The 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment
(aka Russell's Cavalry Regiment)
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Unit History
Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in the 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers of the 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
Russell's 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment was formed at Murfreesboro, TN in December 1862 by a consolidation of four companies from Nathan B. Forrest's Old Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, and six companies from the 4th Alabama Battalion. (Recruits were from Cherokee, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, and Wilcox counties). Forrest's old companies had been with him for 15 months and had fought at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and many other engagements. Shortly after its organization, the regiment was sent with Forrest on a raid into west Tennessee, fighting in the battles of Lexington, Trenton, and Jackson. It also served in John T. Morgan's and William Wirt Allen's brigades, at Parker's Cross Roads, and Chickamauga. It also was in the Knoxville and Dalton-Atlanta campaigns. Later it skirmished in the Tennessee Valley and served under Gen'l James R. Chalmers in Alabama. After the Battle of Nashville, the 4th was assigned to Forrest's Corps and was included in the surrender on 4 May 1865. Col. A. A. Russell was twice wounded and was early placed in command of a brigade, thus the regiment was under the command of Lt. Col. Joseph M. Hambrick.
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Field and Staff
- Colonel: Alfred A. Russell (Jackson County; wounded, twice)
- Lieutenant Colonel: Joseph M. Hambrick (Madison County; wounded, Calhoun, GA)
- Major: F. M. Taylor (Madison County); and Adjutant Harry F. Christian (Madison)
- Adjutant: Harry F. Christian of Madison.
Assignments
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Companies & Counties of Origin
| Co. | Formed From | Comments / Commanded by |
| A | Wilcox & Monroe County | W. C. Bacot (wounded, near Atlanta) |
| B | Cherokee County | [previously, Co. "D", 15th TN Cavalry Battalion] Alfred S. Truitt; Thomas W. Hampton (KIA, Mossy Creek); H. A. Gillespie |
| C | Madison County | Frank B. Gurley |
| D | ? County | William H. Taylor |
| E | Jackson County | Flavius J. Graham (wounded, near Atlanta) |
| F | Madison County | [some of this company previously served in Co. "D", 7th AL Infantry] Oliver B. Gaston (captured; died as POW) |
| G | Jackson County | Henry F. Smith (wounded) |
| H | Marshall County | [formerly 5th TN Cavalry] Henry Milner (resigned, 5 Dec 62); David Davidson (wounded; resigned) |
| I | Marshall County | [evidently consolidated from Co. "A" and "E", 15th TN Cavalry Battalion] J. William Fennell; James L. Smith; Thomas M. Patteson |
| K | Madison County | David Campbell Kelley (promoted, Major, 3rd TN Cavalry); Joseph M. Hamrick (promoted, Lt. Col.); W. R. Whitman |
Dunagan's Co. [Russell's Battalion, 15th TN Partisan Rangers, or Russell's Rangers; company evidently broken up when battalion was raised to a regiment, 23 Nov 62] -- Stephen R. Dunagan
The following were captains in this regiment, but are not assigned to their respective companies in the report furnished: H. A. Gillespie, W. H. Taylor (killed at Decatur), Wm. Smith, Jas. Smith, and Thomas B. Winston. D. C. Kelly of Madison led one of the companies into the service, and was elected Lientenant colonel of Forrest's regiment. D. C. Davis was the first captain of one of the Madison companies, and........Trewhitt of the Cherokee company.
Battles, Skirmishes and Engagements
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Other Unit Info
Extracts From Official War Records
- Vol. XVII, Part I--(593, 594, 595) Gen. N. B. Forrest, in his report of operations, December 18, 1862, says: "Col. A. A. Russell, Fourth Alabama cavalry, and Maj. N. W. Cox, Second battalion Tennessee cavalry, with their commands, were sent out on the left to destroy bridges and culverts on the railroads from Jackson to Corinth and Bolivar. Colonel Russell and his command deserve especial notice for their gallantry in the fight at Lexington and Spring creek. Capt. F. B. Gurley, Fourth Alabama cavalry, with 12 men, charged a gun at Lexington supported by over 100 Federal cavalry. He captured the gun, losing his orderly-sergeant by the fire of the gun when within 15 feet of its muzzle·" (598, 599) Col. George G. Dibrell says: "On the 18th December, the enemy attempted to destroy the bridge at Beech river, but were driven back by the Fourth Alabama.
- Vol. XVII, Part 2--(462) Mentioned by Thomas A. Davies (Union), Columbus, Ky., December 23, 1862, as 450 strong.
