Does anyone know where records might be found for civilians who worked as engineers in charge of Confederate military west of the Mississippi? I have tried for years to prove the military service of Judge James E. Trimble, a very unusual gentleman of Farmerville, Union Parish Louisiana. Some sources indicate that he served as a United States Army officer, whereas others state that he was a Confederate officer. Based upon Trimble's own words, he served the Confederacy.

Trimble was a Yankee, born in Pittsburg, Penn, graduated from Williams College in Mass in 1857. He came to Farmerville in 1859 to take charge of the school there, and after the war became a lawyer, postmaster, district attorney, and a Republican, although absolutely not a Radical Republican. He was elected as the district judge of Union, Jackson, Bienville, and Claiborne Parishes in 1872. Due to Trimble's actions in bringing to justice some rogue US Army officers who cut telegraph wires, abused and cursed at women, and arrested leading citizens of the region in an attempt to prevent them from voting in 1874, he became a local hero and was hailed as such by "The Daily Picayune" upon his arrival in New Orleans to testify in US Congressional investigations in early 1875. Trimble's actions against the army officers prompted impeachment proceedings by the Radical Republicans then in control of the Louisiana Legislature, but the attempt eventually failed. Due to Radical Republican Governor Kellogg's pardon of the officers and his refund of the fines imposed by the judge, Trimble abandoned the Republicans and became a Democrat. He died in a shootout in Farmerville in December 1887 that arose over bitter political differences during the 1888 campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination between Nicholls and McEnery.

During US Congressional investigations into Louisiana election violations that occurred in 1868, Trimble was called to New Orleans to testify. He was asked how he spent the war, and he responded that part of it was spent in the Confederate service. In response to a question asking about his exact service to the Confederacy, Trimble testified that he spent his service:

"Acting as military engineer west of the Mississippi, and as clerk, for some time. I supposed for some time that I was a military officer, but found out afterwards I was a civilian in charge of the military; this was the status they gave me."

Does anyone know if any records of Trimble's activities would exist, and if so, where they might be located?

Thanks,

Tim Hudson