Known CSA Veterans at Cedar Hill
Vicksburg, Mississippi
 

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Photos by Bryan Skipworth

Thomas Clendinen Catchings
Jan. 11, 1847
Dec. 24, 1927
Florence Shearer Catchings
Oct. 2, 1849
Nov. 15, 1927
 

Thomas Clendinen Catchings was born 11 Jan 1847 in Hinds Co., Miss., and died 24 Dec 1927 in Warren Co., Miss. He was the son of Dr. T. J. Catchings and Nannie McNeece Catchings, daughter of the Hon. Robert Clendinen of S.C. (See markers farther below.)

Thomas Clendinen Catchings enrolled in the 18th Miss Volunteers on 24 May 1861 in Corinth, Miss., at age 14. He signed on for 12 months.

The company muster roll for Jul & Aug 1861 notes in the remarks section that Catchings was discharged at Camp Walker and paid in full.

On that same card, it was noted he had been enlisted by a Capt. Walker.

Having been discharged from the 18th Miss. Inf., Thomas C. Catchings enlisted in the 11th Miss. Cav, (Perrin's) 20 Oct 1863 in Kosciusko, Miss. He signed up for three years or the war.

See his service record at https://www.fold3.com/image/271/76890321

 

See this card at
https://www.fold3.com/image/271/76890302
 

At the time of this company muster, he was 14 years old.

 

Here is noted he was "Discharged at Camp Walker in July 1861."

 

 

 

.The 18th Miss. Inf. was organized Jun 1861.

Here is noted he was "Discharged & pd in full."

A sketch of the Hon. T. C. Catchings from Confederate Veteran, Vol. VIII (1900), pg. 313.

On 20 Oct 1863, Thomas C. Catchings enlisted in the 11th Miss. Cav, (Perrin's).

 

See record of Thomas C. Catchings in 11th Miss. Cav (Perrin's), Co. C at

https://www.fold3.com/image/271/65550680

and mention of at

http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/CATCHINGS,-Thomas-Clendinen-(C000247)/

Enlisted 20 Oct 1863.

 

On 22 Oct 1927, a letter was written to a Mr Anmal [?] Wold in response to a query concerning the career of Thomas Clendinan Catchings, "formerly a Representative from Mississippi," specifically requesting information about his service in the Confederate Army.

The copy of this letter on fold3.com is a poor carbon copy, blurred and difficult to read (see https://www.fold3.com/image/271/76890444 and https://www.fold3.com/image/271/76890462.) Rather than duplicating the image here, I have transcribed it.
 

October 22, 1927

Mr. A____ Wold,
Clerk, Joint Committee on Printing,
c/o United States Senate Post Office,
Washington, D. C.

 

My dear Mr. Wold:

I have your letter of October 17, 1927, with which you include correspondence relative to the career of Thomas Clendinen Catchings, formerly a Representative from Mississippi, and request information relative to his service in the Confederate Army.

The name Thomas Clendinen Catchings has not been found on the records on file in the War Department of soldiers who served in the Confederate Army.

The Confederate records on file here show only two services or enlistments in the Confederate Army under the name Thomas C. Catchings or T. C. Catchings. These services, which may or may not have been performed by the same man, were as follows:

Thomas J. Catchings, name also borne as T. C. Catchings, private, Company A, 18th Mississippi Infantry. He enlisted at Corinth, Mississippi, May 24, 1861, and was mustered in there June 7, 1861, to serve one year. His residence or nearest postoffice at the time was given as Jackson, Mississippi; his age as 14 years, and his occupation as that of a planter. The last muster roll of the company on which his name is borne is one dated November 1, 1861, which shows that he had been discharged and paid in full. No later or further record of him is identified.

Thomas C. Catchings, private, Company C, 11th (Ferrin's) Mississippi Calvary. He enlisted October 20, 1861, at Kosciusko, Mississippi. On a report dated at Calhoun Station March 30, 1864, of officers and men of Ferguson's Brigade absent without leave and sick he was reported on a furlough of 24 days from March 26. The last company roll on which his name is found and the last on file is a roll for March and April, 1864, on which he was reported present. No later or further record of him as been found.

The records on file here of Confederate soldiers including those

-- pg. 2 --

of the regiments mentioned, are incomplete.

Very respectfully,

 

Brigadier General
Acting The Adjutant General
 


 
Thomas C. Catchings was home schooled before he entered the University of Mississippi in 1859 and spent his freshman and sophomore there. He continued his education at Oakland College until 1861 when he entered the war. In 1865, he began the study of law and in May 1866 was admitted to the bar. In 1875, he was elected to the Mississippi State Senate, but left there in 1877, having been nominated (and then elected) for attorney general of Mississippi. He was elected to the 49th and following seven succeeding Congresses and between 1885 and 1901 served on the Committee on Levees and Improvements of the Mississippi River, the Committee on Railways and Canals, and the Committee on Rivers and Harbors; he resumed practicing law; and was division counsel for the Southern Railway Co. Governor Vardaman appointed him, with others to the Mississippi Code Commission.


-- Sketch and short bio of our Thomas Clendenin Catchings is from Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives at  http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/CATCHINGS,-Thomas-Clendinen-(C000247)/ 


Below, the grave markers of the father and mother of Thomas Clendinen Catchings, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Vicksburg. The marker of their son can be seen behind that of his mother (right photo).

To My Husband
Sacred
To the memory of
Dr. T. J. Catchings
Born Sept. 17, 1806
Died May 13, 1883

Rest in peace, thou gentle spirit,
Throned above,
Souls like thine with God inherit
Life and Love

 

In Memory of Our Mother
Nannie McNeece Catchings.
Daughter of
Hon. Robert Clendinen
Yorkshire, S. Ca.
Born July 4 1820
Died June 23, 1890

O death, where is thy sting,
O grave, where is thy victory.

 
The August 1860 census of Hinds Co., Miss., has the family of Thomas J. Catchings, M.D., 53, born in Georgia, and his wife N. M. [Nannie McNeese] Catchings, 40. Five children are listed with our T. C. Catchings being the only male. In 1860, he is 13.

  

The Catchings lot at Cedar Hill and, at right, the memorial to Dr. and Mrs. Catchings.

The plaque on the base reads:

Thomas J. Catchings, M.D.
Born in Georgia, Sept 17, 1806
Died May 13, 1883.
His wife Nannie McNeese Catchings
Nee Clendinen,
Born in Yorkville, SC, July 4,1820
Died Jun 23, 1891.
God will bring those together whom death has separated.

 

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