Help Categorizing War of 1812 Soldier

Question

I am adding a War of 1812 sticker to the profile of Elisha Hook. I have found an online source that lists his service: http://usgenealogyexpress.com/~va/rockingham/va_rockingham_1912_Hist_Appendix3.htm

And another source that better explains Captain Matthew's command: http://vagenweb.org/rockingham/1812.htm

I don't know enough about Military structure to understand exactly how this gets categorized. The first source said that he was in Captain Matthew's 116th Regiment at Rockingham, Virginia. But the second source says:

Capt. Daniel Matthews (116)

 July 7-September 28, 1813 (McDowell's Flying Camp)

 September 29, 1813-January 10, 1814 (4th V.M. - McDowell, Koontz, Chilton)

What is the 4th V.M.? There is no category for the 116th Regiment during the War of 1812, but there is a category for the 4th Regiment. Something doesn't seem right in listing him with the 4th Regiment.

Answer 1

4th Virginia Militia

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:War_of_1812_Virginia

Comments

I'm thinking that might mean this category as well:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:4th_Regiment%2C_Virginia_Militia%2C_War_of_1812

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I still don't understand what the "116th" refers to. Is the sticker correctly formatted?

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Well, personnel often changed regiments, so it's possible he was in both 116th and the 4th at various times during the war.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Virginia_Civil_War_units

I see (a little over halfway down the page) the 116th Regiment Militia (of Western Rockingham County).

If I had to take a guess based on what I've seen so far, he was with the 116th Regiment Militia under Col. James McDowell from July 7, 1813 to September 28, 1813. He then transferred (not sure if the whole regiment moved to a new command, or just him) to the 4th Regiment Militia and served from September 29, 1813 to January 10, 1814. I see McDowell may have also been in command of the 4th based on what you have above.

I did find a little on Col. James "OLD THUNDER" McDowell, but not much.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70175117/james-mcdowell

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And perhaps part of the confusion - there are not categories created for all these regiments - yet. You can put in a category request to have one made if you want to put him in both. I'd put him in the 4th for now, and possibly request the 116th be made.