I'm begining to think Capt box was making up ranks or did not really recognize the dead. William Jasper Wilhite from Saline county was refered to as a villionous rebel by his neighbors in Hawkin's Band but moved to California and died a happy man as a physician there quite respected.
Only other Wilhite that comes close in rank is LtC William D Wilhite but he was killed at Corinth MS in '62.
I've search Wilhite, Willhite, Wilhide, Willhide, Wilhoit to no avail. Frankly I can't find anybody with the last name from Missouri that even comes up dead in or around '63.
Me thinks Box may have got his names wrong. We have at least 3 other major recruiter names that were in the area with Jackman but I'm not all that sure this wasn't a Bushwacker group given their attempt to grab the steamer and wearing Union uniforms. Seems to me a more likely fit. I'll keep working at it but the trail is going cold.
John R