Alan J. Pitts
Brown's Ferry
Sat May 19 18:43:58 2001


For years I assumed there was only one Brown's Ferry on the Tennessee River. After looking at individual service records for the 5th Alabama Cavalry, however, it appeared that quite a number were captured at Brown's Ferry in November 1863. Brown's Ferry near Chattanooga was firmly in Union hands at this time, and I couldn't understand these entries. No skirmish or other action appeared for this date at Brown's Ferry. When I checked reports on the Federal unit involved, it became clear that these men were in Limestone County and three was another Brown's Ferry in that area.

If you're placing Roddey near Brown's Ferry, you can't be too far off base. We know that his command was in the Tuscumbia area a few days earlier, and that Forrest had sent some of his command north to block any attempt Streight might make to try to escape over the Tennessee River. I still need to check the records.

You're probably aware that during this time Patterson's 5th Alabama was still on picket duty at Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Tennessee. We're interested in the location of Roddey's 4th, Hannon's 53rd, Baxter's and Julian's Cavalry Battalions as well as Ferrell's Georgia Battery. Does that sound right to you?