Mike, you answered the very basic questions I was after, which is a strong beginning. Miner was from the east, a lawyer, enlisting in late December 1861, some eight months after the war began. We have him pegged until June 1862 after which he apparently joins Douglas Coopers staff. Then we know he is dropped from the Rolls, no date given. I do not see him mentioned in the Trans-Mississippi Order book or in any of Hindman's Papers that I know of at present, therefore if he was dropped then he will appear in Holmes papers (which at present nothing has been done) from whom such orders would originate during that period. Further, there are but three reasons for being dropped from the rolls: desertion, medical, or through a court martial. During mid 1863 this was a common for the District of Arkansas, so I would presume the same for Texas, Louisiana and the I.T. What we need now is a track on D. H. Cooper's papers, which would give us a hint at least on who Miner was on Cooper's Staff.

I theorize that much of William A. Phillips early successes was very much based upon information provided by Miner and others, e.g. Fort Wayne. But then again I could be just dead wrong.