In December 1863 John Harlow appears on roll in Butler County. Having an exemption from service, it wouldn't make sense for him to enlist and actually leave home until forced to do so. Also, there's a man named John Harrell living in Butler County.

John Harlow's records are a little confusing because he also appears on roll with the "Morehead Rangers", a mounted company raised under orders of the Conscript Bureau in neighboring Pike County. He is only on one roll with an enlistment date of Sept 25, 1863. Harlow is also on roll with Goldsmith's company of exempts for two rolls, Sept-Oct and Nov-Dec 1863.

The roll lists him as age 35, exempt by reason of a substitute in the Confederate army. Based on the law passed by Congress in late December, he would have likely been conscripted during January 1864 and taken to camp. He could have been in camp as long as six months or more before being assigned to the Army of Tennessee.