James H. Wilson's Cavalry

[larry_cockerham]

On March 22, 1864 General James Harrison Wilson and his cavalry, depending on the record used, 11,000 to 13,500 strong?, left the vicinity of Waterloo and Gravelly Springs, Alabama with the general notion of capturing Selma and winning the war. He did pretty well. Would any of you folks more familiar with the US Army structure be able to provide a list of the regiments under his command in the spring of 1865? Thanks for any direction.

[johan_steele]

Larry here is a partial list: 4th, 5th & 8th Iowa Cav and the 1st Wi Cav, 21st TN & 4th Michigan. Recently while searching the net looking for TO&E's I remember stumbling across a full order of Battle for Wilson. THough for the life of me I cannot recall the site.

Try these for more info:
http://www.aotc.net/selma-rep.htm
http://members.aol.com/dsmith001/wilson.html

(Message edited by johan_steele on January 20, 2005)

(Message edited by johan_steele on January 20, 2005)

[johan_steele]

This may help as well.

FIRST DIVISION.
Name, rank, and regiment. By whom mentioned. Remarks.
Col. J. B. Dorr, Eighth Iowa Brig. Gen. J. T. Croxton
Col. R. M. Kelly, Fourth Kentucky (mounted) Infantry. do
Lieut. Col. Thomas W. Johnston, Second Michigan. do
Maj. W. H. Fidler, Sixth Kentucky. do
Capt. Edmund Penn, Sixth Kentucky. do
Capt. and Asst. Adjt. Gen.--- Sutherland. do
Capt. and Actg. Asst. Insp. Gen. --- Baker. do
Capt.and Provost-Marshal -- Walled. do
Lieut. and Aide-de-Camp Lusk. do
Lieut. and Aide-de-Camp Kelley. do
Lieut. --- Prather, Fourth Indiana. do Aide to general commanding corps.
Quartermaster-Sergeant --- Walker. do
Commissary. Sergeant --- Wentworth. do
Col. --- Cooper, Fourth Kentucky. Col. O.H. La Grange.
Capt. R. S. Hill, Second Indiana. do Wounded at West Point. Left Chickasaw with a leave of absence in his pocket. At West Point was suffering from a wound received two weeks previously.
Lieut. D. S. Moulton, Fourth Indiana. do. Brigade staff.
Lieut. E. S. Chase, First Wisconsin. do Do.
Sergt. Edwin Farel, First Wisconsin. do First Inside the rebel works at West Point.
Col. O. H. La Grange, First Wisconsin, commanding Second Brigade. Recommended by Brig. Gen. John T. Croxton for promotion. To be brigadier-general of volunteers.
Lieut. Col. W. W. Bradley, Seventh Kentucky. do To be colonel by brevet.
Lieut. Col. Henry Harden, First Wisconsin. do Do.
Lieut. Col. Thomas W. Johnston, Second Michigan. do Do.
Maj. W. H. Fidler, Sixth Kentucky. do To be lieutenant-colonel by brevet.
Capt. R. S. Hill, Second Indiana. do To be major.
Capt. James M. McCown, Sixth Kentucky. do To be major by brevet.
Capt. Edmund Penn, Sixth Kentucky. do Do.
Capt. Walter Whittemore, Second Michigan. do Do.

SECOND DIVISION.
Lieut. Col. Frank White, Seventeenth Indiana. Col. J.G. Vail. Gallant charge on artillery with but four companies of his regiment.
Maj. --- Eldridge, Fourth Michigan. Lieut. Col. B. D. Pritchard.
Capt. --- Hathaway, Fourth Michigan. do.
Capt. --- Potter, Fourth Michigan. do.
Adjt. --- Dickinson Fourth Michigan. do.
Capt. C. T. Hudson, Fourth Michigan. do.
Maj. D. E. Livermore, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do.

<ar103_395>
Names of officer and men mentioned for bravery and efficiency, &amp;c.--Continued
SECOND DIVISION--Continued.
Name, rank, and regiment. By whom mentioned. Remarks.

