I have to believe however, that being recorded present at the February 29th muster, he must have died sometime later.
Below I note the first engagements that winter and their follow-on history.
George Martin
During the winter of 1864, the Union army performed what was called a "Demonstration on Dalton, Ga. February 22-27" Here is just one of their numerous reports on this action.
HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV. CAVALRY,
Near Lee's House, Ga., February 27, 1864.
GENERAL:
I have the honor to submit the following report:
In compliance with orders received February 21, 1864, from headquarters Department of the Cumberland, I left Calhoun, Tenn., Monday, February 22, 1864, in command of 600 men (350 mounted infantry and 250 cavalry), and marched out on the Spring Place road. Monday evening I encamped near the house of Mr. Waterhouse, on Connesauga River, about 30 miles south of Calhoun. I met no enemy during the day.
I left my encampment near Waterhouse's Tuesday morning. February 23, at 7 a.m. (having communicated with General Cruft at Red Clay the night before), and marched toward Dalton. My advance guard drove in the enemy's vedettes when within 4 miles of Dalton. I immediately pushed on my column rapidly and attacked a regiment of rebel infantry, which was encamped within 3 miles of Dalton, driving them from their camp and capturing 12 prisoners belonging to a Mississippi regiment. The enemy then formed, and I withdrew my command to Russell's Mill, distance of 4 miles east of Varnell's Station, and encamped for the night. There I received a communication from Major-General Palmer requesting me to advance in the morning, February 24, in the direction of Dalton via Varnell's Station.
I left my encampment at Russell's Mill at 6 a.m., February 24, and reached Varnell's about 7, where I halted until about 10 a.m., in the mean time sending small forces on the different roads leading from Varnell's. They met no enemy, and I pushed on toward Dalton, marching on a road running parallel to the Cleveland and Dalton railroad. When within 5 miles of Dalton I met with the enemy's pickets. My advance squadron drove them to within 3 miles of Dalton. I then fell back 2 miles, and drew my command up in line on a ridge 1 mile west of the railroad awaiting movements of the enemy. I remained in my position, when I was joined by Colonel Grose, commanding a brigade of the First Division, Fourth Army Corps. Soon after the arrival of Colonel Grose, I dismounted my command and advanced in line against the enemy, driving their skirmishers about a mile in the direction of their camp, but there I was compelled to fall back, being attacked by a brigade of rebel infantry, who were firing at my men from behind log-huts. I fell back to the line of Colonel Grose, and soon afterward (as it was nearly dark) retired about 2 miles to the rear, where I encamped for the night.
The next morning, February 25, I took a position on the left of our infantry lines and advanced as they did. I moved up about half a mile, when my men became engaged with the enemy. I was then joined by 100 men of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, who had been ordered to report to me by Brigadier-General Cruft. I pressed on against the enemy until I had gotten a short distance in advance of the left of our infantry lines. I then halted, and remained in my position during the remainder of the day. At dark I retired about a mile to the rear where I remained until 11 o'clock p.m., when I moved my command back on the Dalton and Varnell's Station road, about 3 miles from the place where we fought during the day.
On the morning of the 26th, I moved to Lee's house, where our infantry was encamped, and remained there until about 1 p.m., at which time our pickets were fired upon by the enemy's cavalry, when I marched out and drove the rebels off. I followed them about 2 miles in the direction of Tunnel Hill, when I returned to my camp of the morning.
My horses had had very little forage, not being able to draw any and there being very lit? in the country. I could not have pursued the rebel cavalry vigorously if the country had admitted of it, which it did not.
During the night our infantry fell back to a place near Catoosa Platform, and I am now near my camp of yesterday.
The following is the list(*) of casualties in my command since February 22.
I had no means of ascertaining the injury done the enemy, but it was reported that 8 bodies were left on the field. I took 23 prisoners.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ELI LONG,
Colonel, Comdg. Second Brig., Second Div., Cav.
Brigadier-General WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[OR Ser.I, V32 pt 1 pp. 472 -473]
From Military Annals of Tennessee, Ed John Berrien Lindsley, Vol. 2, p. 597,
The regiment was " . . . at Missionary Ridge; in the fights around Dalton and Rocky Face; at Resaca; at Adairsville; at the crossing of the Etowah and Kingston; at Lost Mountain and New Hope Church; on the Kennesaw line, in front of Marietta, where it formed part of the force which held the Dead Angle; at the crossing of the Chattahooche; at Peachtree Creek; with Hardee on the 22d of July, 1864; in the defense of Atlanta; at Jonesboro; at Lovejoy's; at the capture of Dalton; at Columbia and Spring Hill; in the bloody battle of Franklin, where Cheatham's division lost five Generals, and was left with a Colonel in command; at Nashville; in the retreat from Tennessee; and at Bentonville, N. C., the last battle of the war."