The Compiled Military Service Records were extracted directly from the unit muster rolls and other actual records. The only enrollment date I saw in either George's or John's records was 4 MAR 1862. I would expect that a low numbered regiment like the 14th Georgia was formed in 1861. Most 1861 enrollments were for 12 months. The Confederate Conscription Act passed in April 1862 required all veterans then serving in the field to re-enlist and their regiments to be re-enrolled to serve for three years or the duration of the war. These re-organizations were generally done in the month of May 1862 although there may be exceptions.

George’s CMSR contains company and regimental muster data for 1864 and 1865. These muster rolls show his enrollment as 4 MAR 1862 for the duration of the war. Muster records covering 1861, 1862, and 1863 are absent. However, Federal POW records and Confederate hospital records place him in Virginia in the fall of 1862. Nothing in his CMSR file indicates he enrolled prior to 4 MAR 1862. I know from other research that the Louisiana regiments in Virginia were encouraging 1861 veterans to re-enlist to serve for the duration of the war in early 1862 before passage of the Conscription Act made it mandatory. It is possible that is what the 4 MAR 1862 date actually represents in George’s CMSR which otherwise appears very confused and very incomplete.

There are no company muster rolls in John’s file. A Confederate record dated 15 FEB 1864 and described as a “Receipt Roll for Bounty of Recruits “ for Company K, 14th Regiment, Georgia Infantry shows his enrollment on 4 MAR 1862 at Murray, Georgia. This 1864 record notes that John was “killed at 2nd Battle of Manassas.”

I would recommend you post your query about the absence of 1861 company muster rolls and enrollment data for the 14th Georgia Infantry on the Georgia in the Civil War Message Board. Perhaps someone there has studied this particular regiment in enough detail to explain the loss of company muster rolls. Perhaps the Georgia Archives has copies.

Good luck in your search!

Hugh