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Wiliam Riley Minton was born sometime in the early 1820's in Haywood County, North Carolina. Sometime between 1840 and 1858 he moved to Gilmer County, Georgia and was a farmer. On the 1860 census it states him as a farmer with $500 worth of real estate and $250 worth of personal estate. Minton first enlisted with the 16th Battalion Georgia Cavalry which was a state guard unit. The Battalion was assembled in May of 1862 at Big Shanty, Georgia, and was composed of six companies. The unit was formed to defend the Cherokee County area.
This record shows W.R. Minton's enlistment details such as date, location, enlisting officer, and enlistment period. The Confederate cavalry required that the soldier supply his own horse for government service so a valuation is placed on it.
This is the last record of Minton's Confederate service.
Due to his 6 month enlistment, he would have been discharged in January of 1864. He would not have been re-drafted due to his age.
Pap next shows up enlisting with the 5th Tennessee Mounted Infantry which was a Federal unit from eastern Tennessee. The eastern Tennessee area always was a pro-union area and actually voted against secession. When Federal forces gained control of the area by capturing Knoxville and Chattanooga, they began to recruit in the area. Many pro-union men out of north Georgia traveled to Tennessee to enlist in these unit which is what Minton appears to have done. It is unknown why he decided to switch sides after his Confederate service.
This is the actual enlistment form Minton filled out. It is possible he was illiterate due to the fact that his name has a "his mark" notation with an "X".
This form completes Minton's enlistment and bears the signatures of the Examining Surgeon and Recruiting Officer.
This is the first record for Minton in the Federal army called a Descriptive Roll.
This is a company Muster Roll for the dates of September 1, 1864 through February 28, 1865. The record shows that Minton was "Present" with the regiment for the duration of time stated.
This Muster Roll shows Minton "Present" with the regiment for the dates stated.
This is the Company Muster-Out Roll for Minton. The regiment mustered out in Nashville, Tennessee on July 17, 1865. An interesting note here is that at this time of his service he has yet to be paid. He is owed $66.66.
Following the war Pap returned home to Mountain Town in Gilmer County, Georgia. He stayed there until sometime after the 1880 census when he removed to Etowah County, Alabama. He died there in 1905.
Kevin Whitehead
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