My ancestor was apparently in 2 different units during the Civil War, which should I use?

Question

My gg grandfather, Reddick Cartwright,  served in Company "E" of the 25th Illinois Infantry according to the roster at http://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/r050/025-e-in.html and Ancestry.com US Civil War Records and Profiles.  Ancestry.com, US Civil War Soldiers indicates he was in Company "K" of the 123rd Infantry, his headstone indicates the same information.  He enlisted on August 4, 1861, probably in Company "E" because Company "K" was not established until September 6, 1862.  He did not muster out until September 5, 1864.

Answer 1

If your ancestor was in one or more units in the civil war, you can include those in the template by just placing a "COMMA" between the units.  I will add this to the template instructions.

Answer 2

You can use both units.

Answer 3

More than likely the original unit was consolidated with other regiments as personnel and strength were depleted, this could occur multiple times.

Answer 4

Many men served in more than one unit during the Civil War. In some cases, as Nick said, units were consolidated or reorganized and named differently. But there were also lots of men who got out of one unit and promptly joined another. One of my ancestors, for instance, was sent home from a unit because he was "too old," at age 35. So, he went home and promptly joined up with a different unit that didn't care how old he was! This was the Confederate Army, and I'm fairly certain that, as the war dragged on, the units would accept anyone who was willing to fight. It was a costly war in terms of human life, and they needed all the help they could get!

Answer 5

My wife's 2nd great grandfather did the same thing: Merrit-56

Answer 6

Another reason as I found with several of my ancestors whom were captured, before exchanges were stopped, after release and swearing the oath called "swallowing the dog", they had the choice of going home or transfer to another regiment. I have 2 instances from the 23rd Mississippi surrender both transfered to cavalry regiments

Answer 7

This also happened with South Carolina's Orr's Rifles because of the high death tolls.

Answer 8

Here is an example of how  I handled this. http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Trimmer-93

Answer 9

My great grandfather served in the same unit with his father and later joined another unit while his father may have not reupped in the first unit where he had been Company Commander and Captain.

By all means if your gg served in two units, he should get credit for serving in each one. My g grandfather served out of Illinois as did your gg grandfather. First, mine was in the 132nd Infantry, and later he was in the 28th regimnet of the III vol. Inf. when he was promoted to Sargent late in the war.