Continuing with Confederate veteran William Cantrell, whose former wife just died this month.
After French's Battalion was exchanged and released from prison, much of it became the 7th Confederate Cavalry Battalion. This was also called Prentice's Battalion.
There were eight Cantrells listed on the roster at one time or another. This is what it said for William. He was in Co. B, previously Co. C, 5th VSL and Co. A French's Battalion Virginia Infantry.
Became a POW at Piketon, Kentucky April 15, 1863. He was paroled and exchanged.
At the time of entering service, he was 16, 5'4", dark eyes, fair hair, fair complexion. The 1860 Wise County, Virginia census listed him at age 13.
OTHER CANTRELLS
Possibly, some of these might have been kinfolk.
ABRAHAM C. CANTRELL-- 24 in 1860 census. The rest of his information was the same as William. In addition, it says that he was captured again at Gladeville, Virginia, July 7, 1863and sent to Camp Chase then to Camp Douglas in Chicago on August 24, 1863. There is no record of his death or release from there.
ABRAHAM CANTRELL-- everything the same as ABRAHAM C. Perhaps same person.
JAMES CANTRELL-- reside Wise County
JOHN CANTRELL-- same as ABRAHAM C. CANTRELL
JOHN CANTRELL-- perhaps same person as the other JOHN.
RUBEN CANTRELL-- Same as WILLIAM.
SHERWOOD CANTRELL-- same as ABRAHAM C. CANTRELL
Very likely, WILLIAM CANTRELL was at Second Gladevile Raid where some of the 7th was captured. Reports say the Union captured 18 officers and 99 enlisted men there.
Digging a Bit Deeper. --Old B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
