As for this being a learning experience, I absolutely agree. The period of time in which a man enlisted and local circumstances are quite meaningful. Few people seem to pay any attention to this.

You're working with detail from the manuscript census, just as I did in my county survey. The published census is different. It provides aggregate data, such as total households in Sevier county, total number of farms of three acres and up, total acres being farmed, total of each crop harvested, value of farm acreage, number of horses, pounds of tobacco, number/size of church congregations, number/size of schools, specifics on industrial operations such as grist mills, saw mills &c.