The data I forwarded was taken from the units roster posted in the American Civil War Research Database. They source this information on the Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865. His record in the National Archives Compiled Service Records contains only two cards. The one muster card found in his file gives no data as to his enlistment being only the Companies muster roll for the months of Jan/Feb 1862 which only records "Deserted August 2, 1861 at McDonald." The other card contains a reference of a communication with the Georgia State Board of Commissioners dated April 19, 1917. This would suggest that either he or his widow may have made application for a Confederate pension.
You might want to review the NPS Soldiers & Sailors System for a S. Howell in Georgia and look at the different units thumbnail sketches. These usually name the counties from which their soldiers were recruited. http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm
I found a S. A. Howell who enlisted in December 1863 at Decatur. There is a pension document under the pensioner S. A. Howell of a check made out to Annie Howell of PIke County dated May 11, 1932.
http://content.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/pension&CISOPTR=5973&CISOBOX=1&REC=1
S A. Howell
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 12/12/1863 as a Private.
On 12/12/1863 he mustered into "Hanleiter" Co. GA Thompson's Light Artillery
He died on 10/1/1864
Promotions:
* 8th Corpl 3/15/1864 (Estimated day)
* 7th Corpl 6/15/1864 (Estimated day)
* 6th Corpl 8/15/1864 (Estimated day)
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865