Hello,
I’m doing some research on my 3x great grandfather William Henry Wilson.
He was born in New York and later lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served in the Wisconsin 1st Inf. Co. G during the Civil War and after mustering out, went back to Nashville to start a carpentering business with the intention of moving his family to Nashville.
Late on 14 Sep 1865, he was mortally wounded on or near the Chattanooga railroad tracks in Nashville and was taken to the military railroad hospital. He died the next day on 15 Sep 1865. His death was initially thought to have been under mysterious circumstances. A man named Edward Otter was arrested and “lodged” in jail, but later cleared. The coroner empaneled a jury to investigate. The jury’s verdict was that the cause of Williams death was unknown. See Milwaukee Sentinel article from 21 Sep 1865 below. They got their information from the Nashville Daily Press, a paper that I’ve not been able to find.
So, at the time of his death he was a civilian but was taken to the military railroad hospital. Not sure why, perhaps it was simply the closest hospital or perhaps because he fell/landed on the railroad tracks, they had some kind of medical jurisdiction?
I realize that no official state or local death records were required or kept during this timeframe. However, due to the nature and circumstances of his death (i.e. an investigation and jury were involved), I’m wondering if the Army would have some kind of record(s), especially the military railroad hospital (name of which I don't have).
I'm looking at the National Archives site at the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 and wondering how I could order a search into these records:
94.12.3 Cards containing medical records and vital statistics
("Carded Records")
94.12.5 Other medical records
I would like to avoid having to purchase an entire microfilm roll for several hundred dollars.
Is there a way to place an order with the Archives eServices for less than an entire microfilm?
Thanks.