Talladega County Alabama
Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

The Final Campaign

The Union forces in January 1865, had followed the Army of Tennessee upon its withdrawal from Middle Tennessee, to the north bank of the Tennessee River and halted. The Union at that time reoccupied Decatur, Alabama, giving them a foothold on the south bank of the river. The cavalry force under Brigadier General Philip Dale Roddey, to which the Fifth Alabama Cavalry, Colonel Josiah Patterson, commanding, was assigned, was given the duty of preventing the Union from foraging south of the river. Many people in the mountainous area south of the Tennessee Valley had Union symphonies. The mountains were used as hiding places for deserters from both sides, as well as, a base of operations for bandits and outlaws, known as "Bushwackers," who preyed on the inhabitants. Many of the men in the Army of Tennessee, with homes in this region, went home when they crossed over the Tennessee River.

On January 30, 1865 Lieut. Gen. Richard Taylor, writes to the Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. in part: **** Also respectfully request an answer to my telegram asking General Roddey's orders be so changed as to allow me to remove him from North Alabama, and place troops there who have no local interest in that region. ****

General Richard Taylor received the following reply to his request concerning the assignment of General Roddey:

Richmond, Va. January 31, 1865.

General R. Taylor,
Meridian, Miss:

Your dispatch of the 30th to Secretary of War has been considered. General Roddy with his command has heretofore been considered very useful in North Alabama. The orders given in regard to him were caused by the fact that he had twice been removed by department commander, and on each occasion the enemy had inflicted serious injury during his absence. If the circumstances are such as to assure you that it will be beneficial to exchange his command for some other, you will exercise your discretion, notwithstanding my belief that he has special qualifications for service in that locality.

Jeff Davis

The Army of Tennessee of General Hood had withdrawn to Tupelo, Mississippi. The Confederate officials in Richmond were deciding where the army should be sent. There was concern that Mobile, Alabama might be attacked. There was also the concern that Union Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman's forces, having reached the coast, would turn north and join General U.S. Grant in confronting General Robert E. Lee in Virginia. The decision was made to transfer the Army of Tennessee to North Carolina, to reinforce Lt. Gen. Hardee in his effort to prevent Sherman from joining with Grant. With the moving of the Army of Tennessee to the east, the Tennessee River Valley was left to be guarded by the cavalry force of Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey and Maj. Gen. N.B. Forrest. Not very much military activity took place during the January and February of 1865. Roddey's cavalry was on picketing, foraging, scouting, and recruiting duty during this period.

On January 24, 1865, Maj. Gen. N.B. Forrest was placed in command of the District Mississippi and East Louisiana.

On February 8, 1865, Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey wrote to Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger on the matter of prisoner exchange, giving to him the names of the units in his command to enable Granger to get from Federal prisons the men from Roddey's command to exchange. He gave the units in his command as:

William' and Warren's battalion, now Burtwell's regiment of Alabama cavalry.
Fourth Alabama Regiment Cavalry, Johnson's regiment.
Moreland's regiment cavalry.
Tenth Alabama Regiment Cavalry, Pickett's regiment.
Fifth Alabama Regiment Cavalry, Patterson's regiment.
Stuart's battalion Alabama cavalry.
Newsome's company cavalry.
Roddey's escort company cavalry.
Sleeth's company cavalry.
Ferrell's battery horse artillery.

The Union massed forces near Waterloo and Gravelly Springs, Alabama. On February 24, 1865, Union Major Gustavus Schnitzer, commanding Second Iowa Cavalry, 425 men, reports on an expedition from Eastport, Mississippi, to Russellville, Alabama, during February 19-23, 1865. In his report the Major states that Brig. Gen. Roddey with 1,000 men was near Mt. Hope, and Captain Warren with 100 men was near Russellville. The Union force on February 21, attacked and captured Russellville, Alabama, capturing Lt. Col. Windes, of Roddey's troops. On February 22, 1865, the Union force begin to return to Eastport, Mississippi. Lt. Col. Windes escaped from three men guarding him. Major Schnitzer reports that Brig. Gen. Roddey left Mt. Hope, Alabama, on February 20, 1865, to join Maj. Gen. N.B. Forrest at Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

On February 25, 1865 the following dispatch was sent:

Charlotte, N.C. February 25, 1865 --1:15 p.m.

General R.E. Lee,
Richmond, Va.:

General Roddey reports from near Moulton, Ala., that enemy at Huntsville is reported collecting supplied for an early move on Selma via Tuscaloosa. Timbers are being delivered at Decatur for railroad bridge. Fourth Army Corps, Wood's, is encamped about Huntsville. Force there and at Stevenson estimated at 10,000 to 18,000 infantry.

G.T. BEAUREGARD.

On February 28, 1865 N.B. Forrest received his commission as a Lieutenant-General.

Brig. Gen. P.D. Roddey is advised by General Beauregard, on February 28, 1865, to report to Lieut. Gen. Richard Taylor for orders, but keep Beauregard advised of enemy movements.

J.L.M. Curry, Lt. Col., commanding, Fifth Alabama Cavalry, on March 3, 1865, reports to Brig. Gen. Roddey, that the Union Fourth Corps is moving to the east toward Stevenson and Chattanooga. He also reports and embargo has been placed on the citizens of Huntsville and none are allowed to come out or cross the river until further notice.

On March 11, 1865, Lieut. Gen. Richard Taylor abolished the District of North Alabama. All of the State of Alabama, except that portion in the District of the Gulf, becomes the District of Alabama, Brig. Gen. D.W. Adams, commanding.

