Re: enlistment in the 6th US - yes, Confederates who found themselves in Northern prisons did sometimes join a Regular US unit, usually one assigned to the frontier, in order to escape prison life. However, you have as the date of Richard's enlistment in the 6th US "May 5, 1865." The Civil War was over by then. He would have been released to go home. He had already, according to the dates, spent 19+ months in prison without availing himself of the opportunity to get out. Why take the chance to go be killed by Indians? Why not take his release and go home? Post-war enlistment in US units was not typical behavior for released Confederates. This is interesting, and there's more to this story, somewhere! You can obtain copies of Veterans records (Confederate, Union, Regular US units, etc.) by sending "NATF Form 80" to the National Archives. Don't have any, or I'd mail one to you. To obtain this form, write to "National Archives Trust Fund, 8th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20408"- ask for several copies of the form. Fill it out as completely as you can, and return it. The directions on the form are self-explanatory. Eventually, they'll let you know whether they have the record, and tell you the cost. NATF Form 80 can also be used to request pension records for Rev War and Union Civil War veterans and widows, as well as bounty land warrants that may have been issued for French and Indian, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 service. You can request Confederate military service records, but the National Archives does not have PENSION records for CONFEDERATE veterans. Confederate veterans and widows received pensions from individual states - not from the Federal Government. On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:18:13 -0700 "Patricia Medford" <shining@rmi.net> writes: I recently found the following: Richard Elam - Private - enlisted in Company A, 3rd Arkansas Infantry at Hamburg, Arkansas, March 20, 1862; captured at Chickamauga, Georgia, September 20, 1863; sent to US Military Prison at Camp Douglas, located just outside Chicago, Illinois; enlisted in 6th United States Volunteer Infantry at Camp Douglas, Illinois, May 5, 1865. I understand that the US government offered the confederate POWs the opportunity to escape the conditions in the Federal prison camps by joining the US army for frontier service, understanding that the Confederates would not be fighting against their comrades but would serve exclusively on the frontier. Does anyone know how to find out about the 6th US Volunteer Infantry and it's soldiers? ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]