Another question we have is whether was possible and believable for someone to sign up for the regiment early in the process of its formation and then report weeks or months later when the regiment was “called up”. Is “called up” even the right term?

Records show when regiments were formed. We know when the Missouri 15th was formed (August 1861) and when it began to see action (attached to the Army of the West in January 1862). But is it believable that the character in the novel signed up in May or June and then was called to the regiment in August?