Mike
... I looked through all the other indexed "J", "J.A.", "James", "James A" and anything close. The one mentioned in the 29th Tenn was the only one noted that was even close to the region in question, age range, and had actually noted as possibly survived the war... At least a possibly better target subject to research further on.

Do you know if he had any brothers, cousins etc that might have also served?. Since he was a early war enlistee (v/s late war conscript) it was common that brothers, cousins, friends would all enlist together at or near the same time into the same unit. Hense could check for them in that same unit to see if they might have been there too... would be another small credibility tag that we could be on the right track.... If the primary data is being ellusive, always check on and chase any potential collateral or associated leads... frequently one will stumble upon the vital missing links in other files/places that will lead you back to other missing information being sought after.

Frederick