Sue
.. Unfortunately in most historical circles as far as augmenting existing records normally
requires several convincing items of evidence. Acknowleging the letters however since it was
written by a decendent well post war, and not the possible veteran itself. It generally lessens
its conclusive credibility. Historically post war accounts, and family pass down data naturally
tends to get embellished each generation its relayed. Historical accuracy tends to wane. This is just human nature. Same issue that a given veteran was an officer... frequently told in family pass downs as a Captain or a Colonel... however more times that not this was found to be a frequently used "term of endearment" nickname bestowed upon some aging war veteran. Several generations later a family just assumes that since people in his town called him that, that he was indeed an officer of rank, and will quickly argue the point. Even thought historical record and evidence points otherwise. Ive encountered probably several dozens of people who all claim their ancestor held Gen Lee's horse at Appomattox... When records show the respective ancestor may have served briefly in 1862 and I show proof they were back home in Alabama when the war ended.

Enlistment dates and locations and sometimes ages notated on cards tend to be one of the items found incorrect most often. Just take that item of note only at face value. If a given date doesnt match another card, it may or may not have significant relevence. The date a person enlisted, the date the company was offically mustered, the date the respective regiment was formed, the date the regiment was accepted into service many times tend to be different... The data copied from orignials to the cards might have actually been any of them, if there was a date on the respective record at all... even if it might be implied or filled in as "Enlisted on___"

Another item that I frequently tell researchers is be objective, and steer away from the natural tendancy to make final assumptions upon a single piece of data that has yet to be confirmed. Stand back and look at all the pieces of the puzzle for what they are, rather than what one may desire them to be. Gather up enough pieces and sooner or later a pattern of something may start to appear.

This JW might be a mixed file... then again honestly it might not be, just has lots of errors that would give the impression that it could be. I wouldnt rest totally on that assumption on that single record. Keep looking... look at alternate possibilities. Because his son may have served in the 8th Va Cav, that in itself isnt always a clear indication that your Joshua did too. Once the conscription (draft) kicked in many were placed in units low on numbers regardless of what area or community it originiated, especially later in the war.... If one was from Winchester and drafted, he might have been placed in a company that actually originated out of Petersburg. Thats not totally unusual. Also If one wanted to enlist and there was nothing current or available in ones home town it wasnt unusual for one to travel to another town or locality where one was being mustered...

In the early months of the war many units enlisted at will in their respective state forces as most all did... little enforcement of age ranges were had. Once the Confederate armies re-organized in the Spring of 1862 all that changed. If one was under 17 or over 35, they were discharged and sent home. They could still serve in local reserves and home guards. In some regiments the early records may not have survived. It is a possibility that he might have enlisted early on, but then later sent home due to being over age. Those early records might not have survived to be copied, and if he left it in 1862. The only existing records thus copied on the cards were of later unit records, thus not shown. In some units thats all they have to go by.

As an example in my own ancestor research I had one file that had "JF" and "JP" intermixed , initial assumption that it was a copy error. Then found other cards in the same file listedas James and/or Joseph... Knowing that a common abbreviation for these names was Jas and Jos.. looking at old sloppy muster rolls it could easily get crossed and mislisted.. initial assessment was that they were accidental errors. Yet I continued to dig on it... that extra effort payed off. I found a reference in the local history that had "JP" being killed in 1863... This was my GGF file (that survived the war) so that didnt make sence... continued digging... Finally after almost 20 years of research I discovered that there was indeed a separate James P... killed on Morris Island SC in 1863... He didnt survive the war so no other later records on him existed, and his home area was a burnt county so anything previous on this person was also non-existing. My Ancestor was Joseph F... Enough continued research and collecting many small peices of the puzzle I was able to extract the two respective records from each other... using many alternate resources.

So in conclusion be objective in your search, dont stop on one or two items. There might be many others out there waiting for you that you might have missed or not found yet. It may take time and effort to figure it out or find other pieces of good evidence. I always caution people of a common mistake to avoid trying to prove or re-mold a given record into what they want it to be, take it at face value only as one piece of the big puzzle... It might be it, But still keep looking.. You might stumble across other items that may lead the search in a different direction entirely than initially thought, which commonly happens.

Research local probate records in the towns/areas that you know he lived in. That commonly will help put date/location items together better, help confirm other existing items you have and expand the overall picture even more. Since Joshua survived the war... seek for any existing pension records. Noting that pension records are slightly different depending on the state of residence. As a rule of thumb if a southern veteran, the pension is applied for and obtain throught the state of residency at the time, regardless of what state he might have served under. If one served in a South Carolina unit but post war moved to Virginia, he would apply in and to Virginia. IF the veteran didnt survive or was then deceased.. the respective widow could therefore apply for his pension.... depending on the state in question the pension application might be indexed by his or her name, so look for both.

Pension applications tend to give much more data than the typical service records do. In many cases especially southern ranks whereas muster records might be missing.. The application also frequently will contain additional information and/or attached testimonials from others to help confirm ones service.

Im a historian, researcher and historical writer. I write civil war regimental histories that include service records and unit rosters, so Im well used to digging through and interpreting existing service records, national archive cards and all the quirks they may contain. Also digging alternate resources to sort out and confirm items.

Good luck on your quest... just keep digging... many times the little items that appear insignificant could later prove to be quite useful or a vital clue, so gather up everything related you can find...

Respects
Frederick
(Richmond Va)