Wow ... that makes so much sense. Now I understand one of the pieces that has been eluding me for years, I should have joined this forum a long time ago! :-)

I knew about Joe Johnston's relief that didn't arrive in time but never supposed R.W. was involved in that, I'd always been hung up on the idea that he must have somehow been fighting at the Big Black River battle of May 17 (and was captured during retreat from it; some of the history books' only mention of Big Black is of the retreat to Vicksburg and the Confederates captured ... I just assumed that was it) ... to now see that it was during another, much smaller engagement, almost two months later ...

Very good, sir, a thousand thanks! My family and I certainly appreciate the help ... and now I can focus new research in the right direction; I've never given a moment's notice to that particular part of the Vicksburg story.

As for the Cozzens book on Iuka and Corinth, I knew nothing about that, either. I'm in the process of ordering it right now, it should be fascinating.

Thanks again!