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Below is my biography of
George M. Cotchett. Since he was not an officer in the Army, there is no biography of him in the National Archives.
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George M. was born in 1826 in
Charleston, the son of George Cotchett. The father was a cotton
factor and son was a clerk in his company at Adger's Wharf,
according to a Charleston city directory in 1849. George M. enlisted
for the war in a company that became Company I of the 1st South
Carolina Infantry (McCreary's) in August, 1861. He enlisted as a
private, was promoted to sergeant, and served time as the Ordnance
Sergeant. By early June, 1863 Cotchett was hospitalized in various
Richmond hospitals with a diagnosis of scorbutio (scurvy). He was
sent to the Columbia General Hospital on June 15, 1863 and does not
appear to have rejoined his unit ever again. On February 29, 1864,
he was discharged from a camp near Orange Court House, S. C. on a
Surgeon's Certificate, by reason of an amaurotic affection of the
eyes which was becoming worse and had caused him to develop near
total night blindness. The Certificate describes him as 5' 9" tall,
dark complexion, hair and eyes; he had been a clerk and was 38 years
old. |
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Cotchett was hired by Capt. Sharp
as Transportation Agent for Columbia, with employment commencing at
least by March 29, 1864. There are no pay vouchers after September
30, 1864, but there is no reason to believe he did not remain in
his position until at least the evacuation of Columbia in February,
1865. He was paroled May 5, 1865 in Chester, S. C. After the war, he is found in various City Directories and the
1880 census in Charleston, S. C. in various jobs. He was married to
Mary in 1858 or so and they had several children. |
| April 30, 1864 |
Paid for service as Transportation Agent since
March 29, 1864
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| May 31, 1864 |
Paid
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| June 30, 1864 |
Paid
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| July 31, 1864 |
Paid
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| August 12, 1864 |
Listed on Sharp's report of his employees
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| August 31, 1864 |
Paid
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| September 23, 1864 |
Given medical detail to Sharp
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| September 30, 1864 |
Paid
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| May 5, 1865 |
Paroled at Chester, S C. |
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