Having a wife and several small children, you can understand why Bennett was one of the last to join before the draft went into effect. Before the conscript act, men could volunteer in any command they wished. That was usually one that included familiar names and faces. Afterwards, well, all bets were off.

Having not seen the service file, I can't comment on the word 'near' in reference to Bennett's place of death. 'Near' usually means the local vicinity, Fort Smith being the nearest settlement having a post office. Bennett could have been in a private home or school or church maintained by volunteers. Sometimes when the need arose, sick or wounded soldiers were turned over to civilians for care. If a soldier had relatives or friends willing to nurse him, they might have come for him.

It's still be likely that his body would've been taken to Fort Smith for burial.

Confederate inspection reports, mainly from the last sixteen/eighteen months of the war, frequently mention the need for soap. Knowing the military from the inside out, you may not be surprised. There are many curious and interesting items in these reports.