My grandfather and great-grandfather Holcombe did not enlist until June 1863. As they were sharecroppers and did not join earlier, I have often what caused them to join when they did. Family stories are that the 41 year old who took his 17 year old with him told family members when he left it would only take them 3 months to whip the Yankees and it would be a "growing up" expierence for his son. After your post I now believe he went because he did not have any choice. His brother came home for a new horse but instead took his family and the widows and their families to the mountians of Tennesse for the rest of the war and never returned. Probabley the smartest one of the brothers. - Ken