The Civil War Service of George Mentzer

Three Years in Uniform

What can a military service record tell us about an ancestor's experiences during the Civil War? Sometimes, the answer is quite a bit more than simply when he enlisted and when he was discharged.

I've been working my way through the 28-page compiled military service record of George Mentzer, who served in Company C of the 24th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

At first glance, many of these pages appear repetitive. Most are company muster rolls recording whether George was present or absent during a two-month period. However, when examined together, these records provide a timeline of his military service from September 1861 through September 1864.

They also document a furlough, a lost set of company records, an outstanding bounty payment, and some conflicting information about his discharge.

By combining these records with the history of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry, I can begin to understand the military experiences that formed the backdrop of George's three years in uniform.

Enlisting in the Union Army

George Mentzer enlisted at Readville, Massachusetts, on September 25, 1861, for a term of three years. His muster-in record identifies him as 23 years old.

He initially joined Captain Stevenson's company, which subsequently became Company C of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry.

According to his muster-in card, George was mustered into service on October 2, 1861, by Lieutenant Pratt.

The 24th Massachusetts was organized during the early months of the Civil War. Its soldiers would eventually serve in several different theaters of the conflict, traveling from Massachusetts to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.

For George, this meant that his military service would take him far from the community where he enlisted.

Military record reference: Page 2.

The North Carolina Campaigns, 1862

During the early months of 1862, the 24th Massachusetts Infantry participated in Union operations along the North Carolina coast.

One of its first major engagements was the Battle of Roanoke Island, fought on February 8, 1862. The battle was part of General Ambrose Burnside's expedition to establish Union control over important coastal waterways.

The regiment also participated in the Battle of New Bern on March 14, 1862. This Union victory secured an important port and transportation center.

Later that year, the regiment was involved in additional North Carolina operations, including engagements at Tranter's Creek, Rawle's Mill, and the Goldsboro Expedition.

George's military records place him in Company C during this period. His January–February muster roll records him as present, while subsequent muster rolls document his continued service.

However, the records do not specifically identify George as a participant in any individual battle.

Thus, while I can document that his regiment participated in these engagements, I cannot claim that George personally fought in each one.

From North Carolina to South Carolina, 1863

By 1863, the 24th Massachusetts was involved in operations farther south, including the campaign against Confederate defenses around Charleston, South Carolina.

One of the most significant operations was the siege of Fort Wagner on Morris Island.

Fort Wagner was part of the Confederate defenses protecting Charleston Harbor. Union forces attempted to capture the fort through assaults and prolonged siege operations during the summer of 1863.

The 24th Massachusetts participated in operations associated with this campaign, including fighting around Confederate rifle pits.

Company C's movements did not always coincide with those of the entire regiment. For example, the company remained on Seabrook Island until July 16, 1863, so its participation in every regimental engagement should not be assumed.

George's muster rolls for May–June, July–August, and September–October 1863 all record him as present.

One of these cards includes an interesting financial detail.

The July–August 1863 muster roll records a charge of 44 cents for one canteen.

It is a small entry, but it reminds me that military service involved much more than battles. Soldiers also had to account for equipment, clothing, and other supplies.

A Thirty-Day Furlough

One of the more interesting discoveries in George's military record appears on the November–December 1863 company muster roll.

Unlike the preceding rolls, which generally recorded him as present, this card lists him as absent.

The remarks explain:

"Absent Mass. furlough 30 days. Dec 3, 1863."

This indicates that George was on a thirty-day furlough associated with Massachusetts.

Why did he receive the furlough? Was he visiting family? Did he have personal business to attend to?

Unfortunately, the record does not provide an explanation.

The notation includes December 3, 1863, but does not clearly establish the exact beginning and ending dates of his leave.

By the January–February 1864 muster roll, George was again recorded as present.

Thus, the absence appears to have been temporary, and he returned to military duty.

Military record references: Pages 20

The Virginia Campaigns, 1864

During 1864, the 24th Massachusetts Infantry participated in military operations in Virginia as part of the Army of the James.

Among the regiment's engagements were operations around Port Walthall Junction, Swift Creek, and Drewry's Bluff.

The Battle of Drewry's Bluff, fought May 15–16, 1864, was particularly costly for the regiment. Its history reports substantial casualties during the fighting.

Later that summer, the regiment participated in operations north of the James River, including the Second Battle of Deep Bottom in August 1864.

The fighting around Deep Bottom was another difficult period for the 24th Massachusetts, which suffered significant losses.

George's muster rolls for March–April, May–June, and July–August 1864 all record him as present.

These records establish his continued service with Company C during the Virginia campaigns. However, they do not prove that he was personally engaged in each battle.

