George,
I agree that the dates (1861 and 1865) listed were likely taken from the application for the headstone. The question in my mind is, "Where did those dates come from and who wrote them on the application?"
The original application was typewritten, and did not include a company, regiment, or rank for George Washington Bracey. I believe that a War Department clerk found a record or records that has those dates. All of the handwriting on the card, both the change of name to G. W. Bracy, and including the addition of company, regiment, and rank, as well as the dates in question, are in the same hand, in my opinion. I believe that hand is that of said clerk. I can't find any connection on any other record to the enlistment date of 8/17/1861, but there was a W. A. Bracy/Bracey who served in the 4th Mississippi Cavalry, Co. F. who was surrendered at Citronelle. Did the clerk find that record and assume that W. A. and G. W. were one and the same? If so, where did the 8/17 date come from? W. A. enlisted 7/16/1862. Is there another record somewhere in the archives that the clerk found showing that G. W. was indeed surrendered at Citronelle? The question is not settled in my mind. I wish we could find definitive proof for Leslie that he did serve honorably, but I don't think we can close the book and say that he did not.