Here are a few other comments about the Gaines service file. The 6th Alabama Regiment initially organized for tweleve months, so many service files in that command include 1861 records only. The law allowed soldiers to reenlist for two years or the war in any unit of their choice. On that basis Capt Waddell left the 6th Alabama Regiment to organize a company of artillery, taking a number of men from the regiment with him. Date of organization was Feb 1, 1862.

Robert H. G. Gaines 1st Sergt of Co K, 23rd Alabama Regiment, received an appointment as 1st Lieutenant and Ensign August 25, 1864, to rank June 14, 1864. Ensigns always held the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Also, the appointment from the War Department always carries three dates:

1) Date of appointment,
2) Date of rank, and
3) Date of acceptance.

The first two dates are joined, date of rank representing the date that would be used for pay purposes. 1st Lieutenants received $90 per month, so this was a big difference in pay. His pay receipts would have been adjusted for the difference between his former pay rate and the new one.

It appears that Gaines may have been wounded at Bentonville NC, Mar 19, 1865.