If my gguncle survived and fought in any of the other units, I a very proud. They all appear to be ones that would make me so. If he survived Shiloh and got into Vicksburg, he was there with a lot of my other gg uncles and ggrandfathers, half starving and getting paroled, swearing allegiance to the other gumment and living to fight again another day ( at least most of them). Old Douglas, the Camel, mascot of the 43d MS Inf. Regt. did not make it a Vicksburg, so did not get a parole. He was intentionally shot by some dirty yankees. He was buried with honors on the field. It's true! I am co-historian of the 43d, so please believe me. Now part of him WAS ceremoniously eaten before the burial...
Back to the task at hand- This is how I got the testimony that led to the discover of Andrew J. Martin. His father was Barton Martin, born in 1794 in Oglethorpe GA. Barton was a tough old scutter who was too old to fight in the War, but was fertile enough to marry three times and produce children each time (I think). He was also a persistent old bastard. He moved early on to Walker Co. Al. During the war, a yankee Gen Wilson raided the area and stole his pigs, corn and other things. This did not sit well at all. So, after the Souther states had been re-admitted to the Union by 1870 or so, the government established the U.S. Southern Claims Commission in 1871-1880, to make reparations to those poor southerns that had been harmed by union troops. That is, if they did not support the Cause. What a racket. They set up offices all across the South and hired local lawyers to take testimony of a list of 80 questions that had to answered just the right way. If you did, your claim was granted and if you didn't, it was denied. You had to lie just right, and so did your witnesses. If the claim was granted, your testimony, or at least some of it was preserved of record. Old Barton filed one in 1876, at age 82, for $228, and in 1878, it was allowed. So this is how I got hold of the testimony.Barton sang like a bird, saying he was never for secession, only had two sons who fought and they both died in service. I think he thought he had to say this, or it might have looked bad, for I think there were more who fought. Andrew J. had at least one brother according to the census who would have been in Texas with him, for example. You should take a look at this list of Questions they had to answer. It is a hoot. Barton testified that he didn't have much to do with Andrew J., and that he was killed at Shiloh. He testified that he had tried to keep son Clark out of the War, but at age 18, he joined, was captured at Moulton, and sent to Rock Island prison, and died there. I did confirm that he was captured in 1864, sent to Rock Island, but am not sure if he died or was exchanged. So, there is some truth is what Barton testified to. What I am not sure of is how he would have known about Andrew J., for he would have been born of the first or second wife, who would have been living in Texas rather than Alabama.
I tried to lock down the age of Andrew J.by going to census records. Unfortunately, the first census record that gives names of children is the 1850 record. Andrew J. would have been born before this. I cannot locate the 1840 record for Barton, which is the most vital one. The 1830 record shows two male children by the first wife. The ages given would put one of them 30-35 and the other 35-40 in 1861 when the War started. So far, that is all I have as to ages for Andrew J. I think the second batch of kids is most likely where our Andrew J. would most likely fall. I will not know this until I can locate the 1840 census for Barton. It is really frustrating so far.
If any of these candidates jumps out at you for the 30-40 age range, please let me know. I am about typed out. Thank you all again for providing me so much help. Doug