Mike one more for you---

THE PRIVATE SOLDIER.

6. In the fullest sense, any man in the military service who receives pay, whether sworn in or not, is a soldier, because he is subject to military law. Under this general head, laborers, teamsters, sutlers, chaplains, &c. are soldiers. In a more limited sense, a private soldier is a man enlisted in the military service to serve in the cavalry, artillery, or infantry. He is said to be enlisted when he has been examined, his duties of obedience explained to him, and after he has taken the prescribed oath.

General August Kautz's, USA,”Customs of Service, for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers" (1864), page. 11

As some will tell you this is just not addressing who is considered a Union soldier, but there views of what constitutes a Confederate soldier. Here is a good example ---

Jenny-- Negro Girl-- Received at the Myrtle Street Prison the 13th day of Feb. 1864 from Peter Coring, US officer. Sent forward from Prov. Mar. Genl on the first day of February 1864. By order of Col. Marsh.

Jenny "negro Girl"
Signed William Lonergan--Keeper
(Unfiled Papers and Slips Belonging in Confederate Compiled Service Records)

Now for those "policy" people, please tell me if this girl was captured armed or not, was she in the field, how does she fit in under Kautz's description of a soldier. As them the hard question, I bet they go to insulting you. Then you know you have got them beat.

George