Captain John Kelso entered Confederate service May 9, 1861 at New Orleans in Company B, 2nd Louisiana Infantry, dropped from rolls April 30, 1862,
one card in his file pertains to service in a Courts Martial, leads me to believe he may have been an Attorney, see below

.................

Captain John Kelso, Company E, 16th Battalion Louisiana Infantry, formerly Kelso's Company Louisiana Heavy Artillery (Conf. Response Battn La), cards are filed with (Consolidated) Crescent Infantry, Louisiana
See: http://www.acadiansingray.com/Confed.%20Gds.%20Resp.(12th-16th)%20Bn.%20Inf.htm#Company%20E

..............

Captain John Kelso

Consolidated Crescent Regiment Infantry - General Index Card

Captain John Kelso, Company A, Batt'n. Heavy Artillery, Louisiana - see 16 Batt'n La. Inf., Co. E, Capt/Capt

"See Also Personal Papers A. J. Chambers, Captain Kelso's Co. A, Battt'n Hy arty La (misc) - March 22, 1863, Fort De Russey"

His records consists of vouchers and letters, the first seems to be that dated May 1, 1863 for stationary "for myself as Commander of the Gun Boat Fleet," documents indicate he was Commanding Post at Alexandria, he is recorded as Assistant Inspector General, Office General Court Martial, Alexandria August 9, 1864, paroled June 8, 1865 at Alexandria, Louisiana among those surrendered by General E. Kirby Smith, Commanding the Army of the Trans-Mississppi Department, resident of Rapides Parish

.............

A. J. Chambers, Private Company A, Heavy Artillery, enlisted by Captain John Kelso at Alexandria on 22 December 1862 in Company A, Battalion Heavy Artillery, Fort De Russy, discharged for disability March 22, 1863