Chapter 5:
- The Alabama cavalry commands -- regiments, battalions and detached companies -- References to their services in the official Records.
The First Alabama cavalry was organized at Montgomery, November, 1861, under Col. J. H. Clanton. It was ordered to Tennessee, and was at Jackson, Tenn., March 6, 1862; ordered to Monterey March 31st, and opened the battle of Shiloh. Was with Generals Walker, Beall, Chalmers and Wheeler in the summer and fall of 1862; afterward served, successively, in the brigades of Generals Hagan, Russell, Morgan and Allen, of Wheeler's corps. It moved into Kentucky and was distinguished at Munfordville, Perryville, and the many cavalry battles fought by Wheeler in the Kentucky campaign. It also fought with him at Nashville, Stewart's Creek bridge, and various skirmishes preceding and incident to the battle of Murfreesboro. It was especially thanked by General Bragg for gallant conduct in that great battle. It was also part of the rear guard which protected the retreat from Tullahoma and Chattanooga, losing severely at Duck river; fought at Chickamauga, Clinton and Knoxville, and took a brilliant part in the Sequatchee raid, in which nearly 2,000 prisoners and a train of 1,000 provision wagons were captured. The First Alabama cavalry took a very conspicuous part in the rout of Generals Stoneman, Garrard and McCook; and was also daily engaged in retarding Sherman's advance, and harassing the enemy's front and flank in the Dalton-Atlanta campaign. It was in fights at or near Middleton, Fosterville, Lafayette, Marietta, Noon. [250] day Creek and Big Shanty. Its colonel, James H. Clanton, was in the spring of 1863 commissioned a brigadiergeneral, and rendered very efficient service throughout the war until captured at Bluff Spring, Fla., in March, 1865. He was succeeded in the command by Col. William W. Allen, who was in turn promoted to the command of a brigade and afterward to a division, being commissioned major-general in March, 1865; he was wounded at Stewart's Creek, December, 1863. Lieutenant Ledyard, wounded at Murfreesboro, was promoted. Capt. David T. Blakey was wounded at Dandridge, and he became colonel on the promotion of Colonel Allen, and led the regiment in many brilliant actions. Lieut.-Col. Thomas Brown was killed at Woodsonville, Ky.; Adjt. Wesley Tones at Fiddler's Pond, Capt. George Speed at Noonday Creek, and Capt. Sydney E. Allen at Murfreesboro. This regiment was asked for by General Lee in the summer of 1863.
Extracts from official war Records
Vol. Vii—（909-914) At Florence, Ala., February 26, 1862, 800 strong. Vol. X, Part 1—（29) Near Tuscumbia, March 16, 1862. （90) General Sherman says: ‘First Alabama engaged and captured Federal pickets, April 4, 1862.’ This letter shows that Federals were surprised. (93) General Hardee says: ‘Enemy attacked Clanton's regiment near Mickey's April 4, 1862.’ （384, 532) Mentioned in reports of Bragg and Withers. (553) General Chalmers' report, Shiloh, says that Colonel Clanton's First regiment Alabama cavalry protected our flank from attack. ‘Colonel Clanton himself remained almost all the time with my brigade, and though constantly exposed to the most dangerous fire, exhibited the most fearless and exemplary courage, cheering on those who seemed inclined to falter or grow weary, and with a detachment of his cavalry supplying us with ammunition when our wagons could not reach us.’ （612) Mentioned by Capt. A. W. Avery, Shiloh. (853, 854) Highly commended in Col. Joseph Wheeler's report, Bridge Creek, May 28, 1862; ‘The conduct of [251] the officers and men in this affair was commendable, subjected as they were to a heavy fire of both artillery and infantry, from a foe secreted by a density of undergrowth. They advanced steadily, not using their arms until they were ordered, when they fired with good effect. . . . The part of the line under the gallant Colonel Clanton was severely engaged about 10 to 11 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, in which several were wounded on both sides.’ Colonel Wheeler mentions the gallant and good conduct of Colonel Clanton, and Private James Kerns, who was wounded while gallantly rallying a line of Mississippi troops which had been driven from their position. Vol. X, Part 2—（299) Mentioned at Jackson, Tenn., March 6, 1862, by Adjutant-General Garner, who says: ‘Colonel Clanton is gallant to rashness.’ （300) Mentioned by General Bragg, Jackson, Tenn., March 6th. （303) Mentioned by Gen. L. P. Walker in letter from Tuscumbia. (307) In General Walker's brigade, army of Mississippi Valley, General Ruggles' corps, March 9th. （376) Ordered to occupy position in front of Monterey, March 31st. （459) Total present, April 28th, 588, in General Beall's cavalry brigade. （534) May 21st, Clanton's cavalry ordered to report to General Hindman and General Trapier. （575)
