Just want to clarify things re the 16 year old James Simmons (from Greene Co. MO) erroneously listed as having been in Co. K, 3rd Missouri Cavalry with my gg-gf Alfred L. Simmons (from Fulton Co. AR).

In the CSR file I obtained for James J. Simmons, Co. K, 3rd MO Cavalry there were confusing documents indicating that Pvt. James Simmons, Co. F, 3rd MO Cavalry was 16 years old, captured at "Big Black, Mississippi" on June 25, 1863. This same James Simmons was a POW at both Gratiot Prison in St. Louis and ultimately Camp Douglas, Chicago. Oct. 14, 1863 letters in his CSR indicated that he was "enticed to join by his uncle Augustus Simmons as a substitute" and "wishes to take the oath and go home and take care of his mother".

The letters also indicated that the 16 year old James Simmons was from Greene Co. MO and further stated that his uncle Augustus Simmons "was in the company and regiment I am now in and he was anxious to leave the service. He persuaded me for some time to take his place and offered me 6 months back pay then due from the Confederates and I finally complied" The letter goes on to state "I am now extremely sorry that I am engaged in so bad a cause and ask to [unclear here] and promise if released to go home and remain with my mother till the termination of the war". "I have no friends of sufficient ability to give bonds for me" "Signed by Prisoner James Simmons...... X .....His mark". Apparently the 16 year old was unable to write and dictated this letter to a guard there at Camp Douglas.

Since my ggg-uncle James J. Simmons was 34 years old in the 1860 census of Fulton Co. Arkanas, I was confused until I discovered in Jim McGhee's book (page 139) that the 16 year old James Simmons was undoubtedly in the 3rd MO Battalion Cavalry (Campbell's/Samuel's). His information was erroneously combined with my ggg-uncle James J. Simmons in Co. K, 3rd MO Cav. (Greene's)who enlisted at Pocahontas, Randolph Co. AR with his brother (my gg-gf) Alfred L. Simmons.

Since Greene Co. MO is a "fur piece" from either Fulton Co. AR or Pocahontas, Randolph Co. AR, it seems highly unlikely that the 16 year old James Simmons was the same James Simmons who enlisted at Pocahontas with Alfred L. Simmons.

Hope this clears things up; sometimes CSRs are pretty durn confusing.....
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Ken Byrd