RobertBruceFerguson
Private
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2014
- Location
- Central Mississippi
Samuel G. Spann was born in South Carolina on February 17, 1833. His parents were Charles G. Spann and Ann Wooten. The G. probably stood for Grandison. Samuel's grandfather, James, fought in the American Revolution and participated in the First Siege of Charleston and the Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1777.
For a time, Samuel lived near Black Hawk, Carroll County, Mississippi. He grew to manhood in Noxubee County, Mississippi. Samuel was educated at St. Joseph's College at Bardstown, Kentucky, and a school at Columbus, Mississippi. He later matriculated to the University of Virginia where he studied law.
In about 1856, he married Mary Jane Walker. They would have six boys: Joseph, Thomas, Grandison, Samuel, Wooton, and Charles.
When the Civil War began, Samuel was living as a planter near Selma, Alabama. His plantation was adjacent William J. Hardee's land.
In January of 1861, Samuel enrolled as a private in William Boyles' Dragoon which was, for a time, camped at Bayou La Batre, Alabama. He may have participated in the Battle of Shieldboro (Pass Christian) in April of 1862.
In May or June of 1862, Samuel was discharged from the Mobile Dragoons and became an aide for General William J. Hardee. He was likely commissioned as a captain at this time.
In the summer of 1862, Samuel was persuaded to raise a regiment of Indians not unlike that of William H. Thomas' North Carolina's "Legion of Indians and Highlanders." However, these Indians would be enrolled from the state of Mississippi.
In October of 1862, Samuel was with Hardee at the Battle of Perryville where he did excellent service. He was commended for his deeds which he later used to persuade officials to endorse his effort to raise a regiment of Indian warriors and white mounted soldiers. This was accomplished in April of 1863.
Samuel called his new command Spann's Independent Scouts. Spann's Independent Scouts were based in Mobile, Alabama. After John W. Pierce's 1st Choctaw Battalion was disbanded in May of 1863, Samuel accepted the battalion's transfer request to Spann's Independent Scouts in the summer of 1863.
After several months of recruitment, Samuel began a ninety day operation in North Alabama--his headquarters moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He likely participated in Brigadier General Gideon J. Pillow's conscriptions efforts in the late summer/fall of 1863.
After November of 1863, Spann's Independent Scouts was known as Alabama's 18th Confederate Cavalry. The 18th Confederate Cavalry continued service until the end of the War.
Samuel was paroled in June of 1865 at Cirtronelle, Alabama. In July of 1865, Samuel finally surrendered in Mobile, Alabama.
His post war life included writing newspaper articles & books, acting as a lawyer, being an proprietor of a newspaper, acting as a real estate agent, and commanding U.C.V., Dabney H. Maury, Camp No. 1312 at Newton, Mississippi.
Samuel died in September of 1907 in the Mattie Hersee hospital at Meridian, Mississippi. He was buried next to his second wife, Teresa Yates, at Macon, Mississippi.
Sources: Well Known Confederate Veterans and Their War Records, Wm. E. Mickle, 1915, page 190. Macon Beacon, 1907. Anderson Intelligencer, 1900. The Meridian Press, 1903. National Archives Microfilm Publication. Microcopy No. 311, Complied Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Alabama, Roll 46, Murphy's Battalion, Cavalry, M-Z, (Washington, 1960). University of Virginia Its History, Influence, Equipment and Characteristics, Vol. II, 1904, page 67.
Biographer: ROBERT BRUCE FERGUSON, 2017.
For a time, Samuel lived near Black Hawk, Carroll County, Mississippi. He grew to manhood in Noxubee County, Mississippi. Samuel was educated at St. Joseph's College at Bardstown, Kentucky, and a school at Columbus, Mississippi. He later matriculated to the University of Virginia where he studied law.
In about 1856, he married Mary Jane Walker. They would have six boys: Joseph, Thomas, Grandison, Samuel, Wooton, and Charles.
When the Civil War began, Samuel was living as a planter near Selma, Alabama. His plantation was adjacent William J. Hardee's land.
In January of 1861, Samuel enrolled as a private in William Boyles' Dragoon which was, for a time, camped at Bayou La Batre, Alabama. He may have participated in the Battle of Shieldboro (Pass Christian) in April of 1862.
In May or June of 1862, Samuel was discharged from the Mobile Dragoons and became an aide for General William J. Hardee. He was likely commissioned as a captain at this time.
In the summer of 1862, Samuel was persuaded to raise a regiment of Indians not unlike that of William H. Thomas' North Carolina's "Legion of Indians and Highlanders." However, these Indians would be enrolled from the state of Mississippi.
In October of 1862, Samuel was with Hardee at the Battle of Perryville where he did excellent service. He was commended for his deeds which he later used to persuade officials to endorse his effort to raise a regiment of Indian warriors and white mounted soldiers. This was accomplished in April of 1863.
Samuel called his new command Spann's Independent Scouts. Spann's Independent Scouts were based in Mobile, Alabama. After John W. Pierce's 1st Choctaw Battalion was disbanded in May of 1863, Samuel accepted the battalion's transfer request to Spann's Independent Scouts in the summer of 1863.
After several months of recruitment, Samuel began a ninety day operation in North Alabama--his headquarters moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He likely participated in Brigadier General Gideon J. Pillow's conscriptions efforts in the late summer/fall of 1863.
After November of 1863, Spann's Independent Scouts was known as Alabama's 18th Confederate Cavalry. The 18th Confederate Cavalry continued service until the end of the War.
Samuel was paroled in June of 1865 at Cirtronelle, Alabama. In July of 1865, Samuel finally surrendered in Mobile, Alabama.
His post war life included writing newspaper articles & books, acting as a lawyer, being an proprietor of a newspaper, acting as a real estate agent, and commanding U.C.V., Dabney H. Maury, Camp No. 1312 at Newton, Mississippi.
Samuel died in September of 1907 in the Mattie Hersee hospital at Meridian, Mississippi. He was buried next to his second wife, Teresa Yates, at Macon, Mississippi.
Sources: Well Known Confederate Veterans and Their War Records, Wm. E. Mickle, 1915, page 190. Macon Beacon, 1907. Anderson Intelligencer, 1900. The Meridian Press, 1903. National Archives Microfilm Publication. Microcopy No. 311, Complied Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Alabama, Roll 46, Murphy's Battalion, Cavalry, M-Z, (Washington, 1960). University of Virginia Its History, Influence, Equipment and Characteristics, Vol. II, 1904, page 67.
Biographer: ROBERT BRUCE FERGUSON, 2017.
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