- Vol. XXIII, Part I--(135) Mentioned by Gen. D. S. Stanley (Union), near Shelbyville, March 4, 1863. (379) Report of Gen. J. B. Turchin (Union) says: "200 of Russell's cavalry near Versailles, June 12th."
- Vol. XXIII, Part 2--(913) Gen. H. W. Walter, Chattanooga, July 15, 1803 says: "The Fourth regiment Alabama cavalry is especially detailed, and will report to Brigadier-General Pillow for duty." (943) In Russell's brigade, Martin's division, Bragg's army, July 31st.
- No. 50--(232) Hagan's brigade, Wharton's division, Wheeler's corps, Chickamauga campaign.
- No. 51--(19) Col. J. M Hambrick commanding; in Russell's brigade, Martin's division, Wheeler's corps, army of Tennessee, September 19 and 20, 1863. (659) In skirmish near Larkinsville, Ala., September 25th. (688) Mentioned by Gen. George Crook (Union) in report of operations during October. (693) Mentioned in report of Col. Abram O. Miller, fights of October 3d, near McMinnville.
- No. 55--(255) Mentioned by J. L. Abernathy (Union), in Trenton, August 31, 1863. (332) By Robert B. Mitchell (Union) as in Martin's division, on road to Trenton, September 3d. (449) By James S. Negley (Union) as near Lafayette, September 8th.
- No. 53--(500) In Russell's brigade, Martin's division, Wheeler's corps, army of Tennessee, August 15, 1863. (545) Scouts ordered to rejoin their commands, August 24th. (632) Mentioned in General Hindman's general orders, September 10th.
- No. 54--(445) Mentioned by Col. Wm. J. Palmer (Union), Flat Gap, December 23, 1863. (453) Gen. John T. Morgan's brigade, Martin's division; troops in east Tennessee, under General Longstreet, November 30th.
- No. 56--(891) In Russell's brigade, Morgan's division, forces in east Tennessee, December 31, 1863.
- No. 58--(642) Same assignment under General Long. street, January 31, 1864.
No. 59--(283) Col. Jos. S. Gage (Union), Cottonville, Ala., says: "The Fourth regiment, Alabama cavalry, 900 men strong, arrived at Warrenton on the night of April 5, 1864, a part of Wheeler's command from Blue Hills." (870) In Morgan's brigade, Martin's division, army of Tennessee, Johnston commanding, April 30, 1864. - No. 73--(819) Mentioned by Colonel Minty (Union), near Marietta, Ga., June 12, 1864. (822) In front of enemy, Noonday Creek, Ga., June 21st.
- No. 74--(642, et seq.) In Morgan's brigade, Martin's division, army of Tennessee, Atlanta campaign.
- No. 75--(756) Mentioned by Gen. G. J. Pillow, June 2, 1864.
- No. 78--(718) Gen. S. W. Melton says: "The four Alabama companies in McDonald's battalion are hereby transferred to Russell's Alabama regiment." (856) In Allen's brigade, Martin's division, army of Tennessee, General Hood commanding, September 20, 1864.
- No. 93--(574, 609, 640) Mentioned by Federal officers: "Near Waterloo, Ala., January 4, 1865"; "Russell has 700 or 800 men," December 8, 1864. (775, 776) Report of Col. A. A. Russell of operations, October 26, 1864, to January 17, 1865, says: "After the evacuation of Decatur, my command pursued the retreating enemy from Huntsville to within fourteen miles of Stevenson (distance, forty-five miles), capturing about 450 negroes and 250 wagons, 1 train of cars and engine. My loss, 1 killed, 2 wounded." (1245) General Hood orders Russell's regiment to join Roddey's force and assist in the work of destroying the railroad from Decatur to Huntsville and thence to Stevenson, November 25, 1864.
- No. 94--(521) Mentioned in report of Col. William Palmer (Union), January 5, 1865. (796) General Chalmers' orders, Fourth and Seventh consolidated, January 19th.
- No. 103--(46) In skirmish near Gurley's Tank, February 16, 1865. (931) By order of Brigadier-General Chalmers, near Buena Vista, January 24th: "Captain Alexander, Fourth Alabama cavalry, will report with his command to Colonel Wheeler, commanding First Tennessee cavalry, at Columbus, or wherever he may be." (997) General Forrest ordered Colonel Russell to camp near Columbus. (1031) Ordered to Montevallo, March, 1865.
