Robert M. Bell, age 32 years, was enlisted as Private on April 2nd, 1862 in Captain McLean’s Company, Company H (Union Rebels), 6th Regiment Florida Infantry by J. J. Finley at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. (Company Muster Roll for April 2nd, 1862 dated April 21st, 1862.

He is reported absent on the Company Muster Roll for November & December, 1863. This roll documents his rank as “5th Sergeant”; it also documents him as “missing” at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25th, 1863.

He appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War captured by Major General Thomas at Missionary Ridge on November 25th, 1863, and forwarded to the Military Prison at Louisville, Kentucky on December 7th, 1863. He arrives on December 8th, 1863, and was transferred the same day to Rock Island Barracks, Illinois, arriving there ~ December 11th, 1864.

He appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois [undated, brief shows May 1864], who desire to take the Oath of Allegiance. He was documented as stating that, “Believes the southern cause is wrong”.

He appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War enlisted at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois, in the U.S. Army for frontier service on October 17th, 1864.

Robert M Bell