Book Description

Prior to, and shortly after the battle of Shiloh in April of 1862, there were many independent cavalry companies that had been raised in Alabama to meet the manpower demands of the Confederate States Army. Colonel Philip Dale Roddey was responsible for the creation of the 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment by organizing a group of these independent companies that had been raised out of Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, and Walker Counties. After organization at Tuscumbia in October 1862, the regiment was sent to middle Tennessee. It wintered near the army, but in the early spring was sent to the Tennessee Valley. On Forrest's Athens and Pulaski raid, the Fourth bore the brunt of two or three fights, and was badly cut up. It bore the leading part in Gen. Roddey's movements, repelling raids, picketing the front, and making a number of daring attacks, such as that at Barton's and the one at Florence. When Wilson crossed the mountains, the regiment was in his front, and fought nearly all the way from Montevallo to Selma. The larger portion of the Fourth was captured at Selma, and the remnant laid down its arms at Pond Spring. Captains, and Counties from Which the Companies Came. Franklin -- Jas. Williams; killed at Courtland. C. J. Hyatt. Lauderdale -- Joseph H. Sloss; transferred. Thos. Williams; wounded near Bainbridge; killed near Huntsville. J. M. Weems. Lauderdale -- Wm. H. Welsh. Franklin -- W. R. Julian; till re-organized. John A. Steele. Lawrence -- J. H. Shackelford; transferred. Ward McDonald. Franklin -- John Newsom; transferred. John C. Nelson; wounded and captured. Franklin -- Jere. Daily; till re-organized. Edw. J. Odum. Walker -- E. Kelly; wounded. Lawrence -- Philip Thirlkill; transferred. .... Maguire.