Replying to your inquiry about a Smith ancestor and that he was in the Union Army-he would not have had to go North to join up. Several Union regiments were formed in Tennessee. My gr grandfather was mustered into Co A, 7th. Tenn Calvary, U.S. Army August 20, 1862 in Jackson, Tennessee. Your Smith could have bee in this one, but it is not the only Union regiment from Tennessee. Maybe he was from Decatur County instead of the town of Decatur. All of these locations are in West Tennessee. Good luck. Nelle