I have read Col. Long's report but don't have a copy of it -- thanks for sending. I recall reading about their leaving 8 dead Confederates on the field and wondering if one of them was our ancestor. If so, they could have been buried near where they fell, with board markers put up that could have been removed and used for firewood later, as I have read occurred during the Union occupation of Dalton after the Confederates left.

The 154th was the first regiment to re-enlist in January 1864 and received a commendation from Richmond for it.

It makes sense that the 154th could have been one of the regiments sent to Demopolis if they were considered loyal and trustworthy enough to enlist first (they probably wanted those furloughs, too!). Not everyone was gung ho to return west -- In the book, Gray Winter of 1864 in Dalton" by Derrell Roberts reports, "some of the soldiers in Dalton had serious reservations about going to Mississippi..." A soldier claimed that almost half his brigade had vowed to desert if they were sent to Mississippi.

Well, this is certainly thought provoking and worthy of further research. It is possible that our soldier died in Alabama going to and from Demopolis, or he could have died in some type of small action around Dalton. We haven't looked in cemeteries in Alabama for him but will pursue a number of ideas this discussion has prompted.

The above book cites Augusta and Rome newspapers that were reporting in 1864 -- possibly there is a mention of Cooper's death in one of them.

Thank you again for the great information; I really appreciate this help. Should you need them, I will be happy to do lookups in the NW Ga, Dalton, NE Alabama or Chattanooga areas as I live centrally located to all of these places.

Glenda