The last documentation for my John M. Powers is in the 1850 Coosa Co, AL, census, age 26, born in GA (in about 1824 but do not know where),
occupation farmer, wife Adeline, age 19, born in GA (ca 1831), daughter Mary, age 8 months, born in AL (in Chambers Co, ca 1849).
Of the 24 John Powers listed on the Alabama Civil War Service Database, I have eliminated all except the one living in AL but enlisted in Capt J.S. Pemberton's Cavalry, Columbus, Muscogee Co, GA and the only possibility that this one is my g'g'g'grandfather is that he had an occupation 1860 that would have made him exempt or that he had a physical condition (like a broken bone that did not heal correctly).
If only we could find him in 1860, we would have more to go on.
Would a sword have been given to soldiers who enlisted in Pemberton's Cavalry on July 2, 1864? If so, can you describe how it might have looked?
Any special markings/inscriptions or handle?