I am looking for details on a story about the Union Occupational Army boarding steamboats in Mobile in April of 1865....I have read the 5000 man force was put ashore at Claiborne in Monroe county to march overland and rendezvous with the boats at Bridgeport Landing in Wilcox County. Is anyone familiar with this event, just near the end of the war? Does anyone have more information or know of books detailing this? Would this Occupational Army have stayed in the area after the war concluded to enforce reconstruction? Any idea how long or strong their presence might have been?

My great great uncle would have been 18 at the time and family records (and tombstone) show him as serving in Co A of the 10th Al Volunteer Infantry (Wilcox County). Is that a home guard type unit and would it be reasonable to think they attempted to protect their homes from the occupational army, albeit without actual battle?

GG Uncle = Jesse Thomas Reaves, Wilcox County, born 1846