I would appreciate any information on Captain Abraham Allen Cann (24 Feb 1837 - 31 Dec 1910). He was a first generation American, born in New York just a few years after his parents arrived there from England. His parents moved to Perry County Alabama in the 1840s, then later to Union Parish. He was listed as a "Loafer" in 1860, when he lived in Farmerville. After the war, Cann farmed in Union Parish until the 1890s, when he moved to Ruston, in Lincoln Parish. He was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston.

Capt. Cann first joined the "Phoenix Rifles", later Company C, 17th Regiment Louisiana Infantry as a private in the summer of 1861. He served through February 1863, but hired a substitute about that time and apparently went home to Farmerville, Union Parish LA. His activities between February 1863 and May 1864 are unknown.

Military authorities in the Trans-Mississippi Department gave authorization in August 1863 for the formation of an artillery battalion, and they assigned Lt. Col. George W. Logan as its commander. Headquartered at Camp Vienna (north of Ruston), Logan formed the 2nd Battalion Louisiana Heavy Artillery that fall. By December 1863 he had managed to raise Companies A,B,C, and D, with an existing company, the "Cresent Regiment" designated as Company E. With Logan in need of a sixth company, Abraham A. Cann organized Company F in Union Parish in May and June 1864. The vast majority of the men were Union Parish residents, with many of them conscripts or men who had for various reasons been discharged from other units. A few were young men who had just reached military age.

Cann was elected captain on 29 June 1864, and soon afterwards he took his men south to join the 2nd Battalion Louisiana Heavy Artillery, then camped at Pineville. He served as captain for the duration for the war, frequently going home to collect conscripts, take charge of Yankee prisoners on the Red River, etc.

Does anyone know anything of Cann's military activities between February 1863 and May 1864?

Thanks,

Tim