Hi all,

I've found a fair bit of information on this particular unit, the "John Gill Shorter Aides," but I'm
searching for more. (Aren't we all, always.) I have some of the basic information on how it was formed etc. But I was particularly disappointed when the rolls of movement by unit at the National Archives did not show more detail than it did. Instead of records of where the unit traveled, instead it seemed to have very early rolls of the different companies' officers.

So, this of course raised more questions than it answered. My ancestor, Edward Newton Moreland, was a 2nd Sgt. in Co. C up until his death in 1863 after Vicksburg. But I noticed that he is not listed on the roll of officers and noncoms on the original muster chart that was included for Co. C. Instead, I noticed his good friend Meredith Taylor listed. (Meredith Taylor somehow ended up in the 4th AL Cavalry (Love's) instead, but I'm not exactly sure how.) Was this sort of swapping around common as the different companies formed? Any historians or history buffs with some insight?

Also, does there exist an index to the actual rolls of prisoners of war at Vicksburg? Here's my question. Edward N. Moreland's CMSR clearly lists him as having been taken prisoner at Vicksburg, and in fact includes a copy of the document of parole he had signed after Vicksburg fell pledging not to attack the U.S. But when I looked at the actual rolls of those taken prisoner at Vicksburg filled out by the Union at the scene, I did not see him with his unit, the 64th AL Infantry. I know it was fairly common for
people to get separated from their unit during large battles, but I'm curious as to exactly what unit he ended up with on that day. I sifted through the returns of the Alabama infantry units, but didn't see him tagging along with any other group. Suggestions?

One more question. There is a gap of time in his service that I can't account for. He was captured at Vicksburg on July 4 1863 with everybody else, then was paroled on July 15 1863 like everybody else. But the next piece of paper I have on him is not until Oct. 10 1863 when he dies of disease in Enterprise MS. Not having the rolls of the unit's movement makes this hard to answer. Did the 64th, particularly Co. C, go to Demopolis parole camp after the siege of Vicksburg, and are there rolls of those present at Demopolis accessible anywhere? Did the company ever actually encamp at Enterprise or was that possibly just the nearest hospital? Basically, I'm trying to track his unit (and particularly his company)'s movement between mid-July 1863 and mid-October 1863.

As an aside, I seem to remember his parole sheet that he signed saying he was paroled at Vicksburg on the 15th, and yet I've heard various places that the 46th was one of those infantry units that was paroled and reorganized at Demopolis. Could the "Vicksburg" on the parole agreement have just been mass-printed or were some of them paroled on the spot?

Thanks in advance,

Kathy Wolfe