Re: 12th Ala Cav
That's correct. There's even a letter to that effect from Wheeler in Pointer's records. Wheeler, incorrectly I think, says Pointer was with the 10th Miss. Wheeler's memory seems to be lax on a number of subjects, especially dates. He was in Holly Springs from about July 18 to 20, 1862, when he was ordered to take command of Chalmers's cavalry. Interestingly enough, a document published by the US govt in 1891 dates Pointer's commission to July 20, 1862, but it has some errors re the other dates. My best guess is that Pointer free-floated after his 12 month enlistment in the 9th Miss Inf expired (as best I can tell, in June 1862). He may actually have been with the "new" 9th or 10th, but never had his name on any of their rosters. Or he may have been in some partisan unit, such as the 51st, until joining up with Wheeler in Holly Springs.