Joseph R. Breare was an English-born attorney from Dale County who served as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. "E", 15th Alabama Regiment. Captured at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, Breare remained in Federal hands until exchanged on the James River at City Point VA, Mar. 20, 1864. His service record includes several cards referencing letters of resignation which were not accepted. After several attempts to have him return, Breare's name was dropped from the rolls on Feb. 18, 1865.
Papers in his service file mention that he had raised a company of cavalry operating under orders of the Conscript Bureau, 8th Congressional District of Alabama. This means his command (such as it was) was Confederate rather than Alabama militia. Members who signed paroles are listed in the Alabama Miscellaneous file. They usually describe themselves as "Reserves", the captain's name sometimes being given as Burge or Reeves. Records exist for W. B. Sharpless, Sherrod Davis (Ala. pension, Pike County), E. Keyzer, John D. Barron (Fla. pension - Pasco County), J. N. or J. P. Carter and Levi Franklin Mount, 1907 census of Ala.
John D. Barron appears on the 1860 census of Alabama living in the SW quarter of Pike County, age 13. In the same area are William B. Sharpless and Emanuel E. Kyzer, both age 42. Sherod C. Davis and Levi F. Mount appear on the 1860 census of Alabama as residents of Dale County, Davis age 12, and Mount age 20.
Other companies raised under authority of the Conscript Bureau in south Alabama included three others led by Captains Charles Gachet, John C. Brown and George W. Dawson. Correspondence between General Jones M. Withers and Capt. Brown on this subject appears in M474, Letters Received by the Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General, 1861-1865, reel 164. Capt. Dawson's company is mentioned but not Breare's.