Civil War Service Records for Benjamin Pinkney Shirley

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Shirley, Civil War

On the 23rd of September, 1861, Benjamin Pinkney Shirley (1838-aft.1912) enlisted in the 14th (McCarver's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Company F, commanded by Captain William G. Matheney. He was enrolled by Lieutenant Kelly at Pocohontas, Arkansas, for a period of 12 months. Benjamin was 23 years old. His brother James Adam Shirley (abt.1842-1911) enlisted at that same time.

The Company Muster Roll for Company F of the 14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment listed Benjamin as:

• September 23rd to November 30th of 1861 - Absent due to sickness
• November 28th of 1861 to January 31st of 1862 - Present

Shortly after forming, the 14th (McCarver's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment split. The 1st five companies formed the 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalion and the remaining regiments became the 18th Arkansas Infantry Battalion. The 18th Arkansas Infantry Battalion was later merged with the 17th Arkansas Infantry Battalion and renamed the 21st (Craven's) Arkansas Infantry Regiment. (detailed information regarding the 14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment can be found at - https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/14th_Arkansas_Infantry_Regiment_(McCarver%27s)

The Company Muster Roll for Company B of the 21 Regular Arkansas Infantry listed Benjamin as:

• May and June of 1862 - Present
• July and August of 1862 - Present
• September and October - Present
• November and December of 1862 - Present
• January and February of 1863 - Present

The 21st Regular Infantry was engaged in the Vicksburg Campaign, specifically the Battle of Champion (May 16th) and Big Black River Bridge (May 17th). Benjamin and his brother James were captured during one of these battles by the Army of the Tennessee and sent to Memphis, Tennessee, on May 25, 1863.

The brothers were later sent to Camp Morton, Indiana, and then on to Fort Delaware, Maryland, arriving on June 15, 1863. On September 20, 1863 they were transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland. From Point Lookout they were sent to City Point, Virginia, for exchange on December 25, 1863.

Confederate Veteran Pension:

On the 5th of July, 1901, Benjamin's commanding officer, W.G. Matheney, and E. Carpenter swore that Benjamin served with the 14th Arkansas Regiment and later the 21st Arkansas Regiment from September of 1861 until June 5, 1865. The proof of service was required as part of a pension application, which was granted on the 11th of March, 1901, in the amount of $75.00.

On the 27th of June, 1908, Benjamin applied for an increase in his pension due to "old age and blindness". His petition was granted on the 8th of August, 1908 and his pension was increased to $100.00.

Benjamin Pinkney died in 1912, at the age of 74.^[1]

Sources

• Military: "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865"
  Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database
  Ancestry Record 1555 #1928630 (accessed 7 March 2024)
  Name: Benjamin P Shirley; Enlistment Date: 1 May 1862; Enlistment Rank: Private; Muster Date: 1 May 1862; Muster Place: Arkansas; Muster Company: B; Muster Regiment: 21st Infantry; Muster Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster Information: Enlisted; Side of War: Confederacy; Title: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records.
• Military: "U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865"
  Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/>, acquired 2007
  Ancestry Record 1138 #2343321 (accessed 7 March 2024)
  Name: Benjamin P. Shirley; Side: Confederate; Regiment State/Origin: Arkansas; Regiment: 21st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry; Company: B; Rank In: Private; Rank Out: Private; Film Number: M376 roll 21.
• Military: "U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865"
  National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.c.; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas; Catalog Name: Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations, Compiled 1903 - 1927, Documenting the Period 1861 - 1865; Catalog Number: 586957; Record Group Number: 109; Source Reference Number: 0194; Series Number: M317; Roll: 176
  Ancestry Record 2322 #223736736 (accessed 7 March 2024)
  Name: B P Shirly; Rank: Private; Military Unit: Twenty-First Infantry, S-Z.
• Military: "U.S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866"
  Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works
  Ancestry Record 3866 #310 (accessed 7 March 2024)
  Regiment: 21st Infantry Regiment Arkansas; Date of Organization: 14 May 1862; Muster Date: 1 Jan 1864; Regiment State: Arkansas; Regiment Type: Infantry; Regiment Number: 21st; Find Soldiers in this Regiment: U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles.
• Military:"Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TC9C-D8?cc=1837922&wc=M617-GTL%3A164385501 : 23 August 2019), Shipp, Albert, A - Sims, T, J > image 97 of 1296; Citing Arkansas State Auditor, History Commision, Little Rock.
• Military: "Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TC9C-D3?cc=1837922&wc=M617-GTL%3A164385501 : 23 August 2019), Shipp, Albert, A - Sims, T, J > image 98 of 1296; Citing Arkansas State Auditor, History Commision, Little Rock.
• Military: "Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-TC9C-DZ?cc=1837922&wc=M617-GTL%3A164385501 : 23 August 2019), Shipp, Albert, A - Sims, T, J > image 99 of 1296; Citing Arkansas State Auditor, History Commision, Little Rock.
• Military: "Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WWPD-F2T2 : Fri Mar 08 04:10:47 UTC 2024), Entry for B P Shirley and B P Shirley, 16 July 1901.