I have this information from the National Archives re: Prisoners who died at Alton Prison,
Illinois.
NARA. Record Group 92.
M-918. Register of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Citizens Who Died in Federal
Prisons and Military Hospitals in the North, 1861-1865.
Roll #1. ppgs 6 & 7.
Union Prison Roster for Prisoners Confined at Alton, Illinois, and Died There.
CATE, J. H.
Pvt. Co.F. Gordon's Ark. Cav. Died Feb 8, 1865. Grave: Smallpox Island
CATO, Chapman.
Citizen, Bollinger County, MO. Died Jan 3, 1862 . Grave: Confederate Cemetary
CATO, Nathan.
Citizen, Bollinger County, MO. Died Feb 2?, 1862. Grave: Confederate Cemetary
CATO, Wilson Sr.
Citizen, Bollinger County, MO. Died Nov 9, 1862. Grave: Confederate Cemetary
For some of these years, it is hard to read the typescript, but I think this is right. I
will try to confirm these dates with other papers regarding the arrests of these men.
The "J.H. Cate" above is certainly John H. Cato of Arkansas. There is another
list entitled "Descriptive Lists of Prisoners turned over by William Woodbridge, Lt.
and Asst. Provost Marshall, Fayetteville, ARK, to Capt. E.B. Harrison 1st Ark. Cav. Vol.
to be delivered to Asst. Pro. Mar. General Dept of Missouri" which shows:
John H. Cato. age 40. height 6'1". Hazle eyes. Brown hair. Dark complexion.
arrested Nov. 4, 1864 near Fayetteville,Ark. Private Co F. Gordon's Ark Inft.
residence Fayetteville, Ark.
Peggy Reeves (the genealogist I have been working with who is expert with NARA military
records) has found and copied many pages of information re: the Civil War Catos of MO and
ARK.
I cannot remember what I have posted to this list, and what I have not! So I will
continue to post this information, as long as you are interested.
Henry, I would love to know where that information about William Cato being
"sentenced to ball and chain, executed for violation of oath" came from...we
have found many mentions of William Catos, but not anything like that one. I think it
came from the books by Joanne __? But does she give a source? I wonder if she could be
contacted for more information?
Best,
Cynthia