Dennis, I can empathize with your thoughts. My great uncle, Pvt. Francis A. Boring, Co A, 18th Ga, ANV, was wounded sriously at the Wilderness in May 1864. He was furloughed home to recuperate in Georgia. He was captured in Roswell July 11, apparently as the left wing of Sherman's army swept around the river line and attacked Atlanta. He ended up in Camp Douglas. I'm sure his CO thought he was sending Uncle Frank to a secure area to recover, but he was caught at the edge of one of those shrinking areas, or ice floes, as Pam said. Good analogy, Pam. Stan