I found this interesting piece in the April 26, 1862, issue of the New York Times in a report of General Ormsby Mitchel’s raid on Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama. Major J.R. Cavanaugh was originally the commander of the Jackson Greys (Jackson Parish), Ninth Louisiana Volunteers. Booth’s Records list him as captured on April 11, 1862, at Huntsville. He was imprisoned first at Camp Chase and then Johnson’s Island. No other information is given.

New York Times, April 26, 1862: “Three cavalrymen rushed into the town, found a large number of rebel soldiers sleeping in and around a number of cars, and actually made prisoners of one hundred and seventy men, including a major, six captains and three lieutenants. The most of these fellows belonged to the Ninth Louisiana Regiment, and were on their way to join it in Virginia. The Major’s name was Cavanaugh. His regiment did not all reenlist when their time of service (one year) expired, and he had been home for recruits. He had succeeded in obtaining a hundred and forty, and was taking them to the Old Dominion, to fill up the ranks of his regiment. When he found both himself and his recruits were prisoners in the hands of the Yankees, his mortification was visibly expressed all over his countenance.