I can't find any veracity to this story [below link]. It is a falsified document in much later years or a stated lie to help and assist the individual in question, the affiant.
There is no Company M in Thomas' Legion, it stops at Company K. No companies used the letter "J" as it sounded like "A". I have also searched all my databases for the names listed as well as every 8th Tennessee, respectively. Neither of the individuals served in Thomas' Legion or the 8th Tennessee. I also tried all North Carolina and Tennessee for their respective Confederate service and still came up wanting.
I am awaiting Matt Brown's response from the North Carolina Office of Archives and History: Special Publications.
The locations for Thomas and Smith are also incorrect. But is has me very curious...Do you have any insight to this document?
Story in question is located on below link:
http://home.att.net/~lnschil1533/OtherStuff/WebLetterJohnL-02.htm
I am the editor for Netscape and AOL's Open Directory Project: North Carolina Infantry:
and host the Thomas' Legion website:
http://thomaslegioncherokee.tripod.com
Regards Matt Parker