Thank you, Alan, for this very interesting info.

The only John M. Powers found on the 1860 Franklin Co, AL census
is a telegrapher about 15 years younger than my John M. Powers; his wife's name was Anna,;
and no children are listed. So this must be the one listed on the Database and
is not my ancestor, whose wife was Adeline and had 2 children by 1860.

I deeply appreciate your assistance and will continue my search for my lost CSA ancestor.