When the 20th Illinois Infantry occupied the hospital grounds to make camp in Jackson, one of the hospital guards was recognized to be an Illinois man. He loudly proclaimed loyalty to the south and claimed to have enlisted in a Mississippi cavalry regiment at the outbreak of war ("Laywood's Cavalry"). He claimed to have been present during the battle of Britton's Lane and during the skirmish at Coffeeville, where he claimed to have been one of six men to shoot Lt. Col. McCullough.

I'm guessing this story is complete bull***t, all bluster meant to cover for the fact that he was a spy.

The name of the soldier was John Roberts, any chance his story could be resolved as true?