James Alexander Cowart enlisted in CSA at Ranersville, Butler Co AL on 5 Apr 1862 with brother George Jefferson (called Jeff) for three years or war; served with Co. H. 60th AL Infantry Regt. Co. B, 1st Bat, Hilliard's Legion. Sgt. Cowart present at Chickamauga 20 Sep 1863; Knoxville on 28 Nov 1863; absent on detail at Beans Station TN on 14 Dec 1864. Died of disease at a hospital in TN, April 17 1864. Born in Alabama, was a farmer; his address was Millville, AL; was thirty-six years old and married. Had indigent family, 5 dependents; allotment of $204.

Military Records have the following information:

Soldiers that were killed or died
James A. Cowart
Co. H., 60th Regiment Alabama

Received:  May 30, 1864
No. of certificate 4-4-80
Confederate Archives, Chapter 10, File #2, page 54

When Deceased:  April 17, 1864
When Received:  Sept 24, 1864
Certificate No. 180
Confederate Archives, Chapter 10, File #2, page 57

Married Effie Monroe around 1851 in Butler County AL.

East Hill Cemetery, Bristol TN was begun in 1857 to meet the needs of the community of Bristol Tennessee-Virginia. During the Civil War, Bristol was the site of the junction of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railway.... About 1862, the Confederate Medical Department established hospitals in Bristol. Because of its strategic location and its railway, Bristol soon became a hospital hub for Confederate soldiers brought from battles for treatment. Those that did not survive were buried at East Hill, including many that were unknown.

The number of Confederate burials at East Hill were variously estimated to range from slightly over one-hundred twenty to nearly one hundred eighty. Recently, ongoing research has revealed that the number is closer to three-hundred and represents the largest location of Confederate graves between Knoxville, TN, and Roanoke, Virginia.