Well I find it suspect, particularly if a state had a higher desertion rate then it carries more "honor" by having a higher casuality index? I don't think so. I suspect that politics and self adulation and picking of numbers and categories to make folks look and feel good were more important than raw truth when the table was developed. Not unlike today when the politicians selectively choose "facts". The sad part is the truth gets buried and then lost all too quickly only to be replaced with pseudo truth. Clearly from Cutlers comments the denominator used was the enlistment allotment not actual bodies, why, because it makes the Kansas sacrifice look greater. Where does Kansas fall if you use actual enlistments and KIA, Died of Wounds, & Died of Disease only figures from the table? I get 15.4 percent for Kansas Compare that to New Hampshire with 12.6% or 15.8% for Iowa and it appears that there is not significant differences and certainly no where near the purported rates.

John R.