The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

Boards opinion on this mystery

Why were the letters dated November 8, 1863 and yet sent Private E. G. Keesee to Virginia on August 31, 1863?

And what Union troops were in Scott County, Mississippi in early February 1864?

And why did Company B leave their uniforms in Virginia before going to Fort Donelson?

Private E. G. KEESEE - Inscription on tombstone #1605 reads “E. G. KEESEE CO. B 20 MISS. REG. C.S.A.” He was taken prisoner in Scott County, Mississippi in February 1864.

Approximate age of death at Camp Chase was 29 years old.

The 1860 United States census listed his surname as Cacey. (The compiler believes it was Keesee and will be noted this way) The census listed E. G. (A male) Keesee, born about 1835 in Virginia and noted his occupation as a carpenter and living in the household of (Spelled as) J. D. (A male) Robinson, born about 1809 in Kentucky and his wife (Spelled as) P. A. (A female) Robinson, born about 1825 in North Carolina. Other household members were: Mary V. Robinson, born about 1841 in Alabama and Virginia Robinson, born about 1843 in Tennessee and Thomas J. Robinson, born about 1844 in Tennessee and (Spelled as) G. W. (A male) Robinson, born about 1845 in Tennessee and John D. Robinson, born about 1855 in Mississippi and John Cole, born about 1830 in New York. The household was living in the Western Division of Monroe County, Mississippi and the nearest Post Office was reported as Aberdeen and the census was enumerated on August 20, 1860.

The compiler notes Caswell County, North Carolina is adjacent to Pittsylvania County, Virginia.)

According to the Soldiers and Sailors Database by the National Park Service Private E. G. Keesee served in Company B of the 20th Mississippi Infantry and noted an overview and the compiler has corrected mistakes and or additional information made with brackets.

“20th Infantry Regiment was organized during the late summer of 1861 with men from Bolivar, Monroe, Noxubee, Adams, Scott, Carroll, and Newton counties. The unit moved to Virginia, then Tennessee where in February, 1862, it was captured at Fort Donelson. In this engagement it lost 19 killed of the 31 officers and 469 men present. The regiment was exchanged and assigned to Tilghman's and J. Adams' Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. For a time it served in the Vicksburg area, then transferred to the Army of Tennessee. Placed in J. Adams' and Lowry's Brigade, the 20th was involved in the Atlanta and Tennessee Campaigns and ended the war in North Carolina. Only a remnant surrendered on April 26, 1865. Its commanders were Colonels William N. Brown and D. R. Russell; [Daniel R. Russell – Find A Grave Memorial # 14003139] Lieutenant Colonels D. H. Maury, [Dabney Herndon Maury – Find A Grave Memorial # 11027] Horace H. Miller, [Find A Grave # 108773824] and Walter A. Rorer; [Find A Grave Memorial # 5991061] and Majors William M. Chatfield, Thomas B. Graham, [Find A Grave Memorial # 11091406] and C. K. Massey.”

Company B of the 20th Mississippi Infantry was known as the “Hamilton Guards” Company was raised in Monroe County, Mississippi.

A Company Muster roll within his Compiled Military Service Records for March and April 1863 stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesee of Company B of the 20th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers enlisted on February 7, 1863 in Aberdeen, Mississippi and enrolled by (2nd Lieutenant Samuel A. M. Sadler) for three years and had not paid and noted as present for duty.

The compiler notes Aberdeen, Mississippi was located in Monroe County, Mississippi.

The compiler notes the 20th Regiment Mississippi Infantry was mustered into the Confederate service in July, 1861, for the war, some of the companies having previously been in the State service. It was known for a short time after being organized as Russell’s Regiment Mississippi Volunteers. About April 9, 1865 this regiment was consolidated with the 15th, 16th, and 23rd Regiments Mississippi Infantry and formed the 15th Consolidated Regiment Mississippi Infantry. The 20th Regiment Mississippi Infantry was mounted about April 29, 1863 and dismounted about June 14, 1863.

A Company Muster roll within his Compiled Military Service Records for May and June 1863 stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesee of Company B of the 20th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers enlisted on February 7, 1863 in Aberdeen, Mississippi and enrolled by Lieutenant (Samuel A. M.) Sadler for three years and not paid and noted as present for duty.

