Frank, should you ever get the chance, try and make it to Bedford Virginia. They have a D-Day Memorial Park there. Honoring all the services. What I liked is that they mentioned that there was a casualty rate of 1 in 26 for the Merchant Marine during the Second World War. Higher than any of the formal military branches of the service. ( Marines was next highest, with I believe 1 in 34). Though it wasn't about the Civil War, I once got into a little dispute on this board when somebody said being in the Merchant Marine was like working in a defense plant during the war. Huh, let me clue y'all in. I in 26 Defense Plant workers WERE NOT casualties in the big one.

Cump Turchin.