Alan J. Pitts
Re: 10th AL Cavalry
Tue May 8 10:12:27 2001


Perhaps I should explain: when a man took the oath of allegiance to the United States, he was usually released from Federal confinement, not placed in prison. The customary condition was that the applicant swore to remain north of the Ohio River during the remainder of the war. That might explain the long walk home. Most 10th Alabama members were within a reasonable distance of home when they surrendered.

In this case, Private May deserted on Dec. 23, 1864, probably near Huntsville AL, and took the oath of allegiance at Nashville, TN on Mar. 13, 1865. The original form was not included in the service record. I'd assume that his name appeared on a ledger of men who took the oath at Nashville on that date. There's only the one entry under his name in the 10th Cavalry microfilm; nothing else.

The physical description made at Nashville provides the following information: 5-7" tall, hazel eyes, dark hair and complexion, residence Franklin County, "has family".