Private John H. Shoef, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Maj. D. E. Livermore. Captured battle-flag of Twelfth Mississippi Cavalry and the regimental commander, and was in advance till all the works were taken.
Sergt. John Morgan. One hundred and twenty-third Illinois. Capt. Owen Wiley Planted the first flag on the works at Selma.
Private Lemuel B. Edwards(a) Lieut. Col. Frank White Wounded while leading a charge at Ebenezer Church.
Corpl. John A. Kidney(a) do Coolness and bravery in action at all times.
Maj. L. S. Kilborn. Seventy-second Indiana. Lieut. Col. C.G. Thomson.
Private L. B Edwards. Seventy-second Indiana. do
Wounded while leading a mounted charge April 1.
Lieut. L C.Remington. Fourth Michigan. Martin Archer, major, commanding colored troops.
Capt. W. G. Young, Ninety-eighth Illinois. do
Lieut. C. L. Connor, Seventh Pennsylvania. do
Doctor Biggs, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do
Sergt. John W. Deen, Seventeenth Indiana. Maj. J.J. Weller
Private Reuben Phillips, Seventeenth Indiana. do Captured flags at Macon, Ga.
First Lieut. James H. McDowell, Seventeenth Indiana. do
Private A. R. Hudson, Seventeenth Indiana. do Captured a flag in a skirmish near Culloden, Ga.
Private J. Davis, Seventeenth Indiana. do
Corpl. --- Bottorff, Seventeenth Indiana. do Found four 2-pounder guns buried at Macon.
Corpl. John H. Booth, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Capt. W. W. Shoemaker First on the works at Selma, April 2.
Capt. -- Hofman, Ninety-eighth Illinois. Lieut. Col. E. Kitchell Instantly killed.
Capt. --- Flood, Ninety-eighth Illinois. do
Capt. N. B. Thistlewood, Ninety-eighth Illinois. do After being severely wounded kept up with the command over a mile, Selma, April 2.
Maj. J. J. Weller, Seventeenth Indiana. Lieut. Col. Frank White
Adjt. --- Doyle. Seventeenth Indiana. do
Lieut. J. H. McDowell, Seventeenth Indiana. do
Capt. T. W. Scott do Colonel Minty's staff.
Lieut. --- Culbertson do Do.
Col. J. G. Vail, Seventeenth Indiana. Col A. O. Miller
Lieut. Col. E. Kitchell, Ninety-eighth Illinois. do
Lieut. Col. Jonathan Biggs, One hundred and twenty-third Illinois. do
Lieut. Col. C. G. Thomson, Seventy-second Indiana. do
Lieut. H. M. Ashmore. One hundred and twenty-third Illinois. do Aide-de-camp, first to enter the rebel works at Selma, mounted.
Capt. --- Wiley, One hunred and twenty-third Illinois. Col J. G. Vail With a squad of men captured 20 prisoners and 2 pieces of artillery 300 yards in advance of the line.
Capt. --- Woods, Ohio hundred and twenty-third Illinois. do
Capt. --- Delong, One hundred and twenty-third Illinois. do
Capt. O. F. Bane do
Lieut. G. B Sweet do Colonel Miller's staff.
Capt. W. A. Owens do Provost-marshal, First Brigade.
Capt. John C. Scott do Brigade inspector, First Brigade.


<ar103_396>
Names of officers and men mentioned for bravery and efficiency, &amp;c.--Continued.
SECOND DIVISION--Continued.
Name, rank, and regiment. By whom mentioned. Remarks.
Sergt. Jackson S.Ball, Seventy-second Indiana. Col. J. G. Vail For his energy in performance of his duty at all times. Rode under terrific fire to report Colonel Miller's being wounded to Colonel Vail, next in command.
Lieut. Col. B. D. Pritchard, Fourth Michigan. Col. R. H. G. Minty
Lieut. Col. Frank White, Seventeenth Indiana. do
Capt. ---- Moore, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Earnestly recommended by Colonel Minty for brevet.
Capt.----Richardson, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do
Maj. --- Burns, Fourth Michigan do Acting assistant adjutant-general, Second Brigade.
Maj. --- Greene, Seventh Pennsylvania do Acting assistant inspector.general, Second Brigade.
Capt. T. W. Scott, Ninety-eighth Illinois. Brig. Gen. Eli Long Acting assistant adjutant-general.
Capt. W. W. Shoemaker, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Aide-de-camp.
Lieut. Henry Deering, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Do.
Lieut. S.S. Culbertson, Nineteenth U.S. Infantry. do Assistant commissary of musters.
Capt. W. B. Gates, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Provost-marshal.
Capt. J. N. Squire, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Acting assistant inspector-general.
Capt. P. B. Lewis, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Topographical engineer.
Lieut. J. B. Hayden, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Acting commissary of subsistnce.
Lieut. W. N. McDonald, One hundred and twenty-third Illinois. do Ordnance officer.
Capt. --- Hartranft, Seventh Pennsylvania. do Commanding escort.
Surg. Fred. Corfe do Chief surgeon.
Maj. Martin Archer, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Commanding train guard.
Capt. S. B. Coe, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Acting assistant quartermaster, with pioneers.
Lieut. J. B. Patten, Seventeenth Indiana. do Do.
Lieut. John Bennett, Fourth Michigan. do Do.
Private Henry Prince, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Orderly.
Bugler Henry Gieble, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do
Capt. T. W. Scott, Ninety-eighth Illinois. Recommended by Brigadier-General Long for promotion. To be captain and assistant adjutant-general, U.S. Volunteers.
Col. A. O. Miller, Seventy-second Indiana. do To be brigadier-general.
Col. R.H.G. Minty, Fourth Michigan. do Do.
Col. C. C. McCormick, Seventh Pennsylvania. .do To be brevet brigadier-general.
Col. J. G. Vail, Seventeenth Indiana. do Do.
Lieut. CoL Jonathan Biggs, One Hundred and twenty-third Illinois. do Do.
Lieut. Col. E. Kitchell, Ninety-eighth Illinois. do Do.
Lieut. Col. Frank White, Seventeenth Indiana. do Do.
Lieut. Col. G.W. Dobb, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Do.