A Company Muster roll within his Compiled Military Service Records for July and August 1863 stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesee of Company B of the 20th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers enlisted on February 7, 1863 in Aberdeen, Mississippi and enrolled by Lieutenant (Samuel A. M.) Sadler for three years and last paid by Captain (John J. Flournoy) on June 30, 1863 and noted as present for duty.

A Company Muster roll within his Compiled Military Service Records for September and October 1863 stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesee of Company B of the 20th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers enlisted on February 7, 1863 in Aberdeen, Mississippi and enrolled by Lieutenant (Samuel A. M.) Sadler for three years and last paid by Captain (John J. Flournoy) on August 31, 1863 and noted as present for duty and under remarks stated detailed as teamster October 21, 1863.

A Company Muster roll within his Compiled Military Service Records for November and December 1863 stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesee of Company B of the 20th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers enlisted on February 7, 1863 in Aberdeen, Mississippi and enrolled by Lieutenant (Samuel A. M.) Sadler for three years and last paid by Captain (John J. Flournoy) on August 31, 1863 and noted as absent and under remarks stated absent on detachment since gone to Lynchburg, Virginia for clothing for Company B by order of General Johnson (Johnston)

Compiled Military Service Records stated a letter as follows; “Camp of 20th Mississippi Regiment near Canton, Mississippi November 18, 1863. Colonel, I have at Lynchburg, Virginia one hundred and fourteen suits of uniforms clothing belonging to my Company besides other articles of clothing that are needed at this time. The buttons on the jackets at present prices are worth more than one thousand dollars. The Company also has a fine flag there, that would make a good regimental Color and one is much needed by the regiment. I therefore respectfully ask permission to send E. G. Keesee a private of my company for the clothing and flag to return as soon as practicable and that he be allowed transportation for himself and clothing. Very Respectfully” (Raudolph) “S. Murff Captain Company B 20th Mississippi Regiment.”

And a further letter: “For all whom it may concern, The bearer hereof E. G. Keesee a private in Captain R. S. Murff Company B 20th Mississippi Regiment age 28 years six feet high fair complexion dark hair blue eyes and by occupation a carpenter, born in Caswell County, in the State of North Carolina, (The compiler notes Caswell County, North Carolina is adjacent to Pittsylvania County, Virginia.) enlisted at Aberdeen in the State of Mississippi on the seventh day of February eighteen hundred and sixty three to serve for the period of three years or the war is hereby permitted to go to Lynchburg, Virginia he having received a furlough from the day of to the day of at which period he will rejoin his company or report to this place or wherever it this may or be considered a deserter. Subsistence has been furnished to said Private E. G. Keesee to the day of and pay to the 31st of August 1863 both” (Can’t transcribe next word). “Given under my hand at camp, near Canton, Mississippi November 18, 1863 signed Captain R. S. Murff Captain Company B 20th Mississippi Regiment.”
And lastly a short series of notes “Camp of 20th Mississippi Regiment near Canton, Mississippi November 18, 1863 E. G. Keesee a private of Company B 20th Mississippi Regiment application for special furlough for days.” The application was approved and forwarded along the chain of command and finally forwarded to Major General Loring, who acknowledged the approval.

Federal POW Records stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesy of Company B of the 1st (But corrected at top of page to 20th Regiment Mississippi Infantry) appeared on a descriptive roll of prisoners of war received on March 25, 1864 at Camp Chase, Ohio and had been sent from Cairo, Illinois by order of Brigadier General H. T. Reid and noted as captured in Scott County, Mississippi on February 9, 1864.

Federal POW Records stated Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesee of Company B of the “30th” Regiment Mississippi Infantry appeared on a roll of prisoners of war on hand at Camp Chase, Ohio who desire taking the oath of allegiance June 10, 1864 and noted as captured in Scott County, Mississippi on February 9, 1864.

Juxtaposition:

And on Thursday, March 9, 1865 at far away Camp Chase, Ohio Federal POW Records reported the death of Private (Spelled as) E. G. Keesy of Company B of the 1st (But corrected on top of page to 20th Regiment Mississippi Infantry due to pneumonia at the Camp Chase Hospital.

According to the 1850 and 1860 United States slave schedules E. G. Keesee did not own slaves in Monroe County, Mississippi.

Messages In This Thread

Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery
Re: Boards opinion on this mystery