Thanks, Jim, for the kind words about PEA RIDGE. Earl Hess and I were very pleased at how well it turned out and how well it has been received.

Speaking of Earl, his latest book, PICKETT'S CHARGE: THE LAST ATTACK AT GETTYSBURG, was recently published. It is excellent and I recommend it to all.

As for the various possible explanations as to why Van Dorn ended up in the T-M and then in Mississippi, the material in the OR seems pretty straightforward to me. The two biographies of Van Dorn may contain additional information, but I am not too impressed with either one, especially the old Hartje book. Recall that Van Dorn was in command in Texas in 1861 and thus was one of very few ranking Confederates with recent experience in the T-M.