<ar103_397>
Names of officers and men mentioned for bravery and efficiency, &amp;c.--Continued.
FOURTH DIVISION.
Name, rank, and regiment. By whom mentioned. Remarks.
Bvt. Maj. James W. Latta Bvt. Maj. Gen. E.Upton Assistant Adjutant-General.
Capt. Tom C. Gilpin do Acting aide-de-camp.
Lieut. J. Sloan Keck do Acting aide-de-camp.
Lieut. Peter R. Keck do Ordnance officer.
First Lieut. George D. Womeldorff, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Bvt. Brig. Gen. A.J. Alexander. Gallant conduct with his company (L) at Ebeneser Church.
Col. --- Garrard, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do
Col. B. B. Eggleston, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Recommended for promotion by brevet by General Alexander.
Lieut.---Mitchell(a) do Do.
Lieut. J. A. O. Yeoman (a) do Recommended for promotion by brevet by General Alexander.
Lieut. --- McKee (a) do Do.
Lieut. Samuel Dryden (a) do Do.
Sergt. H. L. Birdsall, Third Iowa. Bvt Brig. Gen. E. F. Winslow Captured garrison flag and bearer near Columbus, Ga., April 16,1885.
Private Andrew W. Tibbets, Third Iowa. do Captured flag of Austin's battery and bearer at Columbus, Ga., April 16,1865.
Private John H. Hays, Fourth Iowa. do Captured standard and bear at Columbus, Ga., April 16, 1865.
Corpl. Richard H. Morgan, Fourth Iowa. do Do.
Private Nicholas Fanning, Fourth Iowa. do Captured silk C. S. flag and two staff officers at Selma, Ala., April 2.
Sergt. Norman F. Bates, Fourth Iowa. do Captured a rebel and standard at Columbus, Ga.
Private Charles A. Swan, Fourth Iowa. do Captured flag of Eleventh Mississippi and bearer at Selma, Ala.
Private Richard H. Cosgriff, Fourth Iowa. do Captured standard and bearer at Columbus, Ga.
Private John Kinney, Fourth Iowa. do Captured standard and bearer of Tenth Missouri Battery, Columbus, Ga.
Private Edward J. Bebb, Fourth Iowa. do Captured flag left by the rebels, Columbus, Ga.
Private James P. Miller, Fourth Iowa. do Captured sergeant and standard of Twelfth Mississippi Cavalry, Selma, Ala.
Capt. Lot Abraham, Fourth Iowa. do To be major by brevet.
Capt. Asa B. Fitch, Fourth Iowa. do Do.
Capt. John D. Brown, Third Iowa. do Do.
Capt. George W. Johnson, Third Iowa. do Do.
Capt. R. B. M. McGlasson, Tenth Missouri. do Do.
Capt. Samuel J. McKee, Third Iowa. do Do.
First Lieut. Ferdinand Owen, Tenth Missouri. do To be captain by brevet.
Second Lieut. Loyd H. Dillon, Fourth Iowa. do To be first lieutenant by brevet.
Col. John W. Noble, Third Iowa. Recommended for promotion by Bvt. Maj. Gen. E. Upton. To be brigadier-general by brevet.
Col. B. B. Eggleston, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Do.
Bvt. Maj. and Asst. Adjt. Gen. James W. Latta. do To be major and assistant adjutant-general.
Capt. Theresa C. Gilpin, Third Iowa. do To be major by brevet.
Maj. W. W. Woods, Fourth Iowa. do To be lieutenant-colonel by brevet.
Capt. J. H. Simpson, Fourth Michigan. do Acting assistant quartemaster, for commission.
First Lieut. T H.Brown,Third Iowa. do Acting commissary of subsistence, for commission.
First Lieut. John S. Keck, Fourth Iowa. do To be captain by brevet.
Second Lieut. Peter R. Keck, Fourth Iowa. do Do.
Capt. Lot Abraham, Fourth Iowa. do To be major by brevet.
Capt. Asa B. Fitch, Fourth Iowa. do Do.

