WOW! Dr. Jones was right...you folks are good! The old family story about him coming home from Vicksburg and sitting her up on a stump and telling her he had to go back (although I love the romance of it) may have been corrupted over the years...he may have been telling her that he had to go for the first time. It is for certain that he disappeared sometime between 1860 and 1870 (census) and the widow's pension has the exact date of death (30 March, 1865--Exactly 141 years ago today), which would lead me to believe that he joined after Vicksburg as you state. The details that have come down (dying at Hot Wells, etc.) also seem to parallel what is known of that group. I would be interested in reading Captain Harper's story...where might I locate a copy?
Thank you so much for your contribution. I really appreciate it.
M. Christopher Washam, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Kinesiology
Mississippi College, Clinton MS