Hello Alan, The reason why I posted a few lines from Sergeant Barnett's letter was because while some letters have been posted online by the ADHA some have not and his is one of them that have not been posted.

Each soldier had his own particular handwriting style at times. Sgt. Barnett capital F looked like a H. Only by looking how he made his capital H's starting sentences and by looking at how he started his sentences with a F was the ADAH able to determine his correct name should have been listed as Joseph F. Barnett on his folder containing the letters instead of Joseph H. Barnett. I believe Mrs. Dupree at the ADHA said she would amend the folder to read Joseph F. Barnett in the near future. I did show her his CMSR's which stated Joseph F. Barnett which led to Mrs. Dupree to reading the entire letter.

I'll mention this not necessary for you Alan as in my opinion you're an outstanding researcher but rather for others who may have an interest in Alabama soldiers.

If someone has ancestry go to their board and click on search at the top and then scroll down until they see Card Catalog. They will see two boxes at the top and the first one says Title. Enter the word Alabama and in the 2nd box below enter Muster Rolls. Click on the blue and then to the right choose the unit in this case the 17th Alabama Infantry. Below another box will pop up with a listings of companies and in this case it would be Company I. Looking at the 4th image you will see "Statement of an election held at New Providence Pike County Alabama for a election of officers of the Pike Guards July 27, 1861" The 2nd column of numbers are probably their ages when enlisted.

New Providence appears to now be a ghost town

I totally agree with you about counties changing their boundaries from time to time. Sometimes areas today are quite different then they were in 1860.

From time to time while doing the biographies of the dead now at the Camp Chase Cemetery I'll run across something that I feel is worth posting as the case with Sergeant Joseph F. Barnett. By the way others soldiers the young lady received letters from also mentioned Mt. Hilliard.