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General Hood had withdrawn to Tupelo, Mississippi.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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