Have a question regarding a possible member of Hardie's Battalion of Reserve Cavalry. I have a copy of an Oath of Allegiance taken by what appears to be "Meril Franklin." He signed his name with an "X", so I don't know that the spelling matters too much. There is an enlistment record for a "Merrill Franklin" in Co. "C" of Hardie's Battalion, and I'm wanting to know if these are the same man.

The oath states that this is "Meril Franklin of the County of St. Clair, state of Alabama." The oath was sworn at Ashville, AL on the 18th of September 1865 and describes Meril as having a light complexion, dark hair, and dark eyes, and he's 6 feet tall. Oath is counter-signed by Augustus Rigby (?) of Co. "E" of the 2nd NY Cavalry (it appears to say).

Can anyone confirm (or not) that this Meril Franklin making his mark on the oath is the same man as enlisted in Co. "C" of Hardie's Battalion?

In a slightly related matter, there is a webpage maintained by Patrick Lawrence Hogue on Hardie's Battalion, but his email no longer works. Does anyone know of Patrick Lawrence Hogue?