Bless our record keepers!? We are fortunate to have Roberta Toby as a member; we have worked together on Crawford, Indiana matters for many years.?

She is the Crawford, Indiana County Historian and has been integral in their archives.? She always amazes me with what she can find.? Today’s find is no exception.

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When the US Civil War began, recruitment began, and large groups of men signed up developing the pattern of many family members served in the same regiments.? The best comparison now, I think, is how members of a community join and serve in a local reserve unit.? When those units are activated, they then find themselves serving in harm’s way with friend and family members.? This pattern of serving provides some unique opportunities and downsides.? Think of how this affected communities during the multiple unit activations during the recent conflicts with US involvement in the Middle East.

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In today’s case, Roberta has sent important records filed with the county by the veteran as to their service.? Brothers John Yates (1825) and Daniel Yates (1822) traveled like many others to Alton, Indiana on the shores of the Ohio river and enlisted together.? The two records are source documents for 1863 just after the retaking of Chattanooga by the Union and in 1865 with Daniel’s final discharge home.

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Daniel’s brother John (my GG Grandfather likely filed a similar record for 1863.? John did not survive the war.? Because of an administrative oversight, he was arrested in August 1863 and was court martialed for desertion.? He was permanently discharged for medical reasons and sent home.? But his military command structure was not told of the discharge.? Fortunately, he was wise enough to file his discharge papers with the County records department and all was resolved by this filing:

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Headquarters Louisville

Barracks, Louisville, KY

January 7^th, 1863

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The bearor thereof, John Yates, a Private of Capt. Sexton's Company "K" 38th Regiment Indiana Volunteers,age 37 years, 6 feet high, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and by profession a farmer born in the state of Indiana and enlisted at Camp Noble in the State of Indiana on the __ day ___ eighteen hundred and sixtyone, to serve for the period of three years, having filed at these Headquarters Certificates of disability, approved by the Medical Director of this Department, for his discharge from the service of the United States, which cannot be hereafter for want of Descriptive Roll and account of pay and clothing; the said at his own request and by order of Brigadier General Hugh Boyle Ewing Commanding Western Division of KY is permitted to go to his his home at Grantsburg in the County of Crawford Sate of Indiana. And there to remain until his discharge can be completed which will be duly transmitted to him through the mail. Subsistence has been furnished to the said John Yates to the 7th day January 1863, And, transportation from _______ to _________.

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Given under my hand at Louisville Kentucky, this 7th day of January 1863.

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Marcellus Mundy

Colonel 23rd Kentucky Volunteers

Commanding Post

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I have compared this with the original in the hands of John Yates and certify that it is a true copy.

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J.B. Merriweather,

Provost Marshall

2nd District Indiana

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