According to his military papers, Patrick Lafitte McCawley was a member of 40th Tenn. Rgt. and Walker's Rgt, and Walker's Rgt. of Vols.
On Sept 13, 1861 Patrick Lafitte McCawley enlisted in Montgomery, Al and was promoted to 4th corporal, Co. C., 40th (Walker's) Regiment P.A.C.S. Infantry, of the 40th Tenn. Oct. 23, 1861. He was captured on Apr. 8, 1862 at Island #10 and Died at Camp Butler, Sagamon, IL on 22 May 1862. His gravestone says (gravestone#) 543, P. C. McCauley, Co. B, 40 Tenn. Reg, CSA. The Rgt was organized Oct. 1861 and composed of 1 Florida, 1 Kentucky, 4 Alabama & 4 Arkansas Companies. It ws captured at Island #10 (near present day New Madrid, Missouri) Apr. 8, 1862, released @ Vicksburg Sept. 1862 and declared exchanged at Aikens Landing, VA., on Nov 10, 1862.It was called 40th Tenn. Rgt. and Walker's Rgt, and Walker's Rgt. of Vols. but was officially known as 5th Rgt. Confederate Inf.
The 4 Alabama companies were assigned t othe 54th Rgt. Alabama Infantry and the Compan became 2nd Co. E., 42nd Rgt. TN Inf.
He appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Camp Butler, Springfield, IL., and said to have been captured 8 Apr. 1862 at Island No. 10. The remarks say only that he died May 15, 1862. His widow, Harriet B. McCawley makes a claim for settlement of deceased Officers & soldiers from TN on 1 Nov. 1862. The Adj. & Insp. Gen'l documents show the above as the date of death, but gives no details of exactly where or how (document is Confed. Arch., Chap. 10, File No 11, pg 167.
We know that he died at Camp Butler on May 22, 1862. What we don't know is how he died. There is said to have been an outbreak of "illness", possible influenza or typhoid, however, there is no documentation of cause of death. I've written to the Camp Butler Cemetery twice to see if there are any records there that might reveal his cause of death, but as of this date, no one has ever replied. Do you have any idea how I can find this info out? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Deb