Two MILTON A. HARDINs, likely cousins, joined Co. B., 31st Alabama Infantry during the civil war. Below information is from "Confederate Soldier Service Records NARA M311, retrieved from footnote.com 1 Sep 2009. A family bible records Milton Augustus Hardin, son of Asa Hardin of Cherokee County, Ala. as born 8 June 1843. Therefore he is Milton Senior. There is no record yet found beyond his record of parole from Vicksburg dated July 9, 1863.

Melton Avery Hardin, son of John Hardin, was born 24 April 1844 according to a family Bible owned by his descendant Edward D. Hardin, 803 Delwood Rd., Huntsville, AL. Therefore he is Milton Junior. Melton Avery's descendants record he was captured at Vicksburg, put in a parole camp at Demopolis, and was traded and reassigned to Tennessee 1st. He was recaptured at Big Shady during Battle of Atlanta. Sent to Nashville, Louisville and on the Rock Island. Released from Rock Island on May 9, 1865.

Vicksburg parolees were either marched or transported across Mississippi to a parole camp at Demopolis, Alabama. The path was through the railroad station at Brandon, Miss. (See Missouri soldier memoir at www.cedarcroft.com/cw/memior/chapter15.html) A town named Enterprise, Miss existed in Clark county, on the way to Demopolis, and is mentioned in the records here. The Missouri soldier arrived at Demopolis Jul. 12, 1863.

The NARA M311 records have the two men mixed up. Below I have rearranged those records to show a more likely scenario. Namely, Milton Senior disappeared or died after Vicksburg; and Milton Junior returned home from Rock Island and had a family and a long life.

Page numbers in parenthesis show the NARA/Footnote page numbers.
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This column: Milton A. Hardin Jr.

(Jr. P 7)Vicksburg, Miss. Capture date: July 4, 1863.
M. A. Hardin, Jr., Privt., Co. B, 31 Regt Alabama Infantry appears on a roll of prisoners of war paroled at Vicksburg,
Miss. July 9, 1863.

(Jr. P 4) 9 July 1863
Vicksburg, MISS.
M. A. Hardin, Jr., a Brevet Officer, Co B, 31st Alabama, signed a pledge of allegiance to the U.S. not to take up arms "until duly exchanged by the proper authorities." Signing with the name M. A. Hardin, Jr., 9 July 1863. Witnessed by paroling officer Maj. John C. Fry, 20th Ohio Regiment.

(Jr. P 9) M. A. Hardin, Pvt Co B, Appears on a list of officers and men of the 31st Ala Inf. List not dated. However "other records indicate the men were furloughed at Enterprise, Miss. About July 22, 1863." (It is conceivable this entry refers to M. A. Hardin senior.)

(Jr. P. 10)Oct. 14, 1863.
M. J. Hardin, Co B. 31st Ala. Appears on a receipt roll for "Commutation of Rations." Roll dated Talladega, Ala. (No date)
Commutation from July 24 to Aug 22.
Signer's name M. A. Hardin. Remarks: Pd. Oct. 14, 1863

(Jr. P 8) 1st quarter 1864. No location.
M. A. Hardin, Co B 31 Ala Regt appears on a receipt roll for clothing.


(Sr. P 11) June 15, 1864. Captured Big Shanty, Ga. M. A. Hardin, Pvt Co B 31 Regt Ala Inf appears on a roll of prisoners of war captured by the 15th Army Corps and forwarded to the Provost Marshall General, Department of the Cumberland, from May 9 to September 8, 1864. Roll not dated.
When captured: June 15, 1864
Where captured: Big Shanty, Ga.
Forwarded: June 17, 1864.

(Sr. P 12) June 20, 1864. Nashville, Tenn.
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt Co B 31 Regt Ala Inf appears on a roll of prisoners of war at Nashville, Tenn, captured by forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas, commanding Dept. of the Cumberland, and forwarded to Capt. S. E. Jones, Pro. Mar. Gen., Louisville, Ky, June 20, 1864.
Roll dated Headquarter Dept Cumberland, Office Provost Marshall General, Nashville, Tenn., June 20, 1864.
Where captured: Big Shanty Ga.
When captured: June 15, 1864.

(Sr. P 13) June 22, 1864. Louisville, Ky.
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt Co B 35 Regt Ala Inf Appears on a register of prisoners of war received at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky. Where captured: Big Shanty.
When captured: June 15, 1864.
Discharged:
Terms – Rock Island
When -- June 22, 1864.

(Sr. P 15) June 22, 1864. Louisville, Ky.
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt Co. B 35 Regt Ala Inf appears on a roll of prisoners of war at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky.
Date when received: June 21, 1864.
Where captured: Big Shanty, Ga.
Date when captured: June 15, 1864
Date when discharged: June 22, 1864.
Where sent: Rock Island, Ills.
Remarks, Nashville, Tenn.

