Here is an account from "Reminiscences of the Boys in Gray" that may be of interest. You may have seen it, but didn't find a reference to it on the board. Any idea if Capt. J. S. Boling, or this Company from Butler County, was part of the 3rd Reserves?

Robert Posey: "Enlisted in the Confederate Army in March, 1864. At Greenville, Ala., as private in Tom Watt's "Boys' Cavalry" Company, Alabama State Troops, and attached to Gen. Clanton's Cavalry Brigade, J.S. Boling, Captain. Was never wounded. Was in a battle on Escambia River. Fla., in March, 1865, between Gen. Clanton's Brigade and the second New York Cavalry, and the First Louisiana Regiment United States Troops. This was the only battle in which I took part.

In the early part of 1865 the Confederate Troops evacuated Pensacola, Fla., and retreated up on the line between Florida and Alabama to a place then known as Pollard Junction on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The Alabama State Troops were called upon by Gov. Watts to go down to repel an invasion of Federal troops coming up from Pensacola to cut the railroad running from Montgomery to Mobile. This was the only line of communication which the Confederate Government had between the Eastern and Trans-Mississippi Department.

We heard the bombardment of Mobile. Sometimes the horses had corn and fodder and we had corn bread and bacon with sweet potatoes. We made our way down into Florida and came to the Escambia River which was forded and after we had gone about eight or ten miles we came to a halt. It was rumored that a column of Federal troops were coming up from Pensacola. We went a few miles farther and came to Cotton Creek. The bridge across this creek was made of logs and there was a stockade built of logs with portholes to shoot from and our company was ordered into this fortification to await the enemy.

Our pickets soon returned and reported that they were coming and we were ordered to get ready. I had an Enfield rifle which was captured from the enemy, and when they came rushing up on the other side of the little river we commenced firing. I shot at least twenty times and others did as well, but owing to the smoke we could not tell what damage we did. We learned afterwards that several were killed. Some one set fire to the bridge just as the Federals came up, which saved us from being captured.

We were ordered to retreat and went back across the Escambia River. Next day Gen. Clanton with about 600 troops disputed the passage of the Federals and got licked and had to skedaddle. He was wounded and captured. We made a "good run instead of a bad stand," as they had about 1500 troops. This ended my active service as we returned to our homes at Greenville, Ala., and did guard duty around the warehouses which were filled with cotton and supplies belonging to the Government, till the end came in April, 1865."