Hi,
Thanks for the message. It's hard to say exactly what Wm. Staines status was at the time of his death. His file contains a note where he applied for a discharge in 1862 because he was over 41 years old. He was admitted to the General Hospital in Houston in August with "rheumatism".
He returned to duty Aug. 19. But other records show "Assigned extra duty with RQM as teamster" There is another notation "Name does not appear on the list of men present". I didn't find any indication that he was AWOL.
No negative comments. No mention of personal effects. No indication that his widow received his last pay.
I did snag a xerox copies of Reg. Clerk Thomas Edgar's history of the 26th and DeBray's "Sketch of the History..." I contacted the Haley Library in Midland Texas where many original Confederate ledgers and records are archived. It mentioned the date of Staines death and "accident". Nothing more. Maybe he was kicked to death by a horse or accidentally thrown and broke his neck/back. Then too, accidental shooting is not out of the picture.