been treated when their unit transferred to another area. Did units sometimes move with a contingent of men who were still mending from previous wounds or were they kept in the hospital until they were fit for service?

Jim