Military Career
D531:397-221 @ KDLA
Wm. H. Catching, Captain, Co A 8th Kentucky Vol. Inf. US
Mustered in as 1stLt at Camp Dick Robinson on 10/1/1861. Aged 26 years.
Joined for duty and enrolled 9/2/1861 at Barbourville KY for 3 yrs.
Sept 2 - Dec 31 1861
Remarks: "Recd one hundred and ten dollars and fifty cents pd by the State of Ky.
Jan/61 - May/1862
Remarks: none other than present
May and June 1862
Remarks: "Absent on Duty"
April 30 to Aug 31 1862
Remarks: "Present"
Aug 31 - Dec 31, 1862
Remarks: "Detailed to act as Adjutant Dec 18, 1862"
Jan - Feb 1863
Present
April 10 1863
Special Muster
Remarks: "on (20) days furlough dated March 25 1863"
Mch and Apr 1863
Absent
Detailed to act as aide de camp of the 3rd Brigade April 21, 1863
Mustered out 6/6/1863
"Mustered out as 1st Lt Co A to accept appointment as Capt same Co vice
Mayfield{should be Mayhew} Promoted"
Feb 28 to June 30 1863
"Promoted from 1LT to Capt and entered on duty June 1'63 on detached service
at Headquarters 3brig acting A.A.G."
July - Aug 1863
Still on detached service as AAG
June 30 - to Oct 31 1863
Present{he either returned to the regiment in September of 63 or the
clerk didnt note his detached service.}
ITEMS OF INTEREST:
Letter requesting Furlough(great read)
Headquarters 8th Regt Ky Vol Inf
Near Murfreesburough Tennessee
March 23rd, 1863
Lt. Col. Goddard
Adjutant General and Chief of Staff
Sir,
I respectfully ask that I be granted leave of absence for twenty five days
to arrange some business that requires my personal attention otherwise I will
severly {see c1}. This business pertains to the final settlement of an estate
and I being the administrator it is very essential that I should attend to it.
I joined the army at the time of the invasion of Ky by Zollicoffer in 1861 and
have never had an opportunity to attend to the settlement of the estate.
I have a widowed mother who has no person but myself to provide for her I
being her only son. She lives near Barbourville, Knox Co Ky 30 miles from
Cumberland Gap in a section of country that is almost entirely devastated
by the contending armies that have been there. I very much desire the
opportunity of preparing for her wellfare there or remove her to a more quiet
place.
If I could arrange my business by agents I would not ask for leave of
absence but I cannot.
I am very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
William H. Catching, 1st Lieut
Co. A. 8th Regt, Ky Vol Inf.
{See c2}
Casualty Sheet
Stones River
Wounded in the hip...wound described as slight.
Resignation Letter
Camp of 8th Regt Kentucky Volunteers
Shell Mound Tenn Dec 27, 1863
Brig Genl Wm. D. Whipple
Genl,
I must respectfully tender my resignation as Captain
of Company A 8th Regt Ky vols for the following reasons
I I am the administrator of my fathers estate which was not finally
settled when I came into the army in September 1861. The land pertaining
to my fathers estate was divided between myself and an only sister. The deeds
necessary were prepared and signed by myself and mother and forwarded to my
brother in law for the acknowledgement of himself and wife who refuses to sign
them.
II I was in the mercantile business a few years before the war and left
notes and accounts amounting to near one thousand dollars uncollected. These
note and accounts were left with my fatherinlaw whose house has several times
been searched by the rebels and I fear many of the papers are destroyed.
III I left my property in the care of my mother who is old and feeble and cannot
longer take care of it. Had not the rebel army had control of the country so
long I possibly might have arranged this business through agents but so much time has
elapsed that my
personal attention will be required and unless I can give it early attention
will lose what will be to me a poor man a large amount.
{second page}
My house is in Knox County joining Cumberland Gap and has been for over
two years frequently in the hands of the enemy rendering it impossible to have
any business transacted.
I hope under all the circumstances that my resignation will be accepted.
I am very respectfully
You obt servant
Wm. H. Catching
Capt. Co. A. 8th Ky Vols