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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.
The Army of Tennessee of General Hood had withdrawn to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.
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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