I was surprised to see a number of Texas soldiers died at Des Arc and Cotton Plant in Nov. of 62. The Little Rock True Democrat published their names along with other Texas soldiers that died along the way in Arkansas, including some deaths at Camp Hope (Holmes) and Camp Nelson. The Little Rock True Democrat had a large circulation in Texas and by publishing their names the folks back home might know what had happened to their loved ones. Officers in these Texas units had requested the paper to publish these death lists to help get the word back home.
Anthony, does the Austin and Des Arc letters have anything good on Camp Nelson. You can e-mail me if need be. Would the printed Confederate Camp Nelson Cemetery pamphlet be of any help in your request for the VA headstone project. I've tried to think of something else written in stone that would show only about a fourth of the deaths at Camp Nelson are marked in the cemetery with an unknown soldier's headstone. Its going to be hard to get the VA to change its stand. Good luck!
R.D.