Ms. Fisher,

Can you find out some more detailed information on the circumstances, date, and location of this soldier's death? Knowing this would help to substantially narrow down potential locations, hospitals, and evacuation routes, etc. There were numerous hospitals to include regimental, and brigade hospitals surrounding the army. There were thirteen military hospitals in Nashville during that time period alone. With few exceptions, when a soldiers died they were immediately buried. Company A was from Benton County and Company E was from Decatur County which are both west Tennessee counties. It is possible that if he had a disease they may have sent him home to recuperate. Look at the "card" in his Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) and you will see a reference to an original record that is at the National Archives. The "card" is not the original record. The reference will likely be the original hospital roster/records that recorded his death and may have some additional information. There is a difference between being killed, died of wounds, etc.

Burial locations, as are often discussed on these message boards, it is an often asked question by descendants and unfortunately there is no answer solid answer to be given. It is possible that their ancestor was sent back home for burial but unlikely. Human remains were often taken care of immediately. Embalming was in its infancy and only those who could afford it (usually officers) were taken care of by private enterprisers and it was not until later in the war that the embalmers followed the armies. When graves were marked, they were marked with temporary wooden markers that may or may not have survived the war. If comrades survived the war and knew were someone was buried they may have come back and disinterred the remains and moved them to another location. The family could come at some point and disinterred the remains and move them back home. The logistical ability of most families, however, to do this was often economically infeasible. You had to obtain a air tight coffin, either hire someone to disinter the body or do it yourself, move the remains by rail to the nearest rail station to his home and then move the body to the cemetery from the rail station. Today, many an unmarked graves exists throughout the South for both soldiers and civilians.

I hope this helps some. Please let me know if you have any questions or need clarification.

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
War Between the States Historian
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
http://39thgavolinfrgt.homestead.com/39thHomepage.html