Helen --
A trip to the ADAH would be worthwhile for several reasons. Next time ask for the company folder. It contains three post-war rolls listing each member of the company and what became of them. One simply says he resigned. Another says he resigned at Halls Mill (located on the Dog River just south of Mobile). Yet another says he resigned and became a colonel on the staff of General Gladden (more on that later). ADAH folder ID = SG025073-11
These rolls also name the officers who followed James Boykin as company captain. 1st Lieutenant Augustus Tomlinson signs several documents as company commander in January/February of 1862. He is listed as Captain on the next roll existing for May/June 1862. James Boykin was last paid as Captain on Feb 28, 1862, to the 26th of that month. He also signed an affadavit that the Confederate government owed him no other pay, as customary in the first year of the war. It is signed by William Brooks, JP of Mobile County.
We can conclude that his resignation should be noted from that date. Boykin would no longer appear on roll since he wasn't in Confederate service afterwards.
The marker for James Boykin in Boykin Cemetery notes his birthdate as Aug 8, 1823. The marker is recorded here --
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=BOY&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=3&GScntry=4&GSsr=2801&GRid=102177838&
This would make him age 38 at the time he organized his company. Of course 38 could be misread as 33.
As for reasons for resignation, James Boykin had significant interests in his plantation, which included 243 slaves between the ages of one and eighty-two. On the census he valued his slaves, farm and other property at nearly $300,000. Someone had to manage this vast operation and look after the care of his wife and family. A brief time in service probably demonstrated the need to be at home rather than in the military.
Also, Boykin may have recognized that he was not equal to the task of managing a company. Notes on the December 1861 roll at the ADAH by the inspecting officer describe company discipline as "improving" and instruction as "very little". Arms = "none".
The letter written by General Maury suggests that Boykin was not suited to be a military commander. It reads,
"Mr James Boykin for a short time early in the war Captain of a company of cavalry has made application to the War Department for appointment as Major of Cavalry, and a request has been made to me to recommend him. I have declined to do so because I do no think the interests of the service admit of his appointment. The written application having been permitted to come through my office I avail myself of this means of expressing to the Department my opinion."
Dabney H Maury,
Major General commanding
James Boykin signed two receipts for forage for his company at Cantonment Walter on the Dog River. They provide for 79 horses and are dated Jan 28, 1862 and Feb 1, 1862 (four days). He also signed receipts as follows --
1) Jan 9, 1862, received 23 sabres and belts, Capt commanding
2) Jan 29, 1862, received 52 sabres and belts, Capt commanding
3) Feb 20, 1862, pay for service from Nov 22 - Dec 31, 1861, Capt M R (Mathews Rangers)
1st Lieut Tomlinson signs as commanding company after Feb 1st, as shows here --
1) Receipt of Feb 4, 1862, Augustus Tomlinson commdg.
75 saddle blankets
2) Receipt of Feb 11, 1862, Augustus Tomlinson commdg.
85 Colt Navy pistols
3) Receipt undated, Augustus Tomlinson commdg.
80 nose bags
79 Colt cartridge boxes
47 pistol holsters
4 sabres
4) Receipt of Mar 4, 1862, Augustus Tomlinson commdg.
79 shoulder straps for sabres
79 cap pouches
32 pistol hoslters
4050 rounds Colt pistol cartridges
5) Receipt of Mar 31, 1862, Augustus Tomlinson commdg.
4000 caps to fit Colt Navy pistols
Thus it appears that Boykin must be absent during most if not all of February and March 1862. If not then he is not actively managing his company.
Records are filed with Capt Lenoir's Independent Cavalry Company. Alabama service records are not available at the ADAH.
At one point you asked about the difference in date of enrollment. Volunteer companies organized under state law, received orders from Governor Moore to report to camp, and were mustered into Confederate service once they arrived. Evidently this company organized on Nov 19, 1861, Providence AL. Members immediately went to camp near Mobile, a distance of 263 miles as reported on the initial roll. They were mustered into Confederate service for the duration of the war by Capt B C Yancey. Later rolls give the muster date as Nov 23, 1861. Pay was given from this date.
Brig Gen Jones M Withers was assigned to command of the District of Alabama by S O 151, Sept 12, 1861. Major James H Hallonquist commanded the 2nd Alabama Artillery Battalion posted at Cantonment Walter, Dog River AL. You may recall that at Capt Boykin signed at least one receipt as Co "G" (cavalry), 2nd Alabama Artillery Battalion. At this time there existed only one Alabama organization of cavalry above the level of company. For thst reason sometimes independent cavalry companies were assigned to regiments and battalions of infantry and artillery.
Capt Lenoir's company later served as escort to General Withers and General Hindman. It was assigned to the 3rd Alabama Cavalry but did not serve with it.
Regarding General Aubrey H Gladden, he was ordered to Mobile on Jan 27, 1862. General Gladden took command of the Alabama brigade led by General Leroy Pope Walker. Nothing was being done to train or discipline soldiers of this brigade, and General Walker was relied in order to remedy the situation. Writing from Pensacola FL on Feb 1, 1862, General Bragg mentioned "Brigadier-General Gladden, with the excellent staff he carried from here." (Official Records, vol VI, p 821). It would not seem that there were any vacancies that could be filled by Boykin's appointment. Gladden was killed at Shiloh TN, Apr 6, 1862. Boykin is not mentioned in any reports of that action.
Having spent several hours assembling this information, please excuse me from answering all your questions at once.