What to do with the 43,000 troops and dependents from Going Home?

[Adm.Lee]

I always figured they would try to organize some new units around volunteers, and take a lot more and organize them to go home.

For instance, everyone from Maryland (pretty close to Norfolk) has the option of rapid demobilization, and will get delivered to their county seat. From there, they may be on their own to get home, but I would try to set up some kind of militia from the veterans to suppress marauders/bandits/New America once they settle down.

Folks from Colorado, well, it's a long walk, are you sure you wouldn't rather be in the Regulars?

I can't see Amtrak being much of a resource, as much as I love trains. If the infrastructure were still in good shape and there was fuel, sure. The railnet may be one of the first things to try to get running, IMO. What I can see would be big road convoys moving along the interstates to get to states further west. If someplace is not under control, then it might have to get bypassed.

One of my inspirations is the soldier colonies the Romans used to pay off their veterans: you get land, but promise to keep your arms clean in case we need you (or your son, as the case may be). I think a lot of places are going to have to keep armed militias/sheriff's posses available for a decade or so.