I am researching my great-great-grandfather, William Thomas Briscoe, a Belle Isle/Andersonville survivor and sergeant in Company E, 9th Maryland Infantry. He enlisted in Baltimore (his hometown) on June 22, 1863, and was captured on Oct 18, 1863 at the "battle" between Col. Simpson and Gen. Imboden at Charles Town, Virginia, as were most in the 9th. I have his military service record and pension files. I'd be interested to know if there are any other resources for information on the 9th Maryland Infantry, other than what's in 'Maryland's Blue and Gray' and the 'History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-6, Volume 1.' There was an article published about ten years ago on the Charles Town battle; however, it does not go into detail about the 9th Infantry. I'd be particularly interested in published/unpublished memoirs from soldiers in the 9th.

Additionally, I am trying to establish a link between William Thomas Briscoe and Corporal Andrew J. Briscoe, also in the 9th (Company D). Like William, Andrew was in his mid/late 20s (age being a rather fluid thing on records of this period), a cigar maker from Baltimore, enlisted on the same date, and was captured at Charles Town. He died while a prisoner at Belle Isle. There are the only two Briscoes listed on the 9th roster. My hunch is that there is a connection. I have recently obtained Andrew's military record. It sheds no light. I have census records for Baltimore from 1850 and 1860. These establish residences and parents for William Thomas but not for Andrew J. Unfortunately, there are no birth records pre-1875 in Maryland/Baltimore. I have contacted the Maryland State Archives and been told that it has to be researched at the parish level. Since I don't know either denomination or church of worship, this approach could be difficult to pursue. I'd be interested to know if anyone has experience conducting this kind of research and what tools they used.

Thanks in advance.

James Gurley