I am looking for information on James E. Smith who claimed he served in the Confederate Army in Arkansas.

He filed an application for Confederate pension in Heard County, Georgia in 1897. In his application he stated that he had served in Marshall’s Light Artillery from August 9, 1964 until January 19, 1865. His pension application includes a “Soldier’s Discharge” which states he was discharged because of disability. The discharge looks very official, and is signed by Captain Marshall. I am willing to accept Smith’s claims that he served in that unit as accurate. Unit records show a J. Smith or James Smith as having served in the unit.

His pension application also states that prior to that time, he served in the 32nd Arkansas Infantry, Co. A. I don’t think that is right. There is a listing for a James Smith in Co D of the 32nd Arkansas but the Gerdes website has that James Smith listed as born in Ouachita Parish, La. So I think when James E. Smith of Georgia said he served in the 32nd, that was not correct.

He may have served in the 24th Arkansas, Company A. There is a James Smith who served in that unit. Something else suggests that James E. Smith served in the 24th – in his pension application, he had a supporting affidavit from Silas S. Brown. Brown served in the 24th Arkansas.

Smith says that he enlisted in 1862 in Company A – and he writes what appears to be “Grustood” or something like that. He states he was in “Tapan’s Brigade”.

I am hoping that somebody could search through the James Smiths who served in the Confederate Army in Arkansas and find one who was born in Georgia. He was 33 years old when he was discharged in January 1865.

Any help you can give would be appreciated. I would like to get a copy of his compiled service record.