4th Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Branner's) - Confederate

Brief History
Also called 1st, also 2nd, East Tennessee Cavalry Battalion

This regiment was organized in August, 1861. During May, 1862, it merged into the 2nd (Ashby's) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - Captain William F. Ragsdale, "The Lookout Rangers" - Men from Hamilton County.
 * Company B - Captain John A. Rowan - Men from Monroe County.
 * Company C - Captain Henry M. Ashby - Men from Knox County, Union County and Claiborne County.
 * Company D - Captain Robert Simpson - Men from Hawkins County.
 * Company E - Captain Benjamin M. Branner - "The Peck Light Dragoons" - Men from Jefferson County and Knox county.
 * Company F - Captain John N. Bridgman, George H. Finley - Men fro Bledsoe County.

The information about the counties is from Tennesseans in the Civil War, (accessed 18 Nov 2011) and 4th Confederate Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Branner's) Roster, Transcribed by Charles L. Penick, (accessed 18 Nov 2011).

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 766 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Tennessee in the Civil War' and 'United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865' (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Tennessee in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Tennessee, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Tennesseans in the Civil War, (accessed 18 Nov 2011). A brief history and organization.


 * 4th Confederate Battalion, Tennessee Cavalry (Branner's) Roster, Transcribed by Charles L. Penick,(accessed 18 Nov 2011).