1st Regiment, Alabama Cavalry

Brief History
1st Cavalry Regiment was assembled in November, 1861, at Montgomery, Alabama. Its companies were raised in the counties of Montgomery, Morgan, Dale, Tallapoosa, Calhoun, Pike, Autauga, Monroe, Butler, and Mobile. On April 26, 1865, about 150 officers and men surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.

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.

Companies by County:


 * Company A - many men from Autauga County, Dale County, Pike County and Coffee County
 * Company B - many men from Montgomery County and Autauga County
 * Company C - many men from Morgan County and Tallapoosa County, afterwards Company D 5th Alabama Calvary
 * Company D "Pearsons Dragoons" - many men from Autauga County and Tallapoosa County
 * Company E "J. Powell's Dragoons" - many men from Calhoun County, Butler County and Monroe County
 * Company F - many men from Pike County, Dale County, Coffee County and Tallapoosa County
 * Company G - many men from Autauga County and Montgomery County
 * Company H "Sandy Williams' Guards" - many men from Monroe County, Butler County and Calhoun County
 * Company I - many men from Pike County and Butler County
 * Company I [formerly and subsequently, Co. "B", 12th AL Cavalry Battalion]
 * Company K - many men from Montgomery County
 * Company K [formerly and subsequently Co. "C", 12th AL Cavalry Battalion]
 * Company L [formerly and subsequently Co. "D", 12th AL Cavalry Battalion; later Co. "D", 12th AL Cavalry]

The list of companies with their counties is found on history-sites.com web site

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,628 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 'Alabama 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.


 * Alabama in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Alabama, 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.


 * Green, Arthur E. Southern boots and saddles : the Fifteenth Confederate Cavalry, C.S.A, First regiment Alabama and Florida Cavalry, 1863-1865. (Westminster, Maryland : Heritage Books, c2005),.


 * Todd, Glenda McWhirter. Heartbreak of a Civil War widow : life of Sarah Harper McWhirter, 1825-1883 : including Harper family ancestry traced to Oxfordshire, Noke, England in early 1500’s and selected information on the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV. (Westminster, Maryland : Heritage Books, c2010), and First Alabama Cavalry, USA : homage to patriotism. (Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, c1999),


 * Watkins, Raymond W. (Raymond Wesley). Confederate burials, Jackson County, Florida : 15th Confederate Cavalry (The 1st Regiment, Alabama and Florida Cavalry). (Falls Church, Virginia : R.W. Watkins, 1988),