Linda,
Thank you for a most excellent post.
"Most of the former CSA men went west to fight out there, I thought"
I think you are pretty close on this statement. Most did go west to confront the "Indian problem", but many did not see military service, in their case they promised to stay north of the Ohio river until the hostilities were over. I would guess that they took civilan jobs of some sort. I wish I could point the site where I read that, but time has a way with ones mind and I can't remember. :( I like what you say about the Illinois men who either stayed down south or came back after the hostilites were over. I have often thought that perhaps that is what happened to the ladies from Roswell Ga. that were sent north after Sherman occupied the Atlanta area. I think many of them in the time that they were north, met their husbands and stayed north.
In any case have a happy holiday time.
FC