With the removal of the Army of Tennessee to North Carolina, there was no organized army left in the lower South to confront the Union force north of the Tennessee River. The Union command made plans to send an expedition into Alabama.

Lt. Gen. N.B. Forrest was concentrating his troops in and around Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to prepare for the expected invasion. Forrest decided, from information gathered by Roddey and other scouts, the Union forces would move via Tuscaloosa, toward Selma, and on to Mobile.

Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger reports from Decatur, on March 25, 1865 that Colonel Patterson (Fifth Alabama Cavalry) is absent from his command making speeches in opposition to Governor Brown.

On March 22, 1865, the Union cavalry, 14,500 men, under command of Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, departed Waterloo, on the Tennessee River, moving in the direction of Central Alabama, their mission was to destroy the arsenal and supplies at Selma, and await further orders. Upton's division moved via Barton's Station, Russellville, Mt Hope, and Jasper, to Elyton. Long's division marched by the way of Cherokee Station, Frankford, Russellville, crossed Bear Creek on the Tuscaloosa road, thence by Thorn Hill and Jasper to Elyton. McCook pursued the same route to the crossing of Bear Creek, and thence taking the Tuscaloosa road to Eldridge, then to Jasper and on to Elyton.

Union Maj. Gen. Upton's Fourth Division arrived at Elyton on March 28, 1865, and reported Patterson's regiment from Northern Alabama passed through Elyton just before the arrival of his division. Patterson's rear guard was driven out by the arriving Union troops. Patterson's troops obstructed the ford across the Cahawba River, delaying the Union troops until a footbridge could be laid on the railroad bridge on the 30th.

Union Col. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, reports in part; **** On Tuesday the 28th ultimo, the regimen, being in the advance, skirmished very slightly with a few of the enemy from Five-Mile Creek to the town of Elyton, capturing two of them belonging to the (Fifth) Alabama Cavalry (Colonel Patterson commanding), near the town. The Confederate regiment had been hastily withdrawn from the Huntsville and Decatur roads, on which it expected we would advance, and had passed through Elyton but a few hours previous to our advance entering. ****

On March 29, 1865, from Elyton, Alabama, Union Maj. Gen. Upton reports Patterson's regiment, 250 men strong, passed through two hours before the Union forces' arrival at dark the previous night.

The record is unclear if the Fifth Alabama participated in the battles around Selma on April 2, 1865. It would appear that the Fifth Alabama Cavalry returned to duty in North Alabama at some point. J.J. Giers, a representative of Union General Thomas, writing on April 26, 1865, from Somerville, Alabama (at which place he visited was under a flag of truce), states that Col. Josiah Patterson, Fifth Alabama Cavalry, commands at that place.

On April 28, 1865, Union Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger writes from Huntsville, to General Thomas, that he has received a request from Colonel Josiah Patterson, C.S. Army, for a twenty day suspension of hostilities. The text of Patterson's letter follows:

Somerville, April 26, 1865.

Brig. Gen. R.S. Granger,
Commanding U.S. Forces, North Alabama:

SIR: I have seen your letter and also that of General Thomas, addressed to the citizens of this county. Thanking you for your kind intentions, I beg leave to make the following statement: There is at this time a considerable force of Confederate cavalry in this section of country. I have received no notification of General Lee's surrender except through Northern channels. Although I do not doubt that it is so, yet you are aware that I can take no action in the premises unless I had official information of the fact, and it would be impossible for citizens of the county, with any degree of propriety, to make any engagements which would compromise them with a command which is composed of their relatives and friends. I make free to state, general, that if General Lee has surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia, it leaves, in my judgment, our cause in a hopeless condition. A further shedding of blood would be suicidal. Guerrilla or partisan warfare would be the only warfare we could resort to, and that would prove disastrous alike to friend and foe. However much may have been said heretofore of guerilla warfare as a last resort, yet no good man, however patriotic he might be, would encourage, much less participate in, such a struggle. It is impossible for any action to be taken at this time. I will, however, communicate with General Roddey, and use my excretions to bring about such joint action on the part of the people and this command as will best secure life and property. In the meantime I respectfully ask that you refrain from any offensive operations for twenty days and I will do the same. You will please communicate with me immediately at this place as to what action you will take in this premises. You will perhaps not deem it improper for me to state no good man or brave spirit in our army takes pleasure in the assassination of President Lincoln. The deed has met with the universal condemnation of our troops, so far as I have heard an expression.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSIAH PATTERSON,
Colonel, Commanding Fifth Regiment Cavalry

A letter from thirty-one of the leading citizens of Morgan County was also enclosed, expressing the same sentiments.

In fact, the Army of Northern Virginia was surrendered by General Robert E. Lee on April 9, 1865, and the Army of Tennessee was surrendered by General Joseph E. Johnson on April 26, 1865. President Davis, with an escort of 2,000 picked cavalry under Dribell, was attempting to flee south from Richmond. Davis had with him his treasure, reported to be $6,000,000 or $8,000,000. He was accompanied by Wade Hampton, Breckinridge, and Trenholm. Davis was captured May 10, 1865, in Georgia.

Lieut. Gen. Richard Taylor surrendered the troops in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, on May 4, 1865.

On May 3, 1865, from Decatur, Alabama, Union General R.S. Granger writes: I have just returned from Fletcher's Ferry. I had an interview with Colonel Patterson, who accepts the terms of surrender. He requires time to collect his forces. Will surrender all troops under his command, and will require time for this purpose. Will see Roddey, and hope to bring him in with all that is left of his command.

Thus, ended the Fifth Alabama Cavalry Regiment's rigorous and active service in the Civil War.

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