Thanks for the insight. I received his Compiled Service Record from the archives; muster rolls, pay/leave stubbs and quartermaster issue sheets.

I started with Rowland's history of the 5th Mississippi last year, and have read up on Battle of Shiloh itself from a number of sources.

I've sent an email to try and get copies of Joel M. Holbert series of articles about A company's service in the Civil War for the Aberdeen Weekly

I've found narratives from the 8th Ohio Battery & 1st Minn Battery that was decimating the 5th MS in the attack across Dill Branch, where RJ Armstrong fell. Truly, being enfiladed by grape/cannister/case from 10 guns 300 yards away is a horrible scenario. After walking the ground across Dill Branch, my opinion is that a vast majority of the 5th's casualties came from this enfilading fire. The Union Infantry lines were still quite a distance away over the military crest, but the 5th was in full view of the 8th Ohio and 1st Minn Batteries as it climbed up out of Dill Branch.

Here's what I think is out there yet to find:

- I suspect that there are both company and regimental papers in the archive.

- I suspect that Aberdeen / Monroe County has some sort of historical society that may have records or even photos.

- I suspect that more than one A Co soldier may have written a narrative

- I'm trying to find out what RJ Armstrong was doing in Aberdeen in the first place, since the family homestead was in Lebanon, TN.

Again, thanks for the help.

Keep up the fire!