David,

I’m at a loss. The census data does not match age for James vs. the military records. The CSR data for the two are comingled and some at variance with the other.

I’m going to take a shot to say, it is James buried at Rock Island.

As to William. His wife Elizabeth appears to be a widow in 1870. Let me venture to suggest, that William died following the battle of Missionary Ridge, no knowledge of when or where. Perhaps, the family realizing a J. McGee was buried at Rock Island, they assumed it was William, not James.

Tis a mystery!

George

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Time Line

William J. McGee, age 27, Private, Company K, 8th Mississippi Infantry, enlisted October 1, 1861 at Enterprise, Miss.

1862

March/April, 1863, Co. K at Bridgeport, Ala.
James enlisted April 21, 1863 at Enterprise, Miss.

May/June, 1863 Co. K at Bridgeport, Ala.
William recorded present
James not recorded, may not have reported to Company yet?

August 27, 1863, James paid $37.03 for the period March 21 to
June 30 by B. F. Bomar [Do not believe Bomar associated
with the regiment who were paid by a Capt. S. Prince about this
time

July/August, 1863 Co. K near Chattanooga, Tenn.
William recorded present, last paid June 30 by Capt. Prince
James, absent, sick in hospital, place not known

October 9, 1863
James Paid $22 for the period July 1 to Aug. 31, 2 months by
S. H. Oliver

James furloughed from hospital - date unknown

James apprehended by Federal forces at Ringgold, Ga. November 26, 1863

December 6, 1863
William recorded as having deserted on the retreat from
Missionary Ridge
James’ furlough ended December 6
[This is a strange coincidence!]

December 13, 1863
James arrived at Rock Island Barracks, Ill. prison

December 14, 1863
James died

……………………..

William J. McGee Farmer
Birth: 1833 - USA Georgia
Death: 1863 - Rock Island, IL (Illinois)
Parents: JAMES/John Seaborn McGee / McGaughey / McGehee, Mary A Whittington
Spouse: Elizabeth “Betty” Davis age 21 born in Georgia
Ancestry.com

………

1850 United States Federal Census about James McGehe
Name: James McGehe
[James McGee]
Age: 9
Birth Year: abt 1841
Birthplace: Mississippi
Home in 1850: Jones, Mississippi
Gender: Male
Family Number: 169
Household Members:
Name Age
Seaborn McGehe 44
Mary McGehe 35
William McGehe 17
Georgian McGehe 15
Keziah McGehe 14
Sarah McGehe 12
Mary McGehe 10
James McGehe 9
Franklin McGehe 7
George B McGehe 4
Esther McGehe 1

…..

1860 United States Federal Census about Jas Mcgee
Name: Jas Mcgee
[James Mcgee]
Age in 1860: 20
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: Georgia
Home in 1860: Jones, Mississippi
Gender: Male
Post Office: Ellisville
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
James M Powell 39
Sarah Powell 45
Isaac Powell 16
Franklin B Powell 14
Amos N Powell 12
Jas M Powell 10
Jas Mcgee 20 Farm Laborer

…..

1860 United States Federal Census about W J Mcgee
Name: W J Mcgee
[William J Mcgee]
Age in 1860: 27
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birthplace: Georgia
Home in 1860: Jones, Mississippi
Gender: Male
Post Office: Ellisville
Household Members:
Name Age
Mary Mcgee 48
Franklin Mcgee 15
George B Mcgee 14
Charlotte Mcgee 12
Nathaniel G Mcgee 7
W J Mcgee 27
Elizabeth Mcgee 21
Sarahe A Mcgee 2
John D Mcgee 2
G A Holifield 25
Norval Holifield 7
Jasper Holifield 2

…..

1870 United States Federal Census about Elizabeth Mc Gee
Name: Elizabeth Mc Gee
[Elizabeth McGee]
Age in 1870: 30
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: Georgia (country)
Home in 1870: Township 8, Jones, Mississippi
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Ellisville
Household Members:
Name Age
Elizabeth Mc Gee 30
Sarah Mc Gee 12
John D Mc Gee 11
Lydia Mc Gee