Although I do not share your thoughts in the first paragraph, your last paragraph quoting your thesis appears similar to my general thoughts. And it is based on tons of research, no doubt.

Thank you for the suggested reading. It is a subject that has intrigued me for a long time. I have an incomplete military record (reckon they are all incomplete) of a Confederate soldier who officially deserted his unit in Dec. 1862. I have two photos of him, including a group photo of a Confederate Reunion in Humboldt, TN. He is holding a musket, perhaps an Enfield. He had to travel from NE Texas to Middle Tennessee at an advanced age to make that reunion and I cannot imagine he would dare show up if there was a question that he would not be welcome.

One more thing. Posting and e-mails are not the best form of communication. I apologize to both you and Alan if I wrote anything that appears disrespectful because that was surely not my intent.

Joe