I had a pleasant surprise today! After more than two months of waiting for the National Archives to respond, I got one of my three queries back in today's mail, this one on Eli Stroup of Georgia. There's very little info, only one entry. But here's what it says: Stroup, Eli Capt. Stock's Co. (Etowah Guards), 17th Batt'n, Georgia Inf. (State Guards) (Confederate) private/private card # 45680038 "Eli Stroup appears on a Muster Roll of Capt. John Stocks' Unattached Company, for local defence, to serve in the defence of the Iron Works of the Etowah Manufacturing and Mining Co., Bartow Co., Georgia, from July 15, 1863 to (blank - not dated). Joined for duty and enrolled July 15, 1863, Etowah, GA, by D. Jenkins, J.P., for 6 months. not been paid. Present." That's it. No further information. Apparently just that one chit was the whole record of his war service. Eli Stroup was b. abt. 1801 in NC. The name of his first wife is unknown, and she died after two children, Ephraim Stroup (b. 1821) and Mary/Polly Stroup (b. abt 1823) were born. Eli married next Elizabeth Shetley in Lincoln Co. NC in 1830. In 1840, Eli, his second wife and two small children appear on the federal census of Lincoln Co. (84 LCN). I only know the name of one of these children, Alexander, b. abt 1835. In 1850, Eli is in Cass Co. GA, in the area which in 1861 became Bartow Co., GA, in the Etowah community, where cousin Moses Stroup ran an iron mill, as a laborer. I lose track of him after the 1860 federal census and this war record, and would love to hear from anyone who knows more of him. Reiley Kidd Seattle