I'm betting that they went down the Butterfield Overland trail out of Syracuse and the battle took place between Florence (8 miles sw of Syracuse) and Mulholland Station (10 1/2 miles sw of Syracuse).

I wonder if Capt Box wasn't refering to the citizens of Florence or Mulholland Station nieghbood burying the dead as it would have been quite a trip to haul 12 dead soldiers all the way back to Syracuse?

Thank you both for your efforts. This gives me some scouting to do this winter.