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Bill Nolan:
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In case you’re interested, I'm including the following "age" data about Bourland's Regt. that was accepted into the CSA in March 1864 although they were informally organized in February 1863. ..That means that Bourland began keeping formal CSA records in March 1864 but those archival records did not show the ages of his men and were difficult to read, even harder to interpret, and yes, fragmented.
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Then, I tackled the BOURLAND PAPERS — all three microfilm reels — thinking they would shed light on the CSA Bourland’s Regt. records. ..Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the BOURLAND PAPERS showed that Bourland was in the Fort Worth area one week, in Fort Arbuckle the next week, and in the Cass County TX area the next week. ..The BOURLAND PAPERS determined the huge scope of my book.
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Thus far, I have “age” data on only about one-fourth of the about 860 men of Bourland’s Regiment, but of the about 215 soldiers, those over the age of 40 were:
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CSA soldiers born between 1824 and 1819
.....23 soldiers’ age 40 to 45
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CSA soldiers born between 1819 and 1804
.....13 soldiers’ age 45 to 64
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CSA soldiers born before 1804
.....2 soldiers’ age was greater than 60
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Therefore, I need birth data on the men in Bourland’s Regiment, so please send any hint you may have on the age of any of his men.
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Recruits under age 18.

Yes, Bourland had several soldiers under the age of 18, including one of my direct ancestors, who at age 16 was detailed to “drive beeves”. ..This kid probably had only dreamed of touching a gun.
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In my research, several kids as young as age 12, have popped up as officially mustered into the Confederacy. I suppose I should’ve kept a running listing. ..And yes, in my militia listings, I have several men “over age 60” and “under age 18” listed. ..Plus the census data has proven that some were under age 18.
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Bourland’s name besmirched
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One objective in writing my huge book was to “correct” the record about Col. James Bourland (1801-1879), who has been sorely misunderstood by historians, primarily because the CSA archival records and BOURLAND PAPERS are too hard to read and too numerous - extensive - for students seeking a masters’ or a doctor’s degree.

e.g. I submit that I am the only researcher who interpreted a February 10, 1865 document (ORIv48/1[S#101]p1382) as a promotion for Bourland instead of a demotion espoused by previous researchers. ..I think that’s because the scope of my book is far beyond what others have tackled: i.e., in the waning days of the War, the records were increasingly fragmented, and skipped by most serious researchers.
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Bourland was the definitive Indian fighter who was quite pragmatic, i.e., toward the end of the War, he did what it took to save the settlers of North Texas and their properties.
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Yes, it is easy to recount what the rules were, but those were the rules of the early days of the Civil War. ..Bourland was interested in the condition of his “boots on the ground”.
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Quoting Bill Nolan:
" ... in May of 1862 when the [CSA] Army was reorganized. All soldiers over 42 and under 18 were sent home. ..."
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com