What Happened After Discharge?

[Martin1268]

Hello. I have a question that has bothered me for quite awhile concerning my g-g-g-grandfather and his discharge. He was a native of Sweden and served in the Company H, 43rd Illinois Infantry. Here's what I know: He volunteered after only living in the US for 4 years, He probably only spoke rudimentary English, He said he was 45 years old, but he was actually 49, His discharge papers state that he was discharged in Bolivar, TN on August 22nd, 1862 for Pthisis Pulmonaris (Tuberculosis) and Rheumatismus. This is where his trail goes cold. In the 1870 census, his wife is listed as a widow. I can't find him in any of the cemeteries in the area where he lived, so I was wondering how these soldiers would have gotten home. Were there guerillas lurking around that could have done him in? Would he have traveled alone? What forms of transport would have been provided for him to get back home? Perhaps he just didn't ever get back home. If anybody can help me answer some of these questions, I would be very grateful. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome. enjoy. I believe if there was a train or ship available they might be taken to the closest point to where they were from. I'm sure others went of of their own accord either home or somewhere else. Being seriously ill would have been a real problem.

 

[SJU5]

Hello. I have a question that has bothered me for quite awhile concerning my g-g-g-grandfather and his discharge. He was a native of Sweden and served in the Company H, 43rd Illinois Infantry. Here's what I know: He volunteered after only living in the US for 4 years, He probably only spoke rudimentary English, He said he was 45 years old, but he was actually 49, His discharge papers state that he was discharged in Bolivar, TN on August 22nd, 1862 for Pthisis Pulmonaris (Tuberculosis) and Rheumatismus. This is where his trail goes cold. In the 1870 census, his wife is listed as a widow. I can't find him in any of the cemeteries in the area where he lived, so I was wondering how these soldiers would have gotten home. Were there guerillas lurking around that could have done him in? Would he have traveled alone? What forms of transport would have been provided for him to get back home? Perhaps he just didn't ever get back home. If anybody can help me answer some of these questions, I would be very grateful. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

What was his name?

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome from South Florida and the Reenactors Forum

 

[Zella]

Welcome to the Ancestry forum and CWT!

 

[Martin1268]

What was his name?

His name was Peter Gustafson. Also, I was incorrect. He was actually discharged on July 22, 1862 at Bolivar, TN.

 

[Martin1268]

Here is a copy of his discharge...

 

[Taylin]

What's his wife's name friend?

 

[DixieRifles]

Welcome. enjoy. I believe if there was a train or ship available they might be taken to the closest point to where they were from.

There was a railroad that ran from LaGrange to Jackson and it passed through Bolivar. I believe it was the Mississippi Central RR.
I visited Jackson to check out their large Confederate cemetery which as I recall was mainly unmarked graves. I've read that many of the wounded soldiers were brought south and left at places like Jackson, TN, and in towns along the Mobile & Ohio RR. So it is logical that he could have traveled North to Columbus, KY or even traveled up and then back down to Memphis, as it was in Union hands by August 1862. Since this was so soon after the Battle of Shiloh, he could have been transported to Pittsburg Landing and taken "up" the Tennessee River to a good Union hospital.