Kathryn
Author Jerry Ponder only makes one mention of Cato in this book and
that is that William Cato is a member of the unit. This book is about how
and why this regiment was formed and how they stuck together for
survival from the union troops for the remainder of the war in Southeast
Mo. Originally called the Ripley Co. Battalion, it was iniated into the
war with most of the men having 3 weeks or less of training. A sizable
group of Federal soldiers were returning to Federal lines after combat
in the Southwest where they were no longer welcome and happened
upon the Ripley Co. Battilion. The federals charged and the end result
some Ripley Co. citizens were killed. Maddened by the death of their
neighbors county residents answered the call raising the battalion to
regiment size. As far as the battle of Chalk Bluff I havn't found anything
on the Cato's yet. It is an account of Gen. Marmaduke's second invasion
of Mo.
Later
Adruain