<ar103_398>
Names of officers and men mentioned for bravery and efficiency, &amp;c.--Continued.
FOURTH DIVISION--Continued.
Name, rank, and regiment. By whom mentioned. Remarks.
Capt. John D. Brown, Third Iowa. Recommended for promotion by Bvt. Maj. Gen. E. Upton. To be major by brevet.
Capt. George W. Johnson, Third Iowa. do. Do.
Capt. R. B. M. McGlasson, Tenth Missouri. do Do.
First Lieut. George D. Womeldorff, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do To be captain by brevet.
First Lieut. J.A. O. Yeoman, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. do Do.
First Lieut. Ferdinand Owen, Tenth Missouri. do To be first lieutenant by brevet.
Second Lieut. Loyd H. Dillon, Fourth Iowa. do Do.
Sergt. Robert Skiles, Fourth Iowa. Recommended by General Upton to receive medal of honor. For individual bravery at Girard.
Private Robert C. Wood, Fourth Iowa. do Being taken prisoner, he escaped, and with a few others took prisoner the colonel and adjutant of the regiment that had held him.

[Indorsement.]
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Macon Ga., June 27, 1865.
Respectfully forwarded.
J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.
-----
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Macon, Ga., May 16, 1865.
GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith twenty-four stand of colors, captured from the enemy during the late campaign in Alabama and Georgia, with the circumstances connected with the capture of each.
1. Sergt. H. L. Birdsall, B Company, Third Iowa Cavalry, "captured the bearer and flag while my company was assailing the line of works on left of Summerville road, near Columbus, Ga., April 16, 1865."
2. Private Andrew W. Tibbets, I Company, Third Iowa. Cavalry, at Columbus, Ga., captured the bearer--a sergeant--and flag of Austin's battery, inside the line of works and to the right of the four-gun battery on the right of the enemy's line.
3. John H. Hays, private, F Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, at Columbus, Ga., "captured the standard and bearer, who tore it from the staff and tried to escape; he fired two shots from his revolver, wounding one man of my regiment at my side."
4. Corpl. Richard H. Morgan, A Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, at Columbus, Ga., "I captured the standard and bearer in the first charge my company made, inside the line of works, April 16; the bearer contested with me for its possession."
5. Private Nicholas Fanning, B Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, captured at Selma, Ala., in the city, an elegant silk C. S. flag and two staff officers, April 2, 1865.
6. Sergt. Norman F. Bates, E Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, at Columbus, Ga., ApriI 16, 1865, took a rebel and standard in the street three blocks from the bridge. <ar103_399>
7. Private Charles A. Swan, K Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, while following the retreating enemy through and out of Selma, Ala., April 2, 1865, captured one flag and the bearer, who said it belonged to Eleventh Mississippi.
8. Private Richard H. Cosgriff, L Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, at Columbus, Ga., on the west end of the bridge, "captured a stand-and and the bearer, having to knock him down with the butt of my gun before I could get possession of the flag," April 16, 1865.
9. Private John Kinney, L Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, captured at Columbus, Ga., 16th April, a standard and bearer of Tenth Missouri Battery. "I had a tussle with the fellow to get the flag."
10. Private Edward J. Bebb, D Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, at Columbus, Ga., April 16, about 100 yards from the bridge and in the line of works, took a flag, the rebels near it running away before our men, leaving the flag.
11. Private James P. Miller, D Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, captured at Selma, Ala., April 2, 1865, a sergeant and standard of Twelfth Mississippi Cavalry. He was mounted and trying to get away.
12. The large flag of the Sixth Regiment Arkansas Volunteers was captured on a train at the railroad depot on occupying Macon, by Sergt. John W. Deen, of Company C, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers.
13. The flag marked "Captured by Reuben Phillips, Company C, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers" (battle-flag), was got at the same time and place.
14. The battle-flag marked "Captured by First Lieut. James H. McDowell, Company B, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers," was surrendered to him by Colonel <font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> in the rebel works on the Columbus road, one mile and a half from Macon, Ga., on the surrender of said works.
15. The rebel flag, marked on the flag "Worrill Grays," was captured by Privates A. R. Hudson and J. Davis from a battalion of militia near Culloden, Ga., after a sharp skirmish, in which a small party of the regiment ran about 200 militia.
