6th Regiment Alabama Cavalry
Encyclopedia
The 6th Alabama Cavalry was organized near Pine Level early in 1863, This regiment was part of a brigade commanded by Brigadier-General James Holt Clanton
(1827–1871), a Montgomery
attorney that had served as a U.S. Army private in the Mexican War during 1848. In November 1861 Clanton had raised and commanded the 1st Alabama Cavalry
as a Colonel, a regiment that served with distinction at the bloody Battle of Shiloh
(April 1862). Clanton's new brigade included not only the 6th but also the 7th Alabama Cavalry, the 61st and 57th Alabama Infantry, and two batteries of artillery.
First posted to the south Alabama town of Pollard
, Clanton and his brigade were ordered to north Alabama in February 1864. They would be headquartered at Gadsden
in Etowah County
on the east bank of the Coosa River
with their mission being to protect the coal and iron sections in that area, protect the public works at Selma
, and to organize and complete the 8th Alabama Cavalry. By this time the 6th Cavalry had already moved to Meridian, MS
but was ordered to rejoin Clanton in Gadsden. The 6th was subsequently involved in several skirmishes with elements of the 15th and 16th U.S. Army Corps near Decatur
, Danville
and the Paint Rock River
with small loss.
In the savage fighting of the Atlanta-Dalton campaign in May–June 1864 the regiment lost quite a number of men during the several weeks they were attached as part of Ferguson's and Armstrong's brigades.
In June 1864 Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau
was ordered by Gen. Sherman to start from Nashville and move south. Units to be under his command included the 8th Indiana, 2nd Kentucky, 4th Tennessee, 9th Ohio, and 5th Iowa Cavalry Regiments. Most of this cavalry, except the 4th Tennessee, were dismounted due to the difficulty in obtaining horses so Rousseau was forced to take horses from other regiments. Also, acompanying General Rousseau were guns from the 1st Michigan Artillery. This command was to move through Decatur and to move slowly to Blountsville
and Ashville
. And, if the way was clear, to cross the Coosa River at the Ten Island Ford or the railroad bridge with the ultimate goal of breaking up the Montgomery and West Point Railroad
between Tuskegee
and Opelika
. When hearing of the approach of the Union troops Clanton moved with Lieutenant Colonel Lary and the 6th Alabama Cavalry toward Greensport and positioned his troops. The resulting fighting was disastrous for General Clanton and his valiant men, particularly the 6th Alabama Cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Lary and his Executive Officer, Major McWhorton were captured.
Transferred to West Florida, the 6th fought Maj. General Frederick Steele
's column at Bluff Springs and Lt. Col. Spurlin's column at Milton, FL
with many prisoners taken.
The flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry was captured on March 25, 1865 by Private Thomas Riley, Co. D, 1st Louisiana Cavalry during an engagement which took place between Canoe Creek, Alabama and the Escambia River prior to the Battle of Fort Blakely
. Private Riley was recommended for and received the Medal of Honor
. The flag was forwarded to the U.S. War Department where it was assigned Capture Number 453. The flag and its staff were returned to the State of Alabama effective April 26, 1905. This flag received conservation treatment and was prepared for display by Textile Preservation Associates, Inc. of Sharpsburg, MD
in March 1999 . There are many references of a Rudolph Riddell with the 61st New York capturing the flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry on April 6, 1864 at the Battle of Sailor's Creek during the Appomattox Campaign
, in Virginia. There is no record of this Alabama Cavalry regiment ever being in Virginia but the brigade facing these New York troops included the 6th Alabama Infantry. That probably was the unit that should have been referenced in the Medal of Honor citation.
At the end of the war the remnant of the 6th fought Maj. General James H. Wilson's
column and laid down their arms at Gainesville, AL
, fewer than 200 men.
James Holt Clanton
James Holt Clanton was an American soldier, lawyer, and legislator. He enlisted in the United States Army for service during the Mexican–American War, and later was a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War...
(1827–1871), a Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
attorney that had served as a U.S. Army private in the Mexican War during 1848. In November 1861 Clanton had raised and commanded the 1st Alabama Cavalry
1st Regiment Alabama Volunteer Cavalry (Confederate)
The 1st Regiment Alabama Volunteer Cavalry was an Cavalry regiment that served inthe Confederate Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st Alabama Cavalry was raised at Montgomery, Alabama, in November 1861....
as a Colonel, a regiment that served with distinction at the bloody Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
(April 1862). Clanton's new brigade included not only the 6th but also the 7th Alabama Cavalry, the 61st and 57th Alabama Infantry, and two batteries of artillery.
