Ken --

Some years ago (1989-91) I prepared an extensive M.A. thesis on this topic based on a comprehensive survey of the 1860 census schedules for Barbour County AL. The study covered every unit raised at least partially within the county as the war progressed. Each company received a social profile based on residency (location within the county), land ownership, slave ownership and cotton production.

This was before the age of the internet and EXCEL, so I had to create my own databases and write my own programs. The project took about three years to complete. ADAH had prewar militia rosters, so the study includes several Barbour County companies which organized before the war.

The high percentage of men in early 1861 units drawn from non-agricultural professions surprised me. The initial wave of volunteers nearly always came from towns and cities. The large number of officers in all companies who reported a profession other than agriculture on the census also took me by surprise.

Does this have any relationship with your project.