Alan J. Pitts
Mobile City Battalion....
Mon Apr 23 12:31:33 2001


Having been through all the service records of this command, I can't recall any record showing that a member was captured at Spanish Fort or Blakely. Col. Taylor's command included the defenses of the city itself rather than the eastern approaches. Also, I believe the disbandment order was directed towards Capt. Wheeler's company, the "British Guards, Co. 'A'" rather than the entire battalion.

Here's what I have on this command:

1st REGIMENT MOBILE VOLUNTEERS (LOCAL DEFENSE)

MOBILE COUNTY RESERVES
DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF

By August 24, 1863, nineteen companies had organized for local defense service at Mobile, Alabama. Sixteen came from the city of Mobile and three from Mobile County, the latter including a mounted command under Captain Brown Manning. Members had to be under age, over age, foreigners, or exempts discharged from regular Confederate military service. Six of the city companies formed Moreland's Fire Battalion, ten others becoming the 1st Mobile Volunteers. The remaining two must have been the Alabama State Artillery, attached to the 1st Mobile Volunteers until February of 1864. Enlisting for three years or the war, officers and men entered active service on November 22, 1863.

Company “A” of Mobile County “Mobile Guards”
Company “B” of Mobile County “Pelham Cadets”
Company “C” of Mobile County “Slaughter Guards"
Company “D” of Mobile County
Company “E” of Mobile County “Citizens Guard”
Company “F” of Mobile County “Volunteer Guards”
Company “G” of Mobile County “Independent Guard”
Company “H” of Mobile County “British Guard”
Company “I” of Mobile County “Independent Rifles”
Company “K” of Mobile County “Maury Rifles”

Mullany’s Company “D” was reassigned to Moreland's Fire Battalion on December 10, 1863. The “Pelham Cadets” and “Maury Rifles” were detached to form the 1st Alabama Cadet Battalion on April 4, 1864. During the summer of 1864 those eligible for service as senior reserves (men between the ages of forty-five and fifty) transferred to the 4th Alabama Reserve Regiment. Remaining companies became known as the Mobile City Battalion.

Company “A” of Mobile County “Mobile Guards”
Company “B” of Mobile County “British Guard, Company A”
Company “C” of Mobile County “Slaughter Guards”
Company “D” of Mobile County “British Guard, Company B”
Company “E” of Mobile County “Independent Rifles”
Company “F” of Mobile County “Independent Guard”

On November 19, 1864, the “Mobile Guards” and “Independent Guard” transferred to Butt’s Citizens Battalion, Mobile County Reserves. Evidently McNeill’s command took the place of Company “A”, Captain Toomer's Company “G”, 4th Alabama Reserve Regiment, then being assigned to the City Battalion:

3rd Company “D” of Mobile County “Chunchula Guards”

Members of this battalion usually served as provost guards. As such they patrolled public streets, guarded military depots and manned fortifications around Mobile until the city was evacuated by Confederate forces on April 11, 1865. Survivors apparently disbanded before Federal troops made their appearance.

I haven't found anything concerning Moreland's Fire Battalion -- not the same as Moreland's Sharpshooters -- and would be interested to hear from anyone who knows what became of this command.