Matthew, I believe that Mitchell Sanders reply is the answer. Many men signed up for independent companies in April and May of 1861. However, some of those companies had not been assigned to regiments that were being sent to Virginia and the Carolinas where the actual fighting had begun. Being impatient and ready for a chance to get into the fight, they joined units that were heading for Virginia even though they had already joined volunteer companies.

Sometimes the company records only say "left with another company" or "did not muster with the company" or "absent when muster was called". In Newman's case, it looks like he joined the 21st Miss. "Steven's Rifles" and went to VA.

Check records very closely since J.N. Newman was identified as (John) not Jasper. Typos and transcription errors do occur so I would check the records from the 21st Miss. Company C.

But in no way does his transfer make him any less a member of the "immortal sevnth" Mississippi.

Ron Skellie
7th Regiment Miss. Inf. Historian
"Lest We Forget-The Immortal Seventh Mississippi