You have stumbled onto what I began to understand earlier in my history career (Had help from some good researchers and professors in that regard). The war in Virginia was essentially a pinning action and in many ways a distraction from the main deal. Sadly the Confederate government never got it. The Yankees got it early on as they themselves desperately needed the Mississippi for navigation and crop delivery. It also helped in the looting of cotton to be sold to support the Republican party and its constituents. Along the Mississippi the Confederacy had two brilliant resourceful commanders in Forrest and Shelby, neither of which were used even remotely to their potential due the ring knocker club and politics. The Trans Mississippi tended to be a dumping ground for the politically connected and militarily inept as commanders go, which Shelby accomplished great things in spite of. The Tennessee saw the same to a lesser degree. I would strongly recommend General Shelby and His Men by Shelby’s Adjutant as a good primary source on the Trans Mississippi. If you are going through Vicksburg you will get lots on the Army of Tennessee (at least when I lived in Mississippi that was the case at the Courthouse Museum. Lamar Roberts, Pemberton SCV Camp member ran it). Thanks for your efforts and work!!!