Lee would have been remiss in not utilizing such a talent pool. But there were exceptions, where talent from other states was recognized. Wm. T. Wofford, first Colonel of the 18th Georgia, assigned to the Texas Brigade, was one such officer. He had been a Captain during the Mexican war, and served with distinction. He was asked by Joe Brown to raise a regiment, which he did in April of 1861. First listed as a Georgia State regiment, the 18th was sent to the ANV, and went through additional training at Richmond, perhaps under the same circumstances as the 3rd. Arkansas. The 18th's Lt. Col was S. Z. Ruff, who had been a professor at the Georgia Military Institute in Marietta. When Hood was promoted, Wofford commanded the Texas Brigade at Antietam. In late 1862, the ANV was reorganized to group regiments with brigades from their home state. When Toombs was killed at Fredericksburg, Wofford was promoted to Brigadier General to command Toombs', ow Wofford's, brigade. Ruff was Col. of the 18th until killed at Knoxville. Wofford led his brigade from Fredericksburg through the Wilderness, where he was wounded. While in Georgia recovering, Governor Brown assigned him to command of the Northern District of Georgia, headquartered at Kingston. He requested the 18th be transffered to Georgia. When this was denied, he asked to return to Virginia. Again, he was denied. He organized troops in his district, and brought them under control. He surrendered from 4,000 to 7,000 men in May, 1865. John B. Gordon of Georgia was another success in the ANV, and later Governor of Georgia. It seems, except when Davis intervened for political reasons, talent was recognized and used to a greater extent than was true in the Union Army. We lost becasue of a lack of resources. Some of this lack was perhaps caused by the attitudes of some Governors, but not all. The effect of the blockade is questionable, but the cargoes carried by blockade runners were too often for profit, not to provide needed supplies, but that is another story. Stan