Does your family tree include someone who died while serving during the civil war? My fourth great-grandfather, John Reed, enlisted in 1863, even though he was in his sixties. According to Find A Grave, John Reed, died in 1864 but his burial site is unknown. Because some trees, including sourcing on the FamilySearch tree, are placing John Reed in Andersonville, I recently obtained the full medical, service and pension files for John Reed.

While I still don’t know where John Reed was buried, these files show that John Reed got sick in the Memphis area, was hospitalized and died in Memphis.

In July 1864, a ‘Certificate of Disability for Discharge’ was added to his record.

Army of the United States
Certificate of Disability for Discharge

Private John Reed of Captain William S. Hubbard Company K of the Seventh Regiment of Indiana Vol Cavalry was enlisted by Lieut Siegfried Sahm of the Seventh Regiment of ind Vol Cav. at Indianapolis Indiana on the Seventh day of September 1863 to serve three years; he was born in __ in the state of New York is sixty years of age 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high light complexion blue yes fair hair, and by occupation when enlisted a farmer. During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty sixty days * having most of the time pains int he back right shoulder and arm also frequent spells of head ache and sick stomach he has complained of one or the other or both of these most of the time for the last two months and has been excused from duty on that account
Station: White Station Tenn
Date July 4 1864
Charles T Nobb
2d Lieut

I certify, that I have carefully examined the said private John Reed [ond?]
Captain W. S. Hubbards Company and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of general disability and a broken down constitution said patient is sixty years of age and has been totally unfit to discharge the duties of a soldier for two months In my opinion he is not a fit subject for field duty and unfit for the invalid corp.
Station: Whit Station Tenn
Date July 4th 1864
J Chit[wood]
Asst Surg in charge
7th Ind Cav

Discharged the 23d day of July 1864 at Whites Station Tenn
John P C Shanks
Colonel

The soldier desires to be addressed at
Town Berlin Post County of Clinton State Indiana

Also in his file is a discharge record dated 8 August 1864. In the middle of the document, is a statement that John Reed was ‘entitled to discharge by reason of death in Gayoso Hosp at Memphis Tenn Aug 18 / 64’

I certify, on honor, that John Reed a private of Captain W S Hubbard’s Company (K) of the 7th Regiment of Cavalry Volunteers of the State of Indiana, born in _ State of New York, aged [4]3 years; 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high; light complexion, blue eyes, light hair and by occupation a farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Indianapolis Ind., and enrolled in it at a muster into the service of the United States at Indianapolis, Indiana on the Seventh day of September 1863 …
to serve the term of three years; and having served honestly and faithfully with his Company in the Field to the present date, is now entitled to Discharge by reason of death died in Gayoso Hosp at Memphis Tenn Aug 18 / 64 of chron diarh
JME
The said John Reed was last paid by Paymaster Maj Dollman to include the 24th day of February, 1864, and has pay due him from that time tot he present date; he is entitled to pay and subsistence for traveling to place of enrollment, and whatever other allowances are authorized to volunteer soldiers, drafted men, or militia so discharged. He has received from the United States clothing amounting to forty one 47/100 dollars since the 7th day of September 186[3] when his clothing account was last settled. He has received from the united states ($25) twenty five dollars advanced bounty
…
Given in Duplicate, at Memphis Tennessee, this 8th day of August 1864
Wm S Hubbard
Captain

The Summary of Proof in the pension file for Mary Reed confirms John’s death at the Gayoza Genl Hospital on August 18, 1864. This record also indicates that John Reed was admitted to the hospital on July 26, 1864.

Service
The Adjutant General U.S.A. Reports name on rolls as John Reed
also the rank, company, and regiment, and the dates of Corpl Co K ‘7’ Ind Cav
as stated on preceding page. He also reports Enrolled Mustered into service
Death

On the muster & des roll of CO K consolidated with Co E dated Sept 19 1865 he is reported died in Hosp Memphis Tenn, Aug 18 1864 of Chronic diarrhoea
A.G. reports Privt John Reed Co K 7 Ind Cav as having died Aug 18 1864 at Gayoza Genl Hosp Memphis Tenn of Chronic Diarrhoea Admitted Jul 26 1864 from Regiment

Rejected widow died Feb 14 1867 & claim was not filed until May 13 67

The ‘M. and D. Roll of Men Transferred’ found in John Reed’s military file also indicates that John Reed died in a hospital in Memphis.

7 Cav. Ind
John Reed
Pvt, Co K 7 Reg’t Indiana Cavalry
Appears on
M. & D. Roll of Men Transferred
from the organization named above by consolid’n
Roll dated Sept. 19 1865
Present or absent
Company to which transferred
Remarks: Died
in Hosp Memphis Ten

x
Died at Memphis Tenn
Aug 18 64 of Chronic Diar
rhea [Side D.D.D.]

• As shown on Roll

B. Fit[ch]
copyist

John Reed’s service medical record also indicates that John Reed died Aug 18, 1864

7 Cav Ind
John Reed
Rank Pri Co K 7 Reg Ind Cav
Admitted July 2, 1864
To Gayoso U.S. A. Gen’l Hops.
Memphis, Tenn
From Regiment
Diagnosis, C Diarrhoea

…
Died Aug 18, 1864

age 61

Tem Reg. No. 621 HOs. No. 3347

[veoria]
Copyist

While I still don’t know where John Reed was buried, these files indicate that John Reed was in his sixties and died in a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.