Wayne,

Excellent reasoning. The left of Nicholls' brigade passed close to the Christian Benner place on their advance in the early evening of 2 July. So the place is indeed a logical point where the wounded from Nicholls' brigade on Culp's Hill would initially be carried, and also a convenient location for the division ambulances to take charge of the wounded and convey them to the hospitals in the rear. But those dead or mortally wounded who died quickly could well have been left at the Christian Benner place and then buried late on 3 July by their comrades who by then had fallen back across Rock Creek but who maintained an active skirmish line until their withdrawal very early on 4 July. Now let's confirm with extant sources. In fact, wounded Confederates did occupy the Christian Benner house, barn and yard, and a red hospital flag was nailed to the roof of the house. Six burials were subsequently recorded at the Christian Benner farm. Obviously at least one was missed, but I will wager that others are still there in scattered locations. As Greg Coco points out, the one excellent eyewitness source is Christian Benner's second son, who was 19 at the time of the battle and remained in his house as the battle raged. His full account can be found in Battleground Adventures, by Clifton Johnson, chapter XIX, titled "The Farmer's Son." Incidentally, Federal skirmishers occupied an orchard opposite the house on the afternoon of 2 July, before being forced back by the Confederate assault. The son mentions speaking with a wounded North Carolina soldier at the house (most likely from the 1st or 3rd regiments in Steuart's brigade). After the battle a dead soldier was found in the nearby woods by a neighbor (Tawney); Christian Benner and his son helped bury that body nearby. Is it the same body whose remains are the topic of this discussion? Or does another soldier (or soldiers) lie there still undiscovered?