It appears that when registering for enlistment, on prison rolls, etc., soldiers entries were made by Clerks who entered names as they thought they heard them. Because of the high rate of illiteracy at the time, individuals could not authenticate their names on the rolls.

T. H. Pardue, Private, Company G, 31st Louisiana Infantry, Reference Slip. Cards filed with Pardue, Fields H.

…..

Fields H. Pardue, Private, Company G, 31st Regiment Louisiana Infantry, enlisted May 6, 1862 at Monroe, La. by Capt. S. W. Odell for 3 years or the war, captured at Vicksburg, Miss. July 4, 1863, paroled July 12 as T. H. Pardue, signing with an ‘X’, “his mark,”reported in camp for exchange at Vienna, La. prior April 1, 1864, admitted CSA General Hospital, Shreveport, La. February 18, 1865, Diarrhea Chronic, returned to duty February 25, paroled at Monroe, La. June 12, 1865, resident of Union Parish, La., description on enlistment: 18 year old Farmer, grey eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’ 8-1/2”, signs with an ‘X’, Fields H. Pardue

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Also in Company G was

Milton M. Pardue, Private, Company G, 31st Regiment Louisiana Infantry, enlisted May 6, 1862 at Monroe, La. by Capt. S. W. Odell for 3 years or the war, paid $50 Bounty May 8, captured at Vicksburg, Miss. July 4, 1863, paroled July 9 signing with an ‘X’, “his mark,” reported in camp for exchange at Vienna, La. prior April 1, 1864, paroled at Monroe, La. June 12, 1865, resident of Union Parish, La., description on enlistment: 20 year old Farmer, blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’ 7-1/2”

M320: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Louisiana