"Looks like the largest group being enlistees in U.S. Navy in January 1864"
Stuart,
That makes sense to me. Seems that about that time the Navy was real short of men to operate the vessels. The Secretary of the Navy tried to "borrow" some men from the Army but the Secretary of War would not loan him any so it makes sense that he would use those men if they would sign on. Kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Fill his quota and relieve the pressure on the prison system. FC