Very good points indeed. With the large number of those who left the Federal side, there had to be more than one reason for at least a few of them.
I know I've mentioned it before but this puts into play the questions I've had on hubby's GGGGrandfather and his 'defection'. After HE had surrendered the Charleston Arsenal while he was the officer in charge while the real one was away, he left the US service and joined the CSA as a quartermaster. He was born in Pittsfield, Mass. but grew up in St Augustine, Fl and areas aroud there until he joined the US Army and expected to be a career man. Did HE know some of the internal happenings around there? Why was the surrender demand made when HE was acting CO? Did he plan to leave before he did this or later? This was in December. There was a little more than 3 months to go before the start of the war. Maybe he did know at least by the supply list and demand that things were going down the pike and it was going to happen fast and sneaky.
I could be way off base, but there had to be more knowledge out there in the hands of some who did come over to the Southern side.

Pam