HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Third Alabama Cavalry Regiment was organized at Tupelo, MS, 1 July 1862, by companies that had been in the service some months, and several of which, such as "Murphy's Battalion," had fought at Shiloh. These companies were from Autauga, Calhoun, Choctaw, Dallas, Mobile, Monroe, and Perry counties. The regiment accompanied the army into Kentucky and was engaged in daily conflicts with the enemy, particularly at Bramlet's Station and Perryville. It fell back with the army and was on constant and arduous duty during the remainder of the war, protecting its communications, guarding its rear and flanks, and often raiding upon the enemy's trains and outposts. It was part of the brigade composed of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 12th, and 51st Alabama cavalry regiments, commanded first by Gen'l William Wirt Allen of Montgomery, subsequently by Gen'l James Hagan of Mobile.
OFFICERS:
Cols. James Hagan (Mobile; wounded, Franklin, Kingston, TN); Josiah Robins (Wilcox; wounded, near Fayetteville.); Lt. Cols. S. Jennings Murphy (Mobile; transferred); Tyirie H. Mauldin (Monroe; resigned); Josiah Robins (promoted); John D. Farish (Wilcox; wounded, near Fayetteville); and Majors Frank Y. Gaines (Choctaw; retired); Josiah Robins (promoted); John D. Farish (wounded, Coosa Valley); and D. P. Forney (Calhoun)
ASSIGNMENTS:
Commanded first by Gen'l William Wirt Allen of Montgomery, subsequently by Gen'l James Hagan of Mobile.
BATTLES:
The 3rd was engaged at Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Chickamauga, Kingston, Knoxville, Mossy Creek, Strawberry Plains, losing continuously in casualties, and suffering severely during Gen'l James Longstreet's winter campaign. In the Dalton-Atlanta campaign, it performed arduous service, fighting with severe loss at Decatur, and helping to capture US Gen'l George Stoneman's column. In front of US Gen'l William T. Sherman, the regiment shrouded Hood's movements, then harassed the former on his march, participating in the fights near Macon, at Winchester, Aiken, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. Reduced by its losses to a skeleton, the regiment was surrendered at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina on 26 April 1865.
Aiken, SC - Feb. 11, 1865
COMPANIES:
Co. "A", Ruffin Dragoons (Choctaw) -- Frank Y. Gaines (promoted, Major); William W. Lang (resigned, 13 Dec 62); William P. Cheney
Co. "B" [formerly, Co. "M", Wirt Adams' Cavalry] (Monroe) -- Tyirie H. Mauldin (promoted, Lt. Col.); T. J. [F. J.?] Billingslea
Co. "D" [formerly Jackson County Mounted Rifles] (Wilcox, Dallas) -- Thomas F. Jenkins (resigned, 30 May 62); John D. Farish (promoted, Major); Samuel W. Pegues
Co. "E", Mobile Humphries Dragoons [formerly Co. "D", Wirt Adams' Cavalry] (Mobile) -- Paul Ravesies (transferred); John W. Smith (resigned); James C. Brown
Co. "F" [formerly Murphy's Independent Co.] (Perry, Dallas) -- Samuel Jennings Murphy; William B. Cathy (KIA, Perryville, 8 Oct 62); Reuben W. Cole (resigned, 25 Nov 64); Thomas J. Norris (KIA, Chapel Hill)
Co. "G", Floyd Bush Rangers (Calhoun) -- Daniel P. Forney (promoted); Alex O. Stewart
Co. "H" [formerly Independent Co.] (Autauga) -- Jesse J. Cox (resigned, 8 May 62); James D. [James M.?] Hill (resigned); Wilbur F. Mims
Co. "I" [formerly Lenoir County Cavalry] (Dallas, Wilcox) -- James Boykin (transferred); Augustus Tomlinson (died in service); Thomas Lenoir (KIA, Resaca); Henry R. Gordon
Co. "K" (Dallas, Wilcox) -- R. W. Smith (transferred); Holloway