I have done a lot of looking at names and rosters of Attala County, Mississippi units and I have found several instances where I am certain a soldier is listed as J.W. ***** in one roster and W.J. ***** in another roster for another unit. I have wondered if it is because he may have been captured, then paroled. I seem to recall once a Confederate prisoner was captured, then paroled, he was supposed to give an oath not to take up arms against the union again. I don't know if there was any penalty for breaking the oath, but the possibilty may have convinced some of these fellows to rearrange their names. Not exactly an alias, but still pretty damned confusing. To me anyway.
Rob Williams