Yep, I missed that post, or it didn't connect at the time. I've since gotten about 23 records off of fold3.com and I'm trying to sort them chronologically. I did notice that one of them recorded JOJ as being a sergeant in the 32nd after Fort Donelson's surrender, but the 26th took him back as a private, then promoted him from private to sergeant around January 1865.

I'd love to find out what I can about his service in the US Army from 1855-1860. All I have is that, by the time he separated, he was a Corporal, then, from 1860 until he enlisted in the 26th, he was a sadler.

I'm not sure about the origins of the "homemade gun" comment. I'll have to look back. My 26th/32nd historian friend said that the most likely thing he carried was an Enfield, and it was not likely that he carried the NCO sword at any time. If he did have a sidearm, it was likely to have been a Confederate "knock-off" of the 1851 Colt Navy, the Leech and Rigdon version, that was manufactured in Columbus, MS. I thought it was cool that Uberti and Pietta make that version, and the rare Dance Brothers version that was made in Texas is re-created for sale on dixiegunworks.com. While I'm on strange pistols, look up "Savage Navy Revolver" online. That's about the weirdest gun I've seen in my life!