16. The battle-flag of the Twelfth Mississippi Cavalry, C. S. Army, was captured, with the commanding officer of the regiment, Major Cox, on the 15th instant, about six miles from Tuskegee, Ala., by John H. Shoef, private, Company H, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
17. The Palmetto flag was carried by Buford's (rebel) brigade, and was captured by Seventh Kentucky in a gallant charge against double its numbers near Montgomery, Ala., l'2th April, 1865.
18 and 19. Two colors of Clanton's (Alabama) brigade, captured by Second Indiana, near Montgomery, Ala., 12th April, 1865.
20 and 21. Two U.S. flags (regimental colors) captured by enemy (Tyler's brigade) near Etowah Creek, Ga., recaptured by Seventh Kentucky at Fort Tyler, Ga., 16th April, 1865.
22. Flag of Dixie Rangers captured by detachment Fourth Indiana Cavalry in skirmish near Barnesville, Ga., 19th April, 1865.
23. The garrison flag of Fort Tyler, Ga., captured in the assault upon Fort Tyler at West Point, Ga., by detachments from First Wisconsin, Second Indiana, and Seventh Kentucky, 16th April, 1865.
24. A flag captured in the assault on Selma, Ala., April 2, 1865, by the staff of Brigadier-General Long, commanding Second Division, Cavalry Corps.
I have the honor to recommend the following-named enlisted men as worthy to receive medals of honor: Sergt. H. L. Birdsall, B Company, Third Iowa Cavalry; Sergt. Norman F. Bates, E Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Corpl. Richard H. Morgan, A Company, Fourth Iowa <ar103_400> Cavalry; Private A. R. Hudson, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers; Private J. Davis, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers; Private Andrew W. Tibbets, I Company, Third Iowa Cavalry; Private John H. Hays, F Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Nicholas Fanning, B Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Charles A. Swan, K Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Richard H. Cosgriff, L Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Edward J. Bebb, D Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private James P. Miller, D Company, Fourth Iowa Cavalry. The flags bear inscriptions, which designate the date and place of capture.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General, Commanding.
Brig. Gen. WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General,
Hdqrs. Department of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tenn.
-----
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Macon, Ga., April 23, 1865.
Brig. Gen. E. D. TOWNSEND, U.S. Army,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
GENERAL: I have the honor to recommend the following promotions:
Bvt. Maj. Gen. E. Upton, U.S. Volunteers, to be major-general of volunteers, to date from April 1, 1865, for personal gallantry and good management in the engagement at Ebenezer Station, Ala.; also at Columbus, Ga., where by a night attack with 300 men he carried the rebel works and captured the bridge over the Chattahoochee River, took 1,200 prisoners and 52 guns. Throughout the entire campaign General Upton has exhibited the highest qualities of a general officer and demonstrated his fitness for advancement. Brig. Gen. Eli Long, U.S. Volunteers, to be brevet major-general of volunteers, for personal gallantry and good management in the command of his division in the assault of the fortifications at Selma, resulting in the capture of the place, 2,700 prisoners, 32 guns in position, April 2, 1865. Brig. Gen. E. M. McCook to be brevet major-general for uniform good conduct throughout the expedition.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.
-----
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Macon, Ga., May 19, 1865.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL U.S. ARMY,
Washington, D.C.:
I have the honor to recommend and request brevet appointments for the following-named officers of my staff for gallant and meritorious service:
Maj. E. B. Beaumont, assistant adjutant-general, to be brevet lieutenant-colonel and brevet colonel for faithful and intelligent discharge of his duties and for gallantry in action on the West Harpeth River December 17, 1864, during the pursuit of Hood, and at the battle of Selma, April 2, 1865. Maj. M. H. Williams, acting assistant inspector-general, to be brevet lieutenant-colonel for faithful discharge of his duties, gallantry at Selma and during the campaign in Alabama and <ar103_401> Georgia. Capt. H. E. Noyes, Second U.S. Cavalry, aide-de-camp, to be brevet major for gallantry at Selma and for meritorious service during the recent campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Capt. L. M. Hosea, Sixteenth U. S. Infantry, commissary of musters, to be brevet major for gallantry at Selma and Columbus and throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Capt. W. W. Van Antwerp, aide-de-camp, to be major for meritorious service, gallantry