McLaw's Pioneers

Hello everybody new member here. I hope that someone can shine some light on a matter that has had me stuck for several years.
My great great grandfather was served for on detached service in McLaw's pioneers. I believe it was in southeast Ga (but not sure). I can't find anything about this. What was detached service and a pioneer?
Thanks for any help you can provide
Mike

Welcome from Mississippi...

Also welcome from good old Germany. Don´t know anything about McLaw´s pioneers at all, but for detached and pioneer service I quote Kautz´s "Customs of Service for NCOs and Soldiers":

117. DETACHED SERVICE — When soldiers are sent away from their companies, under
orders to do duty elsewhere, from the post, camp, or garrison, they are on “detached service,”
and are so accounted for. The first for guard are detailed for detached service, and, if employed
otherwise at the lime, are relieved, if possible, in time to reach the (amp or post to march with the
detachment. This is intended only for short and frequent detachments. In cases where the
detachment is more or less permanent, it is not the custom to follow these rules, but to be guided,
in making the details, by the nature of the service.
118. Where there is a possibility that the soldier may be detached for a long period, he should be
accompanied by his descriptive roll and clothing-account, in order that he may draw his pay, and
such clothing as he may need during his absence. This matter is sometimes overlooked by the
officers, and should be remembered by the soldier, as he is most affected by the neglect.

288. PIONEERS are soldiers detailed to precede a command on the march, for the purpose of
repairing the roads, bridges, &c. The pioneer party is usually composed of details of one or two
men from each company in the command, with axes, picks, and spades, and sent in rear of the
advance guard, but in front of the main force. An officer is usually detailed to direct the men in
their work. It is not a permanent party, but only detailed for the emergency; and when the
necessity is over the men are returned to their respective companies.

This may interest you.
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LAWS-UK-L Archives

Archiver > LAWS-UK > 2000-08 > 0966832864

From: PQProducts@aol.com
Subject: Ancestors and Family of Alexander Mclaws
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 00:41:04 EDT

I am a desendent of Alexander Mclaws, he had Son James,who had sons,
Abraham, Lafayette, William R. and and daughter Janet Nimmo. Alexander also
had a daughter Anna M. who married a Reid. Alexanders wife was "Janet". He
died April 23, 1810.
Any info, thoughts, would be appreciated.
Karen Querna
Spokane, WA
Alexander Mclaws
"His daughter hath placed this stone over the body of Alexander Mclaws..."
A native of Scotland, Alexander Mclaws was shipwrecked with his family near
darien, Georgia whild on a voyage to Santo Domingo. He remained in Georgia
rather that hazard anohter such experience, and in 1783 he chose to reside in
Augusta because of its distance form the sea. He became a large landowner
in Richmond county. A daughter Anna married Robert Raymond Reid, prominient
augusta Attorney, who served successively as Superior Court Judge, Member of
Congress, Mayor of Augusta and Territorial governor of florida, A grandson,
Lafayette Mclaws became a Major general in the CSA
#########
Georgia Pioneers vol5 , Page 107
p. 48, July 21, 1797 - George Naylor, of Columbia Co., to Alexander McLaws,
of Richmond Co., a tract orig. granted to Francis Gantnall, 1795, sold for
taxes. Test: Theod. Brightwell; John Applin, J. P.
############
Early Records of Georgia vol1 and 2 , Page 418
CARTER, JAMES dec'd. Warrant of appraisement Nov. 29, 1797. John
M. Carter, admr. Inv. shows slaves Jinney, Anney, Webb, Tom, Harry,
Cook, Bob and Zimony, bay horse, portmanteau etc. Receipt of Alex.
McLaws of Augusta for board, horse feed and wine 1798. Returns
1800, from 1797 paid Mrs. Lettice Winn $378.00, paid Stokely Morgan
$100.00.


P.S. Save any confusion after re-reading. I am not the descendant of McLaws.

Welcome from Kentucky.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

I have an ancestor who had a similar experience with the Pioneer Corps, but with the Union Army.

One of my GGGrandfathers fought as a PVT with the 142nd NY Infantry. A carpenter before the war, he mustered in Sep 1862 and participated in a number of battles as a rifleman; Seige of Suffolk, Seiges of the forts about Charleston, Butler's Bermuda Hundred Campaign, Cold Harbor [his brigade actually just guarded the landing at White House during this battle], Seige of Petersburg, and the capture of Fort Fisher. After Fort Fisher, his carpenter skills were evidently needed and in Jan 1865 he was detached to his division's Pioneer Corps, where they built bridges, corduroyed roads, cleared or constructed obstacles, etc, during the rest of the Carolinas Campaign (Battle of Wilmington, occupation of Raleigh, etc.) In June 1865, he was returned to his regiment to be mustered out with his unit.

Like my GGGrandfather, your ancestor probably enlisted into a Georgian infantry unit but then, due to some skills or just due to luck of the draw, he was sent to the division or corps Pioneers to handle the necessary but unglamorous work of a Pioneer. Think of it as him being temporarily assigned to the Corps of Engineers to work on bridges, fortifications, etc.

Do you need help tracking down his unit? If you provide his full name and home town, if available, someone here should be able to give you a hand pulling up some more info.

What is your ancestry name? need a name....