(Sr. P 16) June 22, 1864, Louisville, Ky.
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt Co B 35 Regt Al Inf, appears on a roll of prisoners of war forwarded from Military Prison, Louisville, Ky. To Rock Island, Ill., June 22, 1864. Roll dated Louisville, Ky, June 22, 1864.
Where captured: Big Shanty, Ga.
When captured: June 15, 1864.

(Sr. P 14) June 30, 1864. Louisville, Ky.
Milton A. Hardin Pvt Co B 31 Regt Ala Inf appears on a roll of prisoners of war received at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky. During the five days ending June 25, 1864. Roll dated June 30, 1864.
Where captured: Big Shanty
When captured: June 15, 1864
Where from: Nashville, Tn.
Roll 147 Sheet 14

(Sr. P 17) July 6, 1864, Rock Island.
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt Co B 35 Reg't Ala Inf, appears on a roll of prisoners of war received at Rock Island Barracks from Louisville, Ky., June 24, 1864. Roll dated Headquarters Rock Island Barracks, Rock Island, Ill, July 6, 1864.
Where captured: Big Shanty, Ga.
When captured: June 15, 1864

(Sr. P 18)May 16, 1865, Rock Island.
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt. Co B 35 Regt Ala Inf appears on a register of prisoners of war confined at Rock Island Barracks, Rock Island, Illinois.
Captured: June 15, 1864.
Where: Big Shanty, Ga.
Continued: June 24, 1864.
RELEASED: May 16, 1865
Escaped: (blank)
Died: (blank)
Remarks: Gen Ord May 9, 1865.

(Sr. P 6) 16 May 1865. Rock Island Bks.
Loyalty oath.
I, Milton A. Hardin, priv. Co B. 35Ala Inf of the County of Cave Spring State of Georgia, do solemnly swear...
Signed, M. A. Hardin.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, at Rock Island Bks, this 16th day of May, A.D. 1865.
Signed, A. F. Higgins, 1st Lt. And post adjutant.
"The above named has fresh complexion, dark hair, and hazel eyes; and is 5 feet 11 inches high. 21 years of age."
Page 8 is this page with the following written lengthwise: "Transfer (...) Finished. Rome, Georgia."

(Sr. P 19) May 16, 1865, Rock Island Barracks
Milton A. Hardin, Pvt Co B 35 Reg't Ala Inf, appears on a roll of prisoners of war at Rock Island Barracks, Ill., released May 16 1865, under Order of May 9, 1865.
Roll dated Headquarters Rock Island Barracks, Rock Island, Ill., May 16, 1865.
Where captured: Big Shanty, Ga.
When captured: June 15, 1864.
Remarks: Cave Springs, Ga.
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This column: Milton A. Hardin Sr.

(Jr. P 6)27 Mar 1862. Talladega.
M. A. Harden, Pvt., Capt. Alexander's Co., Alabama Vols, AGE 18, appears on a muster-in roll above date. He joined for duty and enrolled 2 Apr 1862 at Cherokee [County] by Capt. Alexander for 3 years.

(Sr. P 10) July 4, 1863. Vicksburg.
Milton A. Hardin (18)
M. A. Hardin Senr, Privt, Co. B, 31 Reg't Alabama Infantry appears on a ROLL OF PRISONERS OF WAR, PAROLED at Vicksburg Miss. Roll not dated. Paroled at Vicksburg Miss July 9, 1863.
Where captured: Vicksburg Miss
When captured: July 4, 1863.

(Sr. P 4) July 9, 1863. Vicksburg, Miss.
M. A. Hardin, SC, a private of Co B. 31st Regt Alabama, being a prisoner of war, signed a pledge of allegiance to the U.S. "Until duly exchanged by the proper authorities." Witnessed by paroling officer Maj. John C. Fry, 20th Ohio Regt.

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Oran Hardin of the HFA supplied me with numerous letters that Milton wrote home while he was a confederate soldier. The letters were copied by Margaret Stewart of Piedmont, Alabama, from originals (it is assumed) that passed through her hands. Please see letters at www.intelec.us/gen/milt1.htm.

"HARDEN. M. A. PVT, 31ST AL INF CO. B, paroled in FIELD," reads two identical lines in the parole record. (http://www.nps.gov/vick/historyculture/confederate-parole-records-index.htm). It was erroneously reported that he was killed at Vicksburg in the Hardin Family Association newsletter vol. 7, no. 1.

He was parolled at Vicksburg, but I haven't located him past July 9, 1863.

1. Title: Bible of Eli H. Hardin, in "Northeast Ala. Settlers" Vol 18 no. 1, July 1979. Excerpted by Mrs. Harie Rose 1 May 72.
   Repository:
   Media: Book
   Text: for name and date
2. Title: Hundley's Ragged Volunteers: a day-by-day account of the 31st Alabama Infantry Regiment, CSA (1861-1865)
   Author: Rex Miller
   Publication: 1991: Patrex Press, Depew, NY.
   Repository:
   Note: Huntsville, Alabama public library
   Media: Book
   Page: 220
3. Title: CSA Service Card held by Alabama Dept of Archives and History