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Note: Joseph L. Greeley/Greely age 19, a farmer, enlisted July 13, 1864, inthe 5th Massachusetts volunteer Colored Calvary in Hadley, HampshireCounty, Massachusetts (the 9th district of Hadley was credited), and wasmustered in Boston, Mass that same month. Private Joseph L. Greeley was5'8" tall with blue eyes, dark hair and dark complexion. He was in the post hospital from 8 August till about the end of themonth. Sometime in Sept or Oct he purchased from company stores "onecross sabre letter & number" for four cents (I don't know what this isyet but assume it was some sort of service patch). In Nov or Dec 1864 hewas charged with stealing one curb bridle, but remained present on theCompany Muster Roll in Jan and Feb 1885 (so presumably wasn't eithercourt marshaled or jailed). Near Petersburg VA he went absent withoutleave (AWOL) April 23, 1865. I can't tell from the records if he everreturned to his unit. The paperwork says he was dropped as adeserter from the rolls June 1, 1865, at Light House Point, VA, listedas deserter from Light House Point, VA, October 1865, and was officiallymustered out at Clarksville TN October 31, 1865. However, even today themilitary requires things to be written in an obtuse way. Haven't had a chance yet to bone-up on Civil War history, but the 5thwas dismounted and serving as infantry by the time he saw duty. Most ofhis duty may have been guarding prisoners, the 5th had that duty fromJuly 1884 to March 1865 when they were ordered to the field nearRichmond in March and near Petersburg in April.
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