Michael,

If I remember correctly, the muster roll has a place for the descriptions on them. I have seen a few original muster rolls before at the National Archives. According to the Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States, musters had to be conducted at least at the end of every even month (page 32, paragraph 314). Now, whether the entire form was filled out properly is another story because I have seen it a number of ways. I am sure they also did musters upon command of the commanding officers too.

Why did they do a description? This was in the time before Identification cards and photography was in its infancy. You had to have someway to identify people.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
M.A. Military History - Civil War Concentration
Research - Preservation
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
http://39thgavolinfrgt.homestead.com/39thHomepage.html
Athens, Tennessee