Benjamin Austin | Richard Bailey | Enos W. Brazelton | William Blount | Burwell Boykin | Wesley Brown | William Bryant | James Brown | Thomas Caldwell | Benjamin Caraway | Allen Capps | George Carter | James Cathey | David Chapman | Henry L Chapman | John F. Chapman | T. W. Casay | William B Cathay | William L. Cathey
William B Cathay
*William B. Cathey
*William B. Cathey was born in 1827 in Alabama . He died durning the Civil war in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, 8 October 1862.
joined Capt. Murphy's Company, Alabama Mounted Volunteers later called 3rd Alabama Cavalry, Company F on 18 Nov 1861 in Perry County, Alabama at the age of 33 years. He was enlisted by Capt. Samuel Jennings Murphy for 12 months. He was a 2nd Lieutenant when he enlisted.
He was promoted to Captain on the 11 June 1862. Four months later he was wounded int he battle of Perryville and died in the hospital from a wound in the bowells, death 11 October 1862.
Private Thomas L Fuller visited Captain Cathey moments before he died.
"The Doctor examined my shoulder and said if it had been ½ inch lower it would have busted my shoulder all to pieces, but the ball tore the meat from the bone. I was ordered to the rear and had to go by Dr. Allen’s office, and there met my Captain in his last expiring moments, though he recognized me. " click here for more
Brig. General James Hagen reaccounts the battle and mentions Captain Cathey's death. click here
"The Regiment together with balance of the Cavalry were during the 30 days we remained in Kentucky daily engaged with the Enemy, protecting the rear of our army and delaying the advance of Genl. Buell’s at Perryville where Genl. Bragg made a stand with the view of checking the pursuit of the Federal Army five companies of the 3d were selected to charge the enemy’s skirmish line which was gallantly executed, in consequesnce of the high Kentucky fences and narrow roads, the charge was made in column of fours headed by Genl. Wheeler, Col. W.W. Allen of 1st Cavalry. Col. St. Clair of Gen. Braggs staff & Col. H. of the 3d, The skirmishers were driven back with much loss on their supports. We lost on this occasion the gallant Capt. Cathay of Co. F. who was mortally wounded and several others disabled. "
In Kentucky there are a couple of historical markers for this battle. click here
"October 8, 1862. Here 16,000
Confederates under General Braxton Bragg fought 22,000 Federals under General Don Carlos Buell.
Bragg, facing superior forces, withdrew. Union casualties, 4211; Confederate, 3396."
*William was listed in some of the Compiled Military Records by the name W. B. Cathe and also W. B. Cashey.
He took his two horses to war with him valued at $200 and $250 and his horse equipment was valued at $40.
He was counted in a census in 1850 in Hamburg, Perry county, Alabama. At that time he was a farmer worth $4,000 real estate.
Ten years later William is employed as Justice of the Peace in Perry County, Alabama.
In 1850 and 1860 there were no children living with William and Sarah.
At the time of his death his back pay amounted to $164.66.
Willian's wife Sarah appeared on 25 nov 1862 with Alfred Lawson who was in this same unit to collect the money
owed her from her husbands sevice.
For some reason she enpowered John L Harrell? to receive and accept(receipt) for the amount due me
on the above claim. At this point I do not know who this man was.
If you look close you will notice that Sarah signed her name as Sally.
*William married Sarah C. about 1848. Sarah was born in 1830 in Alabama .
Sources
1. United States. Record and Pension Office., Compiled Service records of Confederate soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Alabama., Washington C. C. : The National Archives, 1961-1962.Third Alabama Cavalry A-D 1861-1865 FHL#0880338.
2. 1850 Federal census, Alabama, Perry county , Marion, page 110
3. Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama Confederate Service Cards. , Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama.Microfilm cards "From an 8 x 5 card file maintained by the Alabama Department of Archives and History from the early 1900s until 1982. As staff came across information related to Alabama individuals during the American Civil War a card was created. Information on individuals exempted from military service or who served in the militia or home guard is included. If new information was discovered from another source, another card was created. Multiple cards for an individual often exist. Sources include muster rolls, governors' correspondence, veterans' censuses, manuscript collections, newspapers and pension records. Names, places and events are often inconsistently spelled.
4. 1860 Federal Census, Alabama, Perry county, Marion, page 110.Wm. B. Cathey is head of the house hold.
If you are a descendant or have stories or memorabilia about this unit contact Susette Cook. susette_cook@hotmail.com susette_cook@hotmail.com
By Susette Cook