Alan, thanks for the point of view. I think I'd lean toward health reasons, maybe youth. New information for me that officers in the Army of Tennessee started getting reviewed in 1863. We know Lacey was literate, and he was proud of studying as much as he could to learn military tactics, so I don't think he'd be afraid of being examined. But then the others in his regiment who resigned for health reasons - it was quite clearly spelled out that it was for health reasons. I'll keep working on it ...