If these Arkansas Post troops were looked down upon by Richmond as you state, why were they able to keep their officers? Why were these same officers promoted? Why were these troops put into a command usually given the task as first-wave assualt troops?- A position of honor and high regard in the Confederate Army and one not usually given to recently exchanged troops weakened from prison life. One fact about these troops that may have been another reason in their return to west, was that a great many of them were dismounted cavalry; a service that the ANV may not have needed at that time, and the Confederate western forces had a great deal of.

I have not seen any record of Richmond coming down on these troops or treating them with dishonor.

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David Upton