A great article on the 38th at Harrisburg! This battle has been my particular passion for a few years and I am closing in on the end of a book on the subject. Your "Beneath Torn and Tattered Flags" has been a welcome addition to my sources.

McCay did show a bit of reluctance in leaving central Mississippi and joining Forrest. In the July 5th letter to Elizabeth he said, “I can but hope that I am mistaken, but now feel that we are Forrest men, not temporarily, but permanently.” Others in Mabry's command also wrote about the reluctance of being assigned to General Forrest, in particular John Cato of the 4th Mississippi and Lt. A.D. Clifton of the 6th Mississippi. Both wrote about the increased number of desertions and their desire to return to the Canton area. But clearly the Hoskins letter July 8th shows some men were delighted to be under his command.

I have not seen the Hoskins letters before. I'm very excited to read them in thier entirety. Where did you find them?

Tom