at Selma and Columbus, and efficient service throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Capt. G. H. Kneeland, provost-marshal, to be major for meritorious service, gallantry at Selma and Columbus, and efficient service throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Lieutenant Heywood, engineer officer, to be captain for meritorious and gallant service throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Lieutenant Dangler, ambulance officer, to be brevet captain for gallantry at Selma and throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Captain McBurney, ordnance officer, to be brevet major for meritorious and gallant service throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Surg. Francis Salter, U.S. Volunteers, medical director, to be brevet lieutenant-colonel for meritorious and efficient discharge of his duties in caring for the sick and wounded throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Capt. E. B. Carling, assistant quartermaster, U.S. Army, to be major and brevet lieutenant-colonel for faithful and energetic discharge of his duties as chief quartermaster of the Cavalry Corps. Capt. William E. Brown, acting assistant quartermaster, to be brevet major for faithful and meritorious discharge of his arduous duties throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Lieutenant Brown, acting commissary of subsistence, to be captain for the faithful and meritorious discharge of his duties throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia. Lieutenant Prather, acting aide-de-camp, to be captain for meritorious and gallant service throughout the campaign in Alabama and Georgia.
J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.
-----
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Macon, Ga., May 19, 1865.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL U.S. ARMY,
Washington, D.C.:
GENERAL: I have the honor to recommend and request brevet appointments for the following-named officers:
First Lieut. Joseph Hedges, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, to be captain and brevet major for conspicuous gallantry during the pursuit of Hood after the battle of Nashville, charging the enemy's rear guard on the West Harpeth River, leading his regiment, capturing three pieces of artillery. First Lieut. Joseph Rendlebrock, Second Lieut. John G. Webster, Second Lieut. James Callehan, and Second Lieut. William Bayard, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, to be captains and brevet majors for gallantry during the pursuit of Hood after the battle of Nashville and in the charge of the regiment against the earth-works at Selma, Ala. First Lieut. William O'Connell, commanding Fourth U.S. Cavalry, for conspicuous gallantry during the charge of his regiment upon the enemy's earthworks at Selma, Ala., to be captain and brevet major. Second Lieut. Wirt Davis, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, to be captain and brevet major for conspicuous gallantry during the charge of his regiment against the earth-works at Selma, Ala., and for good conduct on all occasions. First Lieuts. John Lee, Edwin J. Conway, and Sebastian Gunther, Fourth «26 R R--VOL XLIX, PT I» <ar103_402> U.S. Cavalry, to be brevet captains for faithful and intelligent discharge of duty during the pursuit of Hood and throughout the present campaign above mentioned. The officers of the Fourth U.S. Cavalry have been distinguished throughout the war for gallantry and faithful discharge of duty.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. H. WILSON, Brevet Major-General.
-----
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, June 17, 1865.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE. H. THOMAS, U. S. Army,
Commanding Department of the Cumberland:
SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith for delivery the medals of honor awarded by the Secretary of War to the following-named soldiers of the command of Maj. Gen. J. H. Wilson for their gallantry during the late campaign in Georgia: Sergt. H. L. Birdsall, Company B, Third Iowa Cavalry; Sergt. Norman F. Bates, Company E, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Corpl. Richard H. Morgan, Company A, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private A. R. Hudson, Company C, Seventeenth Indiana (mounted) Infantry; Private J. Davis, Company F, Seventeenth Indiana (mounted) Infantry; Private Andrew W. Tibbets, Company I, Third Iowa Cavairy; Private John H. Hays, Company F, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Nicholas Fanning, Company B, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Charles A. Swan, Company K, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Richard H. Cosgriff, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private Edward J. Bebb, Company D, Fourth Iowa Cavalry; Private James P. Miller, Company D, Fourth Iowa Cavalry.
I am, sir, &amp;c.,
E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

