Companies early in the war were formed near local communities ofen from old militia companies. Naturally that often brought relatives and neighbors into the same company.

Once several companies were formed in a multi-county area (unless urban), they were then organized into a regiment and went off to the war.

A late enlistee might wish to serve with his friends and brothers and would catch up with the regiment wherever it might be. That would likely be the case with all those enlisting later in the war unless they were content to serve in another regiment.

Whenever a pariculer unit suffered horrendous casualties, an entirehome community could be devastated

- Ken