I came across the curious recitation of Confederate troops
who died at Camp Butler, Ill. There are seven Louisiana men shown, however one may be shown twice. The most curious aspect of this is that all were in the same company of troops, and all died within three months of their capture in one of those "luxurious" ( as they would have us believe )Federal prison camps.

Since, as I am given to understand, a company of troops in the Civil War era was a formation of about a hundred men, this looks like an abnormal rate of attrition. Even with
disease being rampant, these men's demise was swift, and
almost too certain for comfort. Starvation should not have worked that quickly, unless they were completely deprived of food. Looks like the GAR boys have some tall 'splainin' to do on this one.

As best I can decipher the data, here is what happened :

All 6 or 7 men enlisted in Capt. Wm. B. Denson's company of
the 6th LA Cavalry. This unit appears to be Co. A, also
known as the "Red River Rangers" and was raised up around
Caddo Par. Capt. Denson appears to have been replaced by
Capt. L. M. Nutt sometime after 31 Aug. 1862. Nutt appears
to have commanded the company when it was captured.

The company capitulated at Arkansas Post, Ark. ( Ft. Hindman ) on 11 Jan. 1863. All seven enlisted men were
sent to Camp Butler & died there within weeks. Nutt went
initially to Camp Chase,OH & appears to have survived the war.

Resting hopefully in peace ( Co. A, 6th LA Cav. ):

Pvt. E. Z. Heath, died 21 Jan. 1863.

Pvt. Thos. McClannahan, died 31 Jan. 1863.

Sgt. Wm. M. Iler, died 9 Feb. 1863.

Pvt. John Havard, died 17 Feb. 1863.

Pvt. A. M. Everett, died 6 Mar. 1863.

Pvt. C. W. L. Tally, died 25 Mar. 1863.

Pvt. J. H. Havard, died 12 Apr. 1863.

Can anyone illuminate this issue ???

Regards ........... Rocky Wright