James W. Riley, Private, Capt. A. P. Pifer's Company of Scouts, Guides and Couriers,* enlisted October 11, 1862 at Winchester, Va. by Capt. A. P. Pifer for 3 years, listed as a prisoner of war at the Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C. November 9, 1862, paroled, n.d., recorded present on the December 31, 1864 company muster, paroled at Winchester, Va. May 2/29, 1865, age 33, 5' 10", fair complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, believe a resident of Faquier County, near Baltimore

* This company was also known as Company A, 39th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, Richardson's Battalion of Scouts, Guides & Couriers, 13th Battalion Virginia Cavalry

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Company A Muster Rolls & Record of Events

Oct. 11 to Dec. 31, 1862, dated Dec. 31, 1862 stationed near Fredericksburg

Dec., 1862 stationed near Fredericksburg, Va.
The company is used for carrying dispatches and taking prisoners & conscripts to their regiments. During the fight at Fredericksburg on 11th, 12th and 13th Dec., the Company was used to arrest & return stragglers to their commands. On the 14th the Company started to Richmond having in charge between four and five hundred prisoners of war, marched to Hanover Junction, took the cars thence to Richmond and returned by the same route, reaching Fredericksburg on the 18th. Distance marched and traveled over one hundred and forty miles.

January, 1863 stationed near Fredericksburg, Va.
The five men who are detailed are selected by turn from the Company to act as Couriers.

Jan. & Feb., 1863, dated Feb. 28, 1863, stationed near Fredericksburg, Va.
The Company is constantly engaged in scouting the country for various purposes - acting as Guides, Couriers, etc, etc.
The Company has collected in the last two months about 38000 round ammunition for small arms - several hundred stand arms - Bayonets, etc., etc.
These Ord. & Ord. stores were scattered thro the country partly by our own Army and partly by the enemy last summer.

Mch. & Apr., 1863, dated May 1863, stationed near Fredericksburg, Va.
The Co. has been engaged as usual in carrying dispatches & scouting the country for various purposes.

May 1 to Aug. 31, 1863, dated Aug. 31, 1863, stationed near Orange Court House, Va.
The Company has marched from Fredericksburg, Va. to Gettysburg, Pa. & from Gettysburg to Orange C. H., Va., a distance of some 350 miles.
While in Pa. a portion of the Co. was assigned to Engineers to accompany them in Reconasance learn [sp?] direction of roads, etc.
The Company has been constantly engaged as Couriers, Scouting, watching roads on which the enemy were expected, gathering stragglers arresting deserters, & while in Enemy country, guarding trains, etc.
A portion of the Co. Guarded about 100 Federal Prisoners having them in charge from Winchester to Staunton, Va. The prisoners being a part of those captured at Winchester. During the battle of Gettysburg the portion of the Co. not acting as Couriers were arresting stragglers, Deserters & Suspicious persons, etc. Wm. H. Green, 1st Lieut., Comdg. Co. G. S. & C.

Sept. & Oct., 1864, dated Oct. 31, 1864, near Petersburg, Va.
The Company has been during the last two months as heretofore, performing the duties of Couriers, etc. for Genl. R. E. Lee & other General Officers.

Nov. & Dec., 1864, dated Dec. 31, 1864, stationed near Petersburg, Va.
The Company has been doing duty as heretofore with Gen. R. E. Lee and other General Officers.
A. P. Pifer, Capt., Comdg. Co. "A" (G. S. & C.)

No further muster rolls

M324: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia

You may procure his records from this message board, at: http://history-sites.com/research/

The Company Record of Events may be found in the Supplement to the Official Records of the War of Rebellion. These volumes may be found in many major libraries.