First posted to the south Alabama town of Pollard
Pollard, Alabama
Pollard is a town in Escambia County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 120.-Geography:Pollard is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, Clanton and his brigade were ordered to north Alabama in February 1864. They would be headquartered at Gadsden
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
in Etowah County
Etowah County, Alabama
Etowah County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is from the Cherokee language, which means "edible tree". It is the center of the Gadsden Metropolitan Area which includes Etowah and Cherokee Counties. As of 2010 the population was 104,430. Its county seat is Gadsden...
on the east bank of the Coosa River
Coosa River
The Coosa River is a tributary of the Alabama River in the U.S. states of Alabama and Georgia. The river is about long altogether.The Coosa River is one of Alabama's most developed rivers...
with their mission being to protect the coal and iron sections in that area, protect the public works at Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, and to organize and complete the 8th Alabama Cavalry. By this time the 6th Cavalry had already moved to Meridian, MS
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
but was ordered to rejoin Clanton in Gadsden. The 6th was subsequently involved in several skirmishes with elements of the 15th and 16th U.S. Army Corps near Decatur
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
, Danville
Danville, Alabama
Danville is an unincorporated community in Morgan County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the larger Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. A noteworthy Danville native was world famous gold medalist at the 1936 Summer Olympics, Jesse Owens....
and the Paint Rock River
Paint Rock River
The Paint Rock River is a tributary of the Tennessee River in northern Alabama in the United States. Its tributaries also drain a portion of south-central Tennessee....
with small loss.
In the savage fighting of the Atlanta-Dalton campaign in May–June 1864 the regiment lost quite a number of men during the several weeks they were attached as part of Ferguson's and Armstrong's brigades.
In June 1864 Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau
Lovell Rousseau
Lovell Harrison Rousseau was a general in the United States and Union Armies during the American Civil War and a lawyer and politician in both Kentucky and Indiana.-Early life and career:...
was ordered by Gen. Sherman to start from Nashville and move south. Units to be under his command included the 8th Indiana, 2nd Kentucky, 4th Tennessee, 9th Ohio, and 5th Iowa Cavalry Regiments. Most of this cavalry, except the 4th Tennessee, were dismounted due to the difficulty in obtaining horses so Rousseau was forced to take horses from other regiments. Also, acompanying General Rousseau were guns from the 1st Michigan Artillery. This command was to move through Decatur and to move slowly to Blountsville
Blountsville, Alabama
Blountsville is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial legislature on 1818 Feb. 6, from land ceded to the Federal government by the Creek Nation on 1814 Aug. 9. It was named for Gov. Willie G. Blount of Tennessee, who provided...
and Ashville
Ashville, Alabama
Ashville is a city in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States part of the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its population was 2,260 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. This town is the county seat of St. Clair County along with Pell City. According to the 2005 U.S....
. And, if the way was clear, to cross the Coosa River at the Ten Island Ford or the railroad bridge with the ultimate goal of breaking up the Montgomery and West Point Railroad
Montgomery and West Point Railroad
The Montgomery and West Point Railroad was an early 19th century railroad in Alabama and Georgia. It played an important role during the American Civil War as a supply and transportation route for the Confederate Army, and, as such, was the target of a large raid by Union cavalry in the summer of...
between Tuskegee
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
and Opelika
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
. When hearing of the approach of the Union troops Clanton moved with Lieutenant Colonel Lary and the 6th Alabama Cavalry toward Greensport and positioned his troops. The resulting fighting was disastrous for General Clanton and his valiant men, particularly the 6th Alabama Cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Lary and his Executive Officer, Major McWhorton were captured.
Transferred to West Florida, the 6th fought Maj. General Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
's column at Bluff Springs and Lt. Col. Spurlin's column at Milton, FL
Milton, Florida
Milton , or Milltown, because Milton had the largest mill around) is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1844 and is home to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The population was 7,045 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
with many prisoners taken.
The flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry was captured on March 25, 1865 by Private Thomas Riley, Co. D, 1st Louisiana Cavalry during an engagement which took place between Canoe Creek, Alabama and the Escambia River prior to the Battle of Fort Blakely
Battle of Fort Blakely
-Sources:**-External links:*...
. Private Riley was recommended for and received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. The flag was forwarded to the U.S. War Department where it was assigned Capture Number 453. The flag and its staff were returned to the State of Alabama effective April 26, 1905. This flag received conservation treatment and was prepared for display by Textile Preservation Associates, Inc. of Sharpsburg, MD
Sharpsburg, Maryland
Sharpsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States, approximately south of Hagerstown. The population was 691 at the 2000 census....
in March 1999 . There are many references of a Rudolph Riddell with the 61st New York capturing the flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry on April 6, 1864 at the Battle of Sailor's Creek during the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
, in Virginia. There is no record of this Alabama Cavalry regiment ever being in Virginia but the brigade facing these New York troops included the 6th Alabama Infantry. That probably was the unit that should have been referenced in the Medal of Honor citation.
At the end of the war the remnant of the 6th fought Maj. General James H. Wilson's
James H. Wilson
James Harrison Wilson was a United States Army topographic engineer, a Union Army Major General in the American Civil War and later wars, a railroad executive, and author.-Early life and engineering:...
column and laid down their arms at Gainesville, AL
Gainesville, Alabama
Gainesville is a town in Sumter County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 220.-Geography:Gainesville is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, fewer than 200 men.