Alan J.Pitts
Wrong units for this skirmish....
Sat Apr 28 01:23:31 2001


It's finally dawned on me which 7th Ala. Cav. you were talking about. The 9th Alabama Cavalry, known in the field as the 7th Alabama Cavalry, must be what you have in mind. The "real" 7th Alabama Cavalry had just organized a few weeks earlier and was preparing to take up station on the Florida line. However, the 9th [7th] Alabama Cavalry was resting in camp south of the Tennessee River at the time of the skirimish at Buckhorn Tavern. The same was true of Russell's 4th Alabama Cavalry, since both served together under command of General Wheeler.

The Confederates involved in the skirmish at Buckhorn Tavern belonged to General Roddey's command. Roddey had been expected to join Wheeler on his raid into Tennessee, but got a late start. Wheeler had finally escaped the Yankees and made it to safety south of the Tennessee with most of his command. Unaware of this, Roddey was wandering about northern Madison County when part of his brigade collided with Federal pursuers on the night of October 12th. Roddey was fortunate to have gotten out of this mess with his command intact by moving west across the Elk River. He remained there for several days before joining Wheeler south of the Tennessee.

Roddey's two regiments were the 4th (Roddey's) and 5th (Patterson's). I'd have to check to see if any of Roddey's other commands were involved.

What sources are you using for the 4th and 7th Alabama Cavalry?

Here's the citation from the National Archives Guide Index:

Buckhorn Tavern, near New Market, not found in atlas (at about the halfway point on road from New Market to Manchester, 149:D-7).

-----skirmish at, Oct. 12, 1863 (Wheeler and Roddey's raid), 51Ev663, In848.