Bradford's Battalion, 13th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Union)

Brief History
Bradford's Battalion, 13th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry was organized December, 1863. It was consolidated to a Company April, 1864, and assigned to 14th Tennessee Cavalry as Company "A," then assigned to 6th Tennessee Cavalry as Company "E." It was attached to District of Cairo, Dept. of the Tennessee. At Paducah, Ky., January, 1864. Then ordered to Fort Pillow, Tenn., February 4, 1864, and garrison duty there till April. Forest's attack on and massacre at Fort Pillow April 12.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section,Bradford's Battalion Cavalry, (accessed 6 April 2012).

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.


 * Theodorick F. Bradford, 1st Lt. John F. Gregory, Co. "A". Commissioned October 26, 1863, with 50 men. Mustered into U. S. service December 5, 1863, at Paducah, Kentucky.
 * John H. Porter (1st Lt.), Co. "B". Mustered into U. S. service December 16, 1863, under 2nd Lt. William Cleary. Men enrolled at Union City, Tennessee.
 * Nicholas D. Logan (1st Lt.), commissioned December 16, 1863, Co. "C". Mustered into U. S. service January 20, 1864, at Columbus, Kentucky. Men enrolled at Union City, Tennessee.
 * Fraucis A. Smith (1st Lt.), commissioned December 16, 1863 with 50 men, Co. "D". Mustered into U. S. service January 20, 1864, at Columbus, Kentucky. Men enrolled at Union City, Tennessee.
 * John L. Poston, 5th Company. Ready for muster April 1, 1864, but never mustered into U. S. service. Men from Haywood County.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 473 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.


 * Wright, General Marcus J., Tennessee in the War 1861-1865, (Ambrose Lee Publishing Company, Williamsbridge, New York City, 1908), Online book at Internet Archive. Roster of the volunteer force in the United States army from Tennessee. Roster of officers is given as it stood on the day of the muster out. Bradford Battalion begins on page 162.


 * Tennesseans in the Civil War, 14th Tennessee Cavlary Regiment, USA, (accessed 29 Jan 2012). Also called Bradford's Tennessee Cavalry Battalion.  Erroneously called 13th Tennessee Cavafry Regiment, and 13th West Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.  A brief history, field officers, captains and companies.