Hi Peggy:

There are seven entries in Andrew B. Booth's "Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands" (State of Louisiana, New Orleans, 1920) under the surname ALLEN with the first name of "Benjamin." None served with the 3rd Louisiana. Six either died during the war or were surrendered and released on parole at places other than Shreveport.

The seventh was a Private Benjamin F. ALLEN enrolled in the 12th Louisiana Infantry. He was from Claiborne Parish, Louisiana and an 1861 volunteer. BFA was captured sick in a Vicksburg hospital in July 1863, and went home to Louisiana on parole. With his health impaired, he did not return to duty with the army. This many be your ancestor and I have a plausible explanation that will connect to the 3rd Louisiana Infantry at the end of the war but we need to reassess some of your starting facts to make the connection.

(1) What is the information source for his service with Company H, 3rd Louisiana Infantry at the war's end?

(2) How sure are you that he was in Madison Parish in 1860?

Please contact me directly by e-mail for further discussion.

Hugh Simmons <hsimmons@voicenet.com>