Bruce -
Thank you for your information. I really value your input. My thinking about where I stand on JWG is -
1. Most likely he was a conscript for the Confederate forces with Price's Expedition just as claimed. Recruited/conscripted when or where, into what unit or by whom all unknown, but since a native & resident of Saline County, possibility exists that all that took place before Price got to Saline Co & he joined the forces then for the rest of the fighting.
2. May or may not have been armed, reports say many weren't unless they had their own firearms, but weapons may have been obtained as the march continued. Probably was not in uniform - likely none were available.
3. I'm guessing in the cavalry because his capture was reported to be quite a ways away from Price's main army who was much closer to Arkansas. Running in small groups, trying to evade capture, maybe just get back home.
4. However he did it, Union officials accepted his conscript status and that resulted in inprisonment at Rock Island instead of treatment as a parole breaker from 1862 or bushwacker which would have probably been a death sentence.
If you see flaws in this, I would appreciate hearing them.

Survived the war, then loss of 1st wife and 1 son, re-married and had another family for which I am so thankful as one son was my grandfather. Quite a life.

Regards, Brenda