Ron, have you considered this idea...

I left the Shifowith Guards at Jackson, Mississippi

If you seperate the word "Shifowith" into "Shifo-with" you get this...

I left the Shifo with Guards at Jackson, Mississippi

Since we are dealing with transcriptions here I just thought maybe it was an item he left in charge of someone. Just an idea.

There is a list of Mississippi Company names you can view on the web. It gives the name in alphabetical order and states what regiment they were assigned to. I saw no "Shifowith Guards" listed. But you can also check this behind me at...

http://www.rootsweb.com/~mstallah/military/csa-unit.html

I checked Dr. Art Bergeron's Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units 1861-1865 and he shows no unit named Shifowith Guards either.

I have to leave for Dallas in a few minutes and will be back Sunday night. I hope to get my copies of the pics to you by Tuesday.