1864, 1st New Orleans Infantry, Charles Boothby, Company D, signed muster roll

Description

This item is an original document pair dated 1864, first being a large pay roll, with signatures of each soldier in Company D of the 1st New Orleans regiment, a Northern unit commanded by Captain Charles Boothby, and a letter of transmittal signed by Captain Boothby. Payroll is 15x18 inches, transmittal letter is 8x11, both in overall fine shape.
"Historians estimate that more than 5,000 Louisianians and lower Mississippians enlisted in Louisiana Union regiments. Most of these men were immigrants (German and Irish), and many had been previously impressed into Confederate service . Once New Orleans fell in 1862—thanks in large part to these men and their less than enthusiastic support for the Confederacy—many enrolled in Union regiments, motivated both by sentiment and salary. Overall, they made very poor soldiers, as they were not really in it to win the war......The task of recruiting troops for the 1st New Orleans Volunteers fell, in part, to Charles W. Boothby, Captain, Company D.
Born in 1837 Boothby was a teacher by profession; in 1861 he enlisted as a private in the 12th Maine Infantry Regiment, and was promoted to lieutenant. The organization of the 1st New Orleans Volunteers gave Boothby the opportunity to rise in rank.The 1st New Orleans Volunteer Infantry was organized in March 1864. Made up of “mainly of Crescent City immigrants and southern Mississippi farmers” the mission of the unit was, explicitly and exclusively “the protection and defense of New Orleans” .
Other occupations represented in Company D of the unit include cooper, musician, shoe maker, paper vendor, and laborer. According to the records in the Charles W. Boothby Papers, several men were transferred to the unit from the 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery, while others had been previously enlisted in the 1st Louisiana Infantry (Union). At least one soldier in the company was listed as having been “gained by desertion.” Thanks to Leah Jewett for this info....
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