The LA units paroled at Vicksburg and Port Hudson were not exchanged until August 1864, over a year after their parole. From what I could find they all appeared to have been exchanged at the same time. There is a lot of confusion about the exchange and Kirby Smith issued orders saying they were exchange several months before it actually happened.

Thomas’ brigade was actually H. W. Allen’s brigade, when he got back to LA from Richmond and found out he had been elected Governor the brigade went to Thomas.

We actually explore the theory that a number of the veterans of Vicksburg and Port Hudson broke parole to fight in the battle of Sabine Crossroads and Pleasant Hill in our book. There is no hard evidence but there is some good circumstantial evidence.