You have not said if your family records give a date of his (G.W.'s) death. The records that Mr. Martin provides seem to suggest that maybe Capt. Baynes may have resigned his commission when he appiled for leave, since another Captain was appointed to rank from the same date as Capt. Baynes leave. James Willis' history of the 9th Arkansas does not shed any addition information on Capt. Baynes departure except that he had recieved pay. The middle of October would have been an odd date to be recieving pay.

I am wondering if the epidemic in Memphis at that time may have been playing a role in this matter? Several men of the 9th Arkansas Infantry died in the Memphis Hospital in September and October of 1861. But G.W. Baynes is not listed in Willis' Book as being one of those men.

You might be interetsted in this little snipeet from Edward Gerdes' Arkansas in the Civil War website'

On June 11, 1862, Major-General Earl Van Dorn, commanding the Confederate Army of the West at Priceville, Mississippi, issued General Orders, No. 39, calling for the organization of a battalion of sharpshooters in each brigade of the army. “These Battalions will be made up of chosen men, all of whom must be able-bodied, active and good rifle shots and of tried courage. . . All of the officers of the Battalion will be carefully selected and thoroughly examined before being recommended to the President for promotion or appointment to the Battalion. It is desired to bring the effective strength of each Battalion up to seven hundred and fifty (750) rank and file, if possible, and no pains will be spared to make the Battalions the elite of the Army of the West. An opportunity is therefore now afforded to young men of spirit to enroll themselves in a corps which is unquestionably to become the most distinguished in our Army. It is hoped and expected that no man will offer or be accepted into this select corps who is not resolved to lead in every daring enterprise which may be undertaken. Brigade Commanders will commence enrolling the Sharpshooters at once. Every proper means will be taken to fill up the Battalions as soon as possible. The men and officers of each company will be from the same State. The Brigade ordnance officers will see that the Sharpshooters are equipped with long range guns, and if possible that the guns of each company are of uniform calibre.”

In compliance with these orders, Colonel Thomas Pleasant Dockery, commanding the Second Brigade, ordered, on June 14, “there will at once be organized a Battalion of Skirmishers for this Brigade. These men will be detailed from the companies composing the different Regts of this Brigade in proportion to their physical ability, courage & skill as Marksmen. It is the intention to make this Battalion very efficient, therefore the officers will be selected with specially to their qualifications & will be recommended by the Inspector Genl & Brigade & Division Commanders to the President for promotion. Capt. Griff Bayne has been recommended as Capt. of Infantry, P.A.C.S. & authorized to organize a Battalion of Skirmishers in accordance with instructions above given. Commanders of Regts & Battalions will accordingly assist Capt. Bayne in selecting the required No. men from their respective commands and hold them in readiness subject to his orders.”