I've got an uncle and several cousins in the 41st Georgia Infantry. This unit began its fighting career at Perryville and was then transferred as a part of Bowen's brigade to the Vicksburg garrison. It fought at Champions Hill and through the siege of Vicksburg where it was surrendered. It's next service, as a part of Stovall's Brigade was at Missionary Ridge. It fought through the Atlanta Campaign and saw hard fighting at Resaca, New Hope Church, battle of Atlanta and Jonesboro. It followed Hood to Tennessee missed Franklin, but was an important unit at Nashville and as a part of the rear guard under Forrest. It concluded its wartime career in the Carolinas and surrendered with Johnston.

One of the most interesting segments of my uncle's CMSR is a four-month period from June to September 1864 where he was assigned to a "special detachment" that was "Bottoming Shoes" in Atlanta. I presume "Bottoming Shoes" is re-soling? Secondly, how might one get on one these special detachments from a frontline combat unit? He appears to have been fully engaged in the hardest of the 41st's fighting both before and after this brief respite "bottoming shoes". He was not wounded at Vicksburg, so I don't presume his health had anything to do with his assignment. Has anyone seen this "Bottoming Shoes" term before and can anyone offer some comments on the possible circumstances and reasons for being assigned to one of these "special detachments"?

Jim