[scone]

Try asking on the Alabama Civil War message board off the top of my head i cant think of the web address though.

Steven

[larry_cockerham]

Shane and Steven, thank you both very much. I see why you two still out-rank me! Learning the structure of the US Army will take me a while. One can learn much about the Rebel army by reading US Army records.

[thea_447]

The reenactment of the Battle of Selma was the first such event I ever witnessed and I was not prepared for the NOISE! No one told me how loud those guns would be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this event even though the Rebels were vastly outnumbered. We stood in a huge pavillion (for lack of a better word) about 30 feet off the ground, so we could see the whole thing beautifully, the charges and the firings on the houses. (And you guys know me, I cheered as lustily as everyone else when the pitiful little Rebel troops "took on" the huge Yankee troops.)

I learned a valuable lesson there too. Don't take your checkbook or a bunch of cash unless you are prepared to spend a lot of it. The Sutlers tents were a veritable treasure trove!

All in all it was one of the best experiences and it prepared me for the Battle for the Armory at Tallassee which was the next event. It was much bigger, with a lot more men involved, more horses, etc.

Now our daughter and her husband join us for these outings and we have a wonderful time! My good friend's husband is a reenacter and we always look for him and cheer for him whether he's wearing the gray or the blue!

Gosh, if it weren't for all my ailments I swear I'd love to reenact. It must be the most rewarding experience. Dawna, after your first event, I want DETAILS!

[larry_cockerham]

Thea, bless your little Southern heart! (Why us Southerners bless hearts instead of other parts, I've never figured out, but that's another topic altogether.) From what you've written you must live in central Alabama? I'd like to share the following with you and the group in the hopes you might be interested in helping me collect information. I'm working on a "book" which is now not much more than an outline follwing the Army of Tennesse to the end of the war after they crossed the river at Bainbridge on December 28, 1864. I'll eventually give this away in general or figure a way to use it to help the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I'm curious if you can help me eventually with events or general information concerning Selma and Demopolis in Febraruary 1865 when the army passed through there on their way to North Carolina from *******n. The battle of Selma didn't happen until April 2, 1865 when Wilson showed up to harrass Forrest, as you know. These are draft notes:

*******n, Mississippi September 2004
I took some vacation time around the Labor Day weekend in 2004 and swapped travelling partners. My wife Darlene replaced Duke the Border Collie as we left for the Mississippi gulf coast in order to avoid hurricane Frances which was poised to gobble our original destination. It’s an ill wind that blows no one good. I was “forced” to drive down Interstate 59 through the city of *******n on the way to Gulfport. *******n is still a sleepy southern town 140 years after the Army of Tennessee assembled at the train yard for a ride east through Demopolis, Selma and Montgomery in Alabama to their destiny in North Carolina and a chance to return home. The only thing that assembled in *******n this day was the Tuskegee University football team ready to tackle some chicken at the local Barnhill’s Buffet. Talk about a lack of diversity, these boys take the prize. I shook the Coach’s hand and wished him well, being all the while thankful that we already had our chance at the chicken. [They beat Western Alabama 20-0 the next day.]
The history of this once proud city began in 1831 after a treaty with the Choctaw referred to as the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. The first white settler in the area was Richard McLemore of Virginia who had to wait until 1855 for the railroads to link to the area, but from that time *******n grew to become a major Mississippi city. At the beginning of the Civil War however, *******n only claimed 15 families, hardly a metropolis. The town supported a confederate arsenal, hospital, and a prisoner of war stockade.
In February 1864 General William Tecumseh Sherman’s army destroyed the city’s railroads. He was quoted at that time: “*******n no longer exists”. As soon as he left town, the hearty Rebels in the vicinity went to work and restored the tracks in 26 working days. William Sherman, much hated by the people of the South, perhaps for good reason, was a soldier above all else. He fought the Army of Tennessee from Chattanooga to Atlanta in the spring of 1864 and directed the Union armies under George H. Thomas in the fall and winter of 1864 in Tennessee. He was still calling the shots in the spring of 1865 as the superior of James Harrison Wilson. As the Army of Tennessee made it’s way to South Carolina for the final curtain of the play, who was in wait? Yes, Bill Sherman and his army fresh from spending the winter eating shrimp in Charleston. The final curtain was to fall in May 1865 with William Sherman still on stage in the final scene next to his long time adversary Joseph Edward Johnston. Two Armies on the same road.

