Stephen Austin (1840 - 1863)

Died 28 Sep 1863 at about age 23 in Alton, Madison, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Pvt Stephen Austin served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1862
Mustered out: Died while POW
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): Cocke's Infantry

PVT Stephen Austin BIRTH unknown DEATH 7 Sep 1863 Alton, Madison County, Illinois, USA BURIAL Confederate Cemetery Alton, Madison County, Illinois, USA ^[1]

Stephen was born before 1843. He joined the Confederate forces in Arkansas. He was captured at the Battle of Helena on 5 July 1863, and was sent to Alton Military Prison where a smallpox epidemic was already raging, and he died there of smallpox on 7 Sep 1863. His original burial location is unknown, though he is listed on the memorial at Small Pox Island^[2] as well as the monument in the Alton Confederate Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9926545/stephen-austin : accessed 28 June 2022), memorial page for PVT Stephen Austin (unknown–7 Sep 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 9926545, citing Confederate Cemetery, Alton, Madison County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by J. Colin Clark (contributor 47094715)
2. ↑ http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/civilwar/smallpox.htm

• "Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XX5C-NWY : 27 November 2014), Stephen Austin, 1862; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M317 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 242
• "United States Register of Confederates and Civilians Who Died in the North,1861-1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1W-Y6JB : 16 March 2018), Stephen Austin, 07 Sep 1863; citing Death, Alton, Madison, Illinois, United States, p. 1, NARA microfilm publication M918 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1; FHL microfilm 1,024,456.
• Selected records of the War Department relating to Confederate prisoners of war, 1861-1865 [microform]. U.S. War Department. Published 1965. Roll 13, page 200

See Also:

• http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/cem-a.htm AUSTIN, STEPHEN Pvt. Co E, Cocke's Ark Inf, CSA- d. Sep 7, 1863 of smallpox Smallpox Island, Alton, IL Enlisted 1 Jul 1862 at Gainesville, AR. He was captured 4 Jul 1863 at the battle at Helena, AR and forwarded to Memphis, TN on the Steamer "Tycoon" then to Cairo, IL on 5 Jul 1863 on the steamer "Silvermoon"

• http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/cockindx.html COCKE’S REGIMENT OF ARKANSAS INFANTRY - CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA -

Research Notes

There is some conflicting evidence regarding his unit. His intake records at the Alton Prison say 2nd Arkansas, Company I. The Register of Confederates Who Died says "Cocke's Arkansas," which would be the 39th Arkansas. his military records say "Sixty-second Militia AND Adams' Infantry AND Borland's Infantry AND Cocke's Infantry". The Confederate order of battle at Helena is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_order_of_battle#Confederate. It is certain he was there, for that is where he was captured. Several hundred men arrived in one day from that battle at the Alton Prison which may mean record-keeping was less than perfect on that day.

This might be Stephen (son of Stephen): United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M67C-DG9 : 12 April 2016), Stephen Austin in household of Stephen Austin, Saint Francis, Greene, Arkansas, United States; citing family 410, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).