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1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (Union)
Encyclopedia
The 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry
regiment
recruited from Southern Unionist
s that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
and Memphis, Tennessee
in October, 1862 after Federal troops occupied the area. It was attached to the XVI Corps
in various divisions until November 1864, when it became part of the XV Corps
. During this time, its duties mostly consisted of scouting, raiding, reconnaissance, flank guard, and providing screening to the infantry while on the march.
The regiment was selected by Major General William T. Sherman
to be his escort as he began his march to the sea
. It was assigned to the Third Division of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi
in January 1865. It fought at the battles of Monroe's Crossroads
and Bentonville
and was present at the surrender of the Army of Tennessee
at the Bennett Place
. It was sent to the District of Northern Alabama, Department of the Cumberland in June 1865.
The regiment was mustered out of service at Huntsville, Alabama on October 20, 1865, with only 397 men present. Out of the 2,000 men who served in the unit during the course of the war, 345 were killed in action, died in prison, of disease or other non-battle causes, 88 were captured, and 279 deserted, with no accurate count of the number of wounded.
portrays Company C and was founded in 1992. It usually fights in reenactments as skirmishers.
Another unit based in Huntsville, Alabama, Company B, 4th Alabama Cavalry, (CSA) portrays Company B, 1st Alabama Cavalry (USV) and participates in historical living history, skirmishes and battles in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi. The unit participates as both dismounted and mounted cavalry troopers, representing the 1863 to 1865 period of the war.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
recruited from Southern Unionist
Southern Unionist
In the United States, Southern Unionists were people living in the Confederate States of America, opposed to secession, and against the Civil War. These people are also referred to as Southern Loyalists, Union Loyalists, and Lincoln Loyalists...
s that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 1st Alabama Cavalry was raised from Alabama Unionists at Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in October, 1862 after Federal troops occupied the area. It was attached to the XVI Corps
XVI Corps (ACW)
The XVI Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The corps rarely fought as one unified unit, as its divisions were often scattered across the country.-Creation and Vicksburg:...
in various divisions until November 1864, when it became part of the XV Corps
XV Corps (ACW)
The XV Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. It was commanded by Sherman in the Siege of Vicksburg and then by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. ...
. During this time, its duties mostly consisted of scouting, raiding, reconnaissance, flank guard, and providing screening to the infantry while on the march.
The regiment was selected by Major General William T. Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
to be his escort as he began his march to the sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
. It was assigned to the Third Division of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi
Military Division of the Mississippi
The Military Division of the Mississippi was an administrative division of the United States Army during the American Civil War that controlled all military operations in the Western Theater.-History:...
in January 1865. It fought at the battles of Monroe's Crossroads
Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
-References:* Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.* * *...
and Bentonville
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
and was present at the surrender of the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
at the Bennett Place
Bennett Place
Bennett Place, sometimes known as Bennett Farm, in Durham, North Carolina was the site of the largest surrender of Confederate soldiers ending the American Civil War, on April 26, 1865.-History:...
. It was sent to the District of Northern Alabama, Department of the Cumberland in June 1865.
The regiment was mustered out of service at Huntsville, Alabama on October 20, 1865, with only 397 men present. Out of the 2,000 men who served in the unit during the course of the war, 345 were killed in action, died in prison, of disease or other non-battle causes, 88 were captured, and 279 deserted, with no accurate count of the number of wounded.
Casualties
- Killed and mortally wounded: 5 officers, 482 enlisted men
- Died of disease: 1 officers, 13 enlisted men
- Wounded: 2 officers, 450 enlisted men
- Captured or missing: 0 officers, 0 enlisted men
- Total: 10 officers, 945 enlisted men
Reenactors
A unit based in Jasper, AlabamaJasper, Alabama
Jasper is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 14,659. As of 2011 the population had was 13,857. The city is the county seat of Walker County, and once ranked among the world's leading producers of coal....
portrays Company C and was founded in 1992. It usually fights in reenactments as skirmishers.
Another unit based in Huntsville, Alabama, Company B, 4th Alabama Cavalry, (CSA) portrays Company B, 1st Alabama Cavalry (USV) and participates in historical living history, skirmishes and battles in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi. The unit participates as both dismounted and mounted cavalry troopers, representing the 1863 to 1865 period of the war.