This is an important distinction when writing family history. A regiment's movements provide historical context, but they do not necessarily establish the experiences of every individual soldier.

Lost Company Records

Another interesting detail appears in George's individual muster-out record.

The remarks explain that the company's books and papers were lost on May 6, 1864.

This loss apparently affected the ability to prepare a complete clothing account.

The reverse of the card provides additional information:

"Clothing drawn since May 1, 1864, $10.31. This muster to take effect from Sept 24, 1864."

The loss of company records is a reminder that recordkeeping during the Civil War was not always complete.

Military records were created under difficult circumstances, and some information could be lost during troop movements or military operations.

Fortunately, enough information survived to document George's service and provide several details about his financial accounts.

Military record references: Pages 27–28.

Three Different Discharge Dates!

One of the surprises in examining George's military file was discovering that three different dates are recorded for the end of his military service.

The September–October 1864 company muster roll states:

"Mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service, Sept 25th 1864."

However, another company muster-out record gives his discharge date as September 28, 1864.

Then, his individual muster-out roll provides a third date: September 24, 1864.

The reverse of that record specifically states that his muster-out was to take effect on September 24.

Thus, the records provide three dates:

• September 24, 1864 — Effective muster-out date on the individual muster-out roll.

• September 25, 1864 — Date recorded on the company muster roll.

• September 28, 1864 — Discharge date recorded on a later company muster-out record.

The individual muster-out roll was dated "Before Petersburg, Va.", placing George in the Petersburg area at the end of his service.

Since the reverse of that card specifically identifies September 24 as the effective date, I consider it the strongest evidence for his muster-out date.

However, I am preserving all three dates in my research notes rather than ignoring the conflicting information.

What About His Final Pay?

George's individual muster-out record provides several financial details.

It indicates that he had last been paid through June 30, 1864, even though his military service continued into September.

His clothing account had last been settled on August 31, 1863.

The record also indicates that $100 in bounty remained due.

Unfortunately, the card does not establish whether George eventually received that payment.

These details raise additional research questions. Were there final pay vouchers? Was the outstanding bounty eventually paid? Could other military or pension records provide more information?

Even the financial portions of a military record can point toward additional research opportunities.

Military record references: Pages 27–28.

A Timeline of George Mentzer's Military Service

Date	Event	Record page
September 25, 1861	Enlisted at Readville, Massachusetts, for three years	2
October 2, 1861	Mustered into service	2
February 1862	Regiment participated in Battle of Roanoke Island	6–7
March 1862	Regiment participated in Battle of New Bern	8–9
July–September 1863	Regiment participated in operations around Fort Wagner	17–19
July–August 1863	Canteen charge of 44 cents recorded	18
December 1863	Absent on thirty-day furlough	20
January–February 1864	Recorded as present following furlough	21
May 6, 1864	Company books and papers reportedly lost	27
May 1864	Regiment participated in Battle of Drewry's Bluff	23
August 1864	Regiment participated in Second Battle of Deep Bottom	24
September 24, 1864	Effective muster-out date, before Petersburg, Virginia	27–28
September 25–28, 1864	Alternative separation dates recorded	25–26

Note: The page references identify the military records documenting George's service during the relevant periods. They do not independently establish his personal participation in the battles listed.

What Have I Learned?

Before examining this military file, I knew that George Mentzer had served in Company C of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War.

Now I have a much better understanding of the chronology of his service.

I know when and where he enlisted, his rank, the length of his original enlistment, and the circumstances under which his military service ended.

I also know that he received a thirty-day furlough in December 1863, that his company lost important records in May 1864, and that financial matters remained unresolved when his muster-out paperwork was prepared.

By studying the history of the 24th Massachusetts, I can place his service within the broader context of Union campaigns in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.

But perhaps the most important lesson is the distinction between what the military record documents about George and what the regimental history tells us about the unit in which he served.

The muster rolls establish that George was generally present for duty during much of his enlistment. The regimental history identifies the battles and campaigns involving the 24th Massachusetts. Together, these sources help me understand the military environment in which George served, even though they do not prove his individual participation in every engagement.

And, as is so often the case with genealogy, answering one set of questions has created another.

I'd particularly like to learn more about Company C's activities during the regiment's campaigns, whether George received his outstanding bounty, and what happened to him after he returned to civilian life.

For now, these 28 pages have helped transform a simple military service fact into a much fuller account of three years in George Mentzer's life.

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Sources

• George Mentzer, Compiled Military Service Record, Private, Company C, 24th Massachusetts Infantry, 28 pages. Page references throughout this post correspond to the images in my research file.

• Alfred S. Roe, The Twenty-fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, 1861–1866 (1907).

• National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, 24th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry.