Need help essentially finding a ghost!

[JB1008]

I am trying to find any information on one of my husbands ancestors. His name is Joel Leach, and the only information I have from him is he was born in TN between 1817-1820. The last census in 1860 puts him in Attala, MS with his wife, Frances Chinault, and he served in the 3rd Battalion Mississippi Calvary Reserves in the Civil War. He was taken POW in the last few months of the war, and was either captured or released in Alabama.

I have searched everywhere and this is all I can find on this man. No parents, no siblings, no town of birth, and nothing of his death. I do know that in 1870, his wife was in Arkansas and he was dead. Any information could be so so helpful. Thank you!

 

[JB1008]

Found some more information. He enlisted at Kosciusko, MS with the 3rd Battalion Mississippi Calvary Reserves, Co B. He was listed as POW, surrendered at Citronelle, AL on May 4, 1865, and was paroled at Columbus, MS May 16, 1865. He listed Winston Co, MS as his home on this record.

 

[AndyHall]

Not a ghost, just a little sneaky is all. Presumably he enlisted late in the war, in a reserve cavalry unit, due to his age. The following is (shamelessly, brazenly) stolen from someone's family tree at Ancestry:

Joel E. Leach, married Frances Elizabeth Chenault (Chinault, Chinnault, 1822-1886), January 15, 1840 at Marshall, Mississippi.

Children:

Mary F., b. 1842
Martha E., b. 1844
Stephen W., b. 1849
Martha E., b. 1849 (?)
Isaac, b. 1851
Joseph M., b. 1853-1899
Joel B., b. 1855
Margaret B., b. 1858

In the 1840 U.S. Census:
Expired Image Removed

In the 1845 Mississippi Census:
Expired Image Removed

In the 1850 U.S. Census:
Expired Image Removed

In the 1860 U.S. Census:
Expired Image Removed

Frances in the 1880 U.S. Census:
Expired Image Removed

Haven't found anything so far that provides details on his death, but it was presumably in Attala Co., Mississippi, where he and Frances had lived for years, and where she was still living in 1880.

 

[JB1008]

Her census in 1880 really baffles me. There's so many people on there! The missing birth records I understand. Tennessee wasnt too keen on keeping records back then. But its like he walked off of the face of the earth after his release from service. He is my one remaining brick wall in the US. None of the Leach/Leech/Leitch trees have anything on this guy

 

[JB1008]

So a little tip a friend dropped in my ear. He may have been sick, and listed Winston Co as his home because he was in a Veterans Hospital or soldiers home. Any idea if there where any in the area, or any hospitals?