Wesley Joseph Deramus, born July 4, 1839, the son of George J. Deramus of Autauga County, AL, died on Febuary 28, 1906 in Sugar Town, La. He is buried at the Sugar Town Cemetery. His mother may have been Sarah Hilliard, or George's second wife, a Cherokee Indian woman named Crecia. I have seen both listed as his mother. Wesley Joseph Deramus is said to have married Sarah Jones, born in Arkansas in 1848. All his known children are listed as born in Louisiana, Nancy, William Joseph, Jacob H., James W., Elleck, Frank, Charlie, and George Andrew.

He is found in the NPS database as:

W. J. Deramus (First_Last)
Regiment Name 19 Louisiana Infantry
Side Confederate
Company K
Soldier's Rank_In Private
Soldier's Rank_Out Private
Alternate Name
Notes
Film Number M378 roll 8

Also in the NPS database is;

Wesley J. Deramus (First_Last)
Regiment Name 1 Batt'n Louisiana Cav. Scouts.
Side Union
Company D
Soldier's Rank_In Pvt.
Soldier's Rank_Out Pvt.
Alternate Name
Notes
Film Number M387 roll 1

Surely, this is the same man. Can anyone shed any light on the circumstances of his having served in this Union Cavalry of Louisiana Scouts? Does his marker at the Sugar Town Cemetery note his Confederate or Union service?

Barry N. Wyatt
Montgomery, AL