My question: Why would a company from Mississippi be sent to join a Virginia regiment?
This is what i know of this company:
Private John Allday
46th Mississippi Infantry
formerly Co "K" 6TH BATTALION MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (BALFOUR'S)
Company K -- Kemper Guards, aka Mississippi Rangers (raised in Kemper County, MS)
Kemper Guards (company Mississippi volunteers; attached as Company F to 59th Virginia Infantry.
Company K had gone to Virginia in July, 1861, had been attached to the Fifty-ninth Virginia, served in West Virginia, took part in the battle of Roanoke Island, N.C., February 8, 1862, was captured and had returned to Mississippi on being exchanged.
On 17 October{1862}, Chambers was detailed to duty in the city and on his return he noted that, what would become the final piece of the regimental puzzle had fallen into place with the arrival of Company K, the Kemper Guards of Kemper County, CPT D. C. Durham, Commanding.
The Kemper Guards were not, as Chambers calls some "raw recruits"; this was a well seasoned and blooded unit. Having gone to Virginia in July 1861, they had been incorporated into the 59th Virginia Infantry Regiment, and, had been attached to "Wise's Legion." They served in West Virginia and participated in the Battle of Roanoke Island on 8 February of 1862 where they were captured. They were paroled and exchanged in September of that year, after which they returned to Mississippi.
on 4 December 1862, at a formal ceremony, the order was read designating the former 6th Battalion, Mississippi Infantry as the 46th Mississippi Regiment. The regiment was comprised of the following companies: