Alan, I'm just starting to look into this but a Google book serch for "Confederate teamster blacksmith" yielded a biography of Gen. Patton Anderson and just glancing at it he seems to be very much against Gen. Pat Cleburne's idea of enlisting blacks. The 7th Mississippi was part of Patton Anderson's division. I wonder if this might of been the reason I have found a "regimental blacksmith"

This is part of Richard Chaddick's CSR...

Roll Card dated March and April 1863

Roll card dated July and August 1863.

Lt. Colonel Johns of the 7th Mississippi was his cousin by marriage. The Col. Whitfield mentioned was from the 9th Mississippi. The two regiments had been combined during this time.