I am researching my 3rd great uncle. His name is William A. Gentry. I found that he first joined Nathaniel Burford's Company "G" in 1862 and after arriving in Little Rock Arkansas, he for some reason left that unit and he joined up with Isham Chisum's Regiment 2nd Partisan Rangers Company "K". He is listed as W.A. Gentry or W.A. Jentry.
His military records show that he was captured at the battle of Yellow Bayou on May 18, 1864 and taken to the Union military prison in New Orleans by General Mower. He arrive at the prison on May 21, 1864. His records then state he was take to the Red River Landing to be exchanged on July 22, 1864.
In June of 1864, the Galveston News out of Houston lists him as missing. They evidently did not know he had been captured at that time.
We lose track from there. The family knows he died during the Civil War. Some say he was killed and others say he died of sickness. Based on the movements of his wife and son etc, it looks like he died shortly after being exchanged. Since the war ended in the spring of 1865 and I understand most of the soldiers from the Red River Campaign didn't engage in any battles after the battle of Yellow Bayou, my guess is that William died of sickness. Perhaps he was sick when he was exchanged and died in some makeshift military hospital at Red River Landing.
He enlisted at Kaufman County Texas where his in laws and wife resided. I can't find any cemetery records of him being buried there so I'm not sure he made it back to his wife.
Anyway, I would love to know if there are Union or Confederate hospital records or death records for William that I have not found yet. Is there a cemetery near Red River Landing where they buried exchanged soldiers that didn't make it beyond the exchange point? Also, I would love to see any pictures of the prison at New Orleans to see the conditions he endured. Also, if there are any pictures of the time of the Red River Landing exchange site, I would love to see those.
I haven't found any pictures or much record of Company "K"'s military involvement either. If such exists, that would be wonderful to see.
I have a tin type picture that some of the family believe is a picture of William. I wish I knew how to paste it to this message so you could all look at it. This picture shows a brash young man with calvary type boots in regular dress with pistol on his hip and rifle slung on his back. He is smoking a pipe and showing a pretty cocky pose. He is in a pretty plain room with playing cards on the floor, and a couple of rifles on the floor. I would be interested to know if this man's weaponry and clothing fit a confederate soldier from Texas who fought as mounted calvary most of the war. Some have even commented on this man's belt buckle trying to identify the origin. It has an interesting construction that appears to have a center bar down the middle that would perhaps require the belt to be split on the end. This may be a clue as well since I understand belt buckles can tell you a lot about where the person is from etc.
Anyway, lots of questions I know but any help, opinion, facts etc would be appreciated.