Finding Civil War Era Record of Service Unit Records – 4th Missouri Infantry & Andreas Pfotenhauer

In my last post about Andreas Pfotenhauer, I found his Civil War Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) on Fold3. You can view it here. These records gave some information about his service such as location, illness, and finally death.

In this post, I’ll add to the knowledge about Andreas’ service by accessing the information about his regiment and his individual unit. These records can often be found with the CMSR in the same location on Fold3.

To locate these cards, I start by using the Browse feature. Next, select which conflict/war and I select Civil War (Union). Under publications, I search for the “Civil War Service Records (CMSR)” for the state I know my soldier served with. Andreas served in Missouri with the 4^th Missouri Infantry. The 4^th Infantry has two categories and normally I’d look for Andreas in the Ps, but for the unit information, I will choose the first category, A-J.

Record of Event Cards
The Unit tab will have many compiled cards. These cards were compiled from other records and might contain operational details about the regiment and the units. Some cards are very detailed and some not so much. I imagine in the midst of battle the clerk was not worrying about the details to record on their paperwork.  

The first cards for the 4^th Missouri Infantry are an index to the names in regimental papers. Not all men are listed and there was no listing for Pfotenhauer.

Next are the Record of Events at the Regimental Field and Staff level.[1] There were eight cards. Each card is extracted here:

Jan/Feb 1862	Field & Staff Muster Roll	Hermann, Mo.
March/Apr 1862	Field & Staff Muster Roll	Hermann, Mo.
May/June 1862	Field & Staff Muster Roll	Pacific City, Mo.	Leigh Major promoted to 2” Lt of Co B on April 30, 1862
Aug 1862	Field & Staff Muster Roll	Pacific City, Mo.
Sep/Oct 1862	Field & Staff Muster Roll	Pacific City, Mo.
Nov/Dec 1862	Field & Staff Muster Roll	St. Louis, Mo.
Feb 1, 1863	Field & Staff Muster Out Roll	Benton Barracks, Mo	The 3rd Regiment of USRC was organized by Col CA Fritz on the 27 Oct 1861. The Gasconade Co Battalion of USRC was organized by Lt Col Julius Hundhausen on the 7th day of Jan 1862. These two battalions were consolidated by special order no. 9 ltd grs State of Missouri on the 18th day of Jan 1862. The Regiment was designated the 4th Infantry Mo Vol and placed under the command of Col R Hundhausen. The Regiment has been employed in guarding bridges on the Pacific Rail Road, from the time of its consolidation until the 22d day of Dec 1862, when it was ordered to Benton Barracks to report to Col Bonneville commanding Post for the purpose of being mustered out of the service.

The next group of cards are for each unit. Our soldier was in Co. F, so we’ll jump ahead to those records.[2] The jacket shows 8 cards. We’ll put the cards again into a table.

Jan/Feb 1862	Co Muster Roll	Baileys Creek RR	This muster roll is a copy from very inaccurate records of the company ?? to my coming in command. The company ?? since last muster transferred to the 4th Regt Infantry Mo Vol from the Gasconade County Battalion of United States Reserve Corps (according to Cdm C Fremont’s project) Sgd S Collyer first Lt Com the Company appointed May 4 1862.
Mar/Apr 1862	Co Muster Roll	Bailey’s Creek Bridge P RR
May/June 1862	Co Muster Roll	Big Berger Creek
Aug 8, 1862	Co Muster Roll	Big Berger Creek
July/Aug 1862	Co Muster Roll	Berger Bridge P. RR	The company performed bridge guard duty for Pacific RR during the two months.
Sept/Oct 1862	Co Muster Roll	Berger Bridge P RR Mo.	Company performed bridge guard duty during the two months.
Nov/Dec 1862	Co Muster Roll	St. Louis, Mo.
Feb 1, 1863	Co Muster Out Roll	Benton Barracks	The company being originally organized by First LH E Krech of the Gasconade City Battalion of US Reserved Corps to constitute Co D of said Battalion under Command of Lt Col Joal?? Hundhausen. The Company was afterward together with the balance of the Gasconade County Battalion of US Reserve Corps consolidated with the 3rd Regt US Reserve Corps of St Louis Mo to constitute company H of the 4th Regt of Infantry Mo Volunteers commanded by Co R Hundhausen. Has been in service since that time guarding Pacific RR Bridge at Baileys Creek, Little Berger, Big Berger, Boeuff Creek. Arrived at St. Louise Mo Dec 22 1862. Performed guard duty at Gratiot Street Prison and Benton Barracks. [Bookmark] This organization was mustered out by reason of service being no longer required and not by way of favor. Bookmark stamp: 7678709.

Analysis
In the Feb 1 1863 entry, there are several locations to be verified. Gratiot Street Prison was located in St. Louis. This military prison was operated by the Union army to hold Confederate prisoners of war, spies, guerillas, civilians suspected of disloyalty and federal soldiers accused of crimes or misbehavior.[3]

The bridges mentioned are located in Gasconade County. The Pacific Railroad began in St. Louis and travel west toward Herman. This company was to guard the bridges crossing these creeks.[4]

It appears that the unit spent most of the time in Gasconade County guarding bridges of the Pacific Railroad at various creeks.

Andreas Pfotenhauer died 24 March 1862 in Hermann. In March, Co. F. was guarding Baileys Creek. Baileys Creek flows to the Missouri River. 

His card stated he died in Herman. Here is a map showing the distance of 16 miles.

These Record of Event cards gave us a little more about what Andreas’ Co F was doing during their time in service. They did not engage in any action but held an important duty of guarding railroad bridges. A strategy to disrupt troop movement would be to disrupt train travel.

Next up, a search for a widow's pension. Pensions were awarded to widows and minor children of soldiers who died during their service in the war.

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[1] Compiled service record, 4^th Missouri Infantry, regimental field and staff, carded records, Civil War, Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, M405, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Missouri, roll 417; digital images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/230422761 : accessed 25 Jun 2021).

[2] Compiled Service Records, 4^th Missouri Infantry, Record of Events, Company F, carded records, Civil War, digital images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/230422761 : accessed 25 Jun 2021); citing RG 94, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, M405, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Missouri, roll 417.

[3] ”Gratiot Street Prison, Civil War St. Louis (http://www.civilwarstlouis.com/Gratiot/gratiot.htm : accessed 25 Jun 2021).

[4] “Military History,” Gasconade County Missouri (http://genealogytrails.com/mo/gasconade/war-history.htm : accessed 25 Jun 2021). 

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