All of this talk of destroyed records makes me think of our local records in Lawrence County. During Streight's Raid Union soldiers scattered the papers for literally miles around the countryside. The Judge of that time left a report in the back of a bound volume telling of the many hours he spent gathering and cleaning various papers and books. To this day, one can see on one bound volume of records the muddy boot print of a Union soldier. (Or so goes the tale.)
As far as the Confederate Archives missing records, the ones that I would love to see come to light are the claims of deceased officers and soldiers. This would be an incredibly rich source of data and would solve many a mystery. According to the book (written by the Alabama agent, but adopted for general Confederate use) one had to provide many details in order to obtain whatever pay and benefits were owed the soldier at his death. The link below will take you to the book of instructions for the survivors.
I think it likely that these records still exist at NARA somewhere. Perhaps someone ought to spearhead a petition drive or some form of pressure to get NARA to search around and find them, as well as microfilm many more of the records that they do know about.
The title of the book is:
------------------------
GUIDE FOR CLAIMANTS OF DECEASED SOLDIERS;
BEING
Instructions to Army Officers and to Claimants, with a Collation of the Laws of Congress and the Orders from the War Department, and the Rules of Practice in the Offices of the Second Auditor and Comptroller of the Treasury, concerning the settlement of the Claims of Deceased Officers and Soldiers.
BY
COL. W. H. FOWLER,
Superintendent Army Records and Agent to adjust the Claims of Deceased Soldiers
for the State of Alabama.
REVISED AND APPROVED
BY THE SECOND AUDITOR AND COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY,
AND ADAPTED TO GENERAL USE.
RICHMOND, VA.
GEO, P. EVANS & CO., PRINTERS,
1864.
--------
Below is an Extract:
--------
FORM OF APPLICATION.
A certain form of application is necessary, and, in the "Regulations" adopted by the Auditor's Department, the following directions are given:
The attention of claimants is called to the following forms in preparing their affidavits, an observance of which will save time, trouble and expense:
STATE OF [blank space]
[blank space] COUNTY, to-wit:
On this [blank space] day of [blank space] ,186 [blank space] , personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, [blank space] , who, after being sworn according to law, deposes and says, that [blank space] is the [blank space] of [blank space] deceased, who was born in [blank space] , County of [blank space] , in the State of [blank space] , and who was a [blank space] of Captain [blank space] Company ( [blank space] ) of the [blank space] Regiment of [blank space] Volunteers, commanded by Col. [blank space] , in the service of the Confederate States in the present war with the United States; that the said [blank space] entered the service at [blank space] in [blank space] County and State of [blank space] , on the [blank space] day of [blank space] , 186 [blank space] , and died on the [blank space] day of [blank space] , 186 [blank space] , at [blank space] , of [blank space] ; leaving [blank space] . That [blank space] makes this deposition for the purpose of obtaining from the Confederate States whatever may have been due the said [blank space] at the time of his death, for pay, bounty, or other allowances for his services, as [blank space] aforesaid.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, [Signed.]
[blank space] J. P.
Page 15
And also appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid, [blank space] , who is well known to me, and whom I certify to be a person of veracity and credibility, who, having been duly sworn, says, that [blank space] is well acquainted with [blank space] , the claimant, and also well knew, for [blank space] years, [blank space] , the deceased soldier herein mentioned, and that the statement made under oath by said [blank space] the claimant, as to [blank space] relationship to the said deceased soldier, is true and correct in every particular, to the best of [blank space] knowledge and belief, and that [blank space] , the said [blank space] , is wholly disinterested.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
[blank space] J. P.
[Signed] [blank space] .
STATE OF [blank space] ,
[blank space] COUNTY, to-wit:
I hereby certify that [blank space] , before whom the foregoing affidavits of [blank space] and [blank space] appear to have been made, and whose genuine signature is subscribed thereto, was, at the time of making and signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and to all whose official acts as such, full faith and credit ought to be given, as well in Courts of Justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of [blank space] County Court, this [blank space] day of [blank space] ,
[SEAL]
Anno Domini, eighteen hundred and sixty-
[blank space] .
[blank space] , Clerk
of [blank space] County Court.
If within their knowledge, claimants should state where the officer or soldier was born, and when and from what cause he died, distinguishing those who were killed in battle, from those who died of disease.
When there is an administrator, a certificate of the fact by the proper officer of the court granting the same, under his seal of office, will be all that is necessary.
The law, and these regulations applying as well to conscripts as to volunteers, with respect to the former, claimants and witnesses will be required to swear to the regiment and commander to which the conscript belonged. They will name the captains and companies when they can do so, as this information will greatly facilitate the settlements.
Claimants should always endorse on their papers their address, naming Post Office, County and State.
The foregoing forms, etc., have also been approved by the Secretary of War.
W. H. S. TAYLOR, Second Auditor, C. S.
-------------------------
What does anyone think?
Hoyt