DMW,

I believe that it was not so much a case of poor records keeping but if the records survived. Also, you need to look at when they enlisted. You need to look at the Compiled Miiltary Service Records of the other members in the regiment to get a better a holistic view of the regiment.

I believe you need to look at the Federal Census records of 1850 for the county in which you think they lived (be it NC or TN), 1860 Census for Tennessee, and the 1870 and 1880 Census for Moody. I believe if they moved to Tennessee when they were young then their parents are likely to have moved with them too.

I believe you need to check the County Court Clerk's offices in both Madison County, Tennessee the county you deduct that they were from in North Carolina.

Just giving the 1850 and 1860 Census Records a quick glance I do not know how you linked the two as being brothers. Just because they have the same surname, I would not assume they were brothers although they are potentially related. I would not assume they enlisted at the same time. One may have enlisted and then another later.

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
War Between the States Historian
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
http://39thGAVOLINFRGT.homestead.com/39thHomepage.html