Bob McLendon
Roddey's command
Thu May 17 09:13:49 2001


I have a lot of respect for what Roddey did in north Alabama with the small numbers he had. It must have been a stressful situation with Dodge, and others, staring you in the face. But, they didn't back away. My great grandfather's diary is very useful, but does have some limitations. He often refers to the regiment as "gone over the river", or "met the yankees yesterday at Cane Creek," etc. Having a general store in civilian life, he was often assigned as a commissariat (sic), and was procuring food, supplies. So, he was often back with the wagons, etc., which may explain why he didn't know about the action in a specific area. He does make a lot of comments about the weather, life in the camps, his daily activities, and particularly his health, which always seemed to be bad. But, he hung with it until the end.

The 53rd was in the Tuscumbia area during the last week of October, so I'm sure they were in those fights in that area during that week.

I have learned why there aren't a lot of detailed regimental histories in cav units. Unlike infantry, that usually stayed with their division, cavalry is a nightmare to track their locations on an given day.

I do know that Roddey thought a lot of Hannon, and was very disappointed when he was not sent back to north Alabama with him after they were sent to Dalton in March of '64.