Heads were turning from all directions as I started to hoop and holler. TJ being but ten feet away rushed over to see what was up. There it was C,7999 issued to a C. Nelson of Company C, 22nd New York Cavalry. The incredulous look TJ possessed had to mirror my own. I paid the vendor his money and while floating through the rest of the show and drive home, I pondered where this search would lead me. Again those visions of my youth danced in my head, this carbine did have a story to tell after all, and I was determined to find it.

I started looking through my reference books and searching the Internet for anything associated with the Twenty-Second New York Cavalry. Very little information was forth coming and with me being the impatient type when I came across George Contant's web site "Soldiers in the Attic" I was intrigued. For a nominal fee, "Soldiers in the Attic" will research soldiers and sailors from Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that served in the Civil War. I provided what information I had by email and in a few days received a reply from Mr. Contant with information I was not prepared for. C. Nelson was Charles Nelson and not only did he serve in the Twenty-Second New York Cavalry, he had served a two year enlistment in the Thirteenth New York Infantry. I was asked if I wanted information on both regiments and indeed I did!

While waiting for the information to arrive from "Soldiers in the Attic", I sent the required forms to the National Archives located in Washington, D.C. for all Military Service Records of Charles Nelson for both regiments he served in. I also requested by form from the National Archives for any and all pension records associated with Mr. Nelson. A few short weeks were all it took to receive the packet from "Soldiers in the Attic" which proved to be very informative. Included was a synopsis of each regiment, providing me with such details as when and where Charles Nelson joined each regiment and when and where discharged from each. Material also included battles, campaigns and provided necessary information on how to obtain records from the National Archives. Mr. Contant also searches the U.S. Army Military History Institute for any known photographs of the individual you are seeking and indicates whether any books exist on the particular regiment that may be relevant to your research. The information from the National Archives took much longer to arrive, four months for the service records and five months for the pension files, but it was worth it. Service records included such things as muster rolls, passes, orders, transfers and more. The Pension files provided me with such things as Charles's wife's name, copy of marriage certificate and death certificate, whether there was any children and when Mrs. Nelson died.

In the mean time, each day brought new information whether from friends, my own research or paid sources. I was turned onto the Guild Press of Indiana by a kindred soul where I purchased "The Civil War CD-ROM" which contained the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" and "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" by Frederick H. Dyer. This was a great source of information for me along with numerous web sites as well.