Frank, thanks for the assist. There are several "mystery men" who served in various Arkansas regiments whose identity I'd like to confirm, and I think I can do that if I can find them in the 1860 census. The next time I do some work on my database, I'll send you a few names, along with the county I think they may be from, and see if you can find them in the census.

Since Arkansas soldiers, as a general rule, tended to enlist in companies organized near their homes, and tended to enlist with neighbors and relatives, the 1860 census is key to identifying men who are listed on muster rolls using only initials and last names. With a great many companies, you can set the company roster down next to the census enumeration, and tick off name after name. There's just no comparison to modern American soldiers, who enlist and go through basic and join a unit with no familiar faces around them.