1850 CENSUS, Ohio County, W.Va.

#15
Holmes, William, 52, Farmer, VA
Caty, 47, VA
William, 16, VA
James, 13, VA
Josiah, 10, VA
Henry, 6, VA

JOSIAH HOLMES, Pvt. Co D, 1 Reg't West Virginia Inf.
Appears on Returns as follows:
Dec 1862 (1 Va Inf) Gain Dec 19/62 North Mt. Va from desertion.
Feb 1863 Loss Feb 21/63 North Mountain Va deserted.
Aug 1863 Absent sick in Hospl Cumberland, Md.
Sept 1863 absent in Hospl at Cumberland, Md.
Feb 1864 (1 WVa Inf) Loss Feb 1-64 New Creek- Discharged, re-enlisted as Vet. Vol.
     Gain Feb 1-64 New Creek reenlisted as Vet Vol.
     Absent on Vet furlough at Wheeling, Va
July 1864 Absent sick in Hospl at Martinsburg, Va.
August 1864 Absent sick in Hospl.
Sept 1864 Loss June 5 Piedmont Va Missing in Action

State of West Virginia
Camp of 1st Va Infy
     I, JOSIAH HOLMES born in MARSHALL CO in the State of VIRGINIA aged TWENTY years and by occupation a FARMER Do hereby acknowledge to have volunteered this TWENTY-FIRST day of JANUARY 1864, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of Three Years unless sooner discharged by proper authority; Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, JOSIAH HOLMES do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.

Sworn and subscribed at Petersburg, W.V.
this 21st day of January 1864
Before Capt. O. F. Melvin
Mark (X) of Josiah Holmes.

     I certify on honor, that I have carefully examined the above-named Volunteer..... and that, in my opinion, he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would in any way disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
Signed, John English,Asst Surgeon, 1st va Vol Infantry

     I certify, on honor, that I have minutely inspected the Volunteer, J. Holmes, previously to his enlistment, and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgement and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has BLACK eyes, BLACK hair, DARK complexion, is 5 feet 8 inches high.
O. F. Melvin, Capt. First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers,
Recruiting Officer.

Sir:
     I have the honor to acknowledge the redceipt of your letter of the -- day of -- 186-, requesting a "Statement of Service" of JOSIAH HOLMES. The following information has been obtained from the files of this office, and is furnished in reply to your inquiry:
     In the case of JOSIAH HOLMES there is no evidence of enrollment or muster into the service of the United States as a -- in Company "D" of the 1 Regiment of West Virginia Volunteers, on file in this office up to date.
     The Muster Out Roll of Company "D" of tht Regiment dated Nov 26, 1864 contains the following evidence of service: "Josiah Holmes Pvt Died of wounds rec'd in action at Piedmont Va June 5 1864." Nothing additional on Regimental Record.

Signed by Assistant Attorney General (illegible).
To Dead/Disabilty Record Room

     I certify, on honor, that JOSIAH HOLMES, a Private of Captain Jas McElroys Company D of the 1st Regiment of Infantry Volunteers, of the State of West Virginia, born in Marshall Co. State of West Virginia, aged 21 years; 5 feet 8 inches high; DARK complexion, BLACK eyes, BLACK hair, and by occupation a FARMER, having joined the company on its original organization at CAMERON, WVa and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at Wheeling, WVa, on the Seventh day of October, 1861, and was RE-mustered as a VETERAN by Capt Jas E. ---- Asst Comm of Muster at PETERSBURG, on the TWENTY-SIXTH day JANUARY 1864, to serve in the Regiment for the term of THREE YEARS and having served honestly and faithfully with his Company in the Regiment to the present date, is now entitled to discharge by reason of DEATH CAUSED BY GUN SHOT OUND IN ACTION AT PIEDMONT VA JUNE 5 1864
     The said JOSIAH HOLMES was last paid by Paymaster MAJOR HALSEY to include the twenty-seventh day of February, 1864, and has pay due him from that time to the fifth day of June 1864.......

Signed by Jas. McElroy, Capt 1st Va Vol Inft.