Like many folks who research their relatives from the War Between the States, it is some times difficult to ascertain if someone is the same soldier as your relative. I've been trying to determine if Andrew Jackson Minton, b. Sep 18, 1830 in Smith County, TN, died Dec 22, 1902, also in Smith County, TN, is one and the same as A.J. Minton 12th (Green's) Tennessee Cavalry, or A.J. Minton, 31st Tenn. Infantry. Andrew Jackson Minton's brother, William Carroll Minton, served with the 22nd (Barteau's) Tennessee Cavalry and the 7th (Bennett's) Tennessee Cavalry, using just his initials, W.C. and sometimes his middle name Carroll.
Does anyone know how to find out if Andrew Jackson is one and the same as one of the A.J. Minton's? I tend to think that if it is either it would be the cavalry soldier, since at least one, and I believe perhaps another brother went in as cavalrymen, rather than infantry.
I've been checking unit rosters, web sites, pension rosters, etc., with no luck.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.