There's not enough evidence on Thomas to make a definite connection. He could be the Thomas Graves working in Blountsville; can't say for certain.

The name Wilhite on the pension application is another matter. Since Captain Wilhite left for Texas before 1870, fourty years later his name probably didn't come up in conversation too often. Bottom line - don't think the widow or anyone assisting her pulled Wilhite and Curry out of the blue.

Don't have a dog in this hunt, no reason to buy except on firm evidence.

For any of Roddey's men, odds against finding a service record are good. Working with your Danville AL parole reference plus age and residence in 1860, we have a good suggestion that BJG belonged to Roddey's command in 1865. The names Wilhite and Curry on the pension application are the x/y coordinates that definitely place your man in a specific regiment and company.

This isn't a legal matter, so there are no rules of evidence here. However, in my opinion evidence for BJG's service in the 10th Alabama Cavalry, Roddey's command (and no service record) is far better than guesses made by family researchers on service file name only.