Between 1890 and 1930 *******n grew to be the state’s largest city, but at the time Whitfield Monroe Parker and the 63rd Virginia came to town in February 1865, little existed but a rail yard and a ride into the future. That ride held a promise of a return to the green hills of the Holston valley in southwestern Virginia. That was worth the trip.

This was posted by James Dalton on Genforum in 2001 concerning the use of the railroad by Union Forces in 1863. Conditions must have been similar, perhaps improved by 1865:

Question: Considering the times and location (all under Union control) about how far would a train run in a daylight day? (do not think they would run at night). They could only go as far as McDowell Landing (west of Demopolis in Alabama and be reloaded on a ferry for river trip to Demopolis, then rail trip to Selma, then river trip to Montgomery, then rail to the Georgia State Line, then had to swap trains because of track gage Etc.)

While the Army of Tennessee was able to make the movement from Mississippi to North Carolina using rail at times, the trip was arduous at best.

The presence of the railroad in *******n is still quite strong today with a large rail yard very near the center of downtown. I can imagine in 1865 that this was a collection point for the timber being removed from the vast forests of central Mississippi and nearby Alabama. The location is about midway between Jackson to the west and Montgomery to the east. On January 27, 1865 Cheatham’s Corps reported “in *******n, Mississippi by rail”. Private Whitfield Monroe Parker must have looked at this place and longed for a glimpse of the Holston River valley. He and his Virginia comrades were a long way from home in a strange land, having spent the first two months of the worst winter of their lives in Tennessee, north Alabama and in the vicinity of Tupelo. The last couple of weeks had brought much needed rest, nourishment, clothing and supplies before they started again on the journey into an unknown future.

Only a couple of months later, the remnant of this once proud Confederate army would spot the entourage of President Jefferson Davis traveling through Salisbury, North Carolina on the way to his capture in Irwinville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. Born in central Kentucky, Davis was an 1828 West Point graduate and served his country well in the Mexican War. He was a member of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives 1835-1861 until he resigned to be elected President of the Confederacy for a six year term, the only person to ever hold that office. After spending 1865-67 in prison at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, he was paroled and returned to Mississippi where he engaged in several business ventures. He purchased his home Beauvoir by 1879 in Biloxi, Mississippi and lived there until his death 6 Dec 1889 in nearby New Orleans. He is buried in Richmond, VA. The home today is preserved on U.S. route 90 in Biloxi and commands a view of the Gulf of Mexico. The Confederate battle flag proudly flies with little attention in the side yard of the complex. Jeff Davis is gone, but the heritage of the South lives on.


January 28, 1865 Cheatham’s Corps in Demopolis, Alabama by
rail and ferry.

Demopolis, Alabama

Demopolis is a small southern city whose residents are proud of their 10,000 acre lake created by the construction of the Tombigbee Waterway. In 1865 it was just another village on the railroad heading east from *******n.

More on Demopolis written by Barry N. Wyatt August 2004:

Military History of
JOHN HENRY BRIGANCE
C.S.A. Private - Company K
32nd Texas Calvary

He was then placed aboard a train to a hospital in Demopolis, Alabama. Soon after his evacuation, the "well to do" citizens of Mobile were then evacuated by train to Demopolis, while many other residents fled north on a road out of Mobile. The area north and east of Mobile was being overrun by tens of thousands of fleeing Confederate solders and the Confederate Congress from Richmond looking for refuge. When John Henry arrived in Demopolis, he was sent to the C.S.A. Hinkley Hospital and was there for less than one month. The hospital surrendered to the Union army on May 4. Ten days later he traveled to *******n, Mississippi and signed parol papers on May 14. 1865. John Henry Brigance appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War of Hospital Attendants and Patients at Hinkley Hospital, Demopolis, Ala.,of the Confederate States Army, commanded by Surg. H. Hinkley, surrendered at (blank) by Lieut. Gen. R. Taylor, C.S.A., to Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby, U.S.A., May 4, 1865, and paroled at *******n, Miss., May 14, 1865".


January 30, 1865 Cheatham’s Corps in Selma, Alabama

February 1, 1865 Cheatham’s Corps in Montgomery, Alabama