Hello Ken,

Finding this took a bit of time because the information is spread between several volumes of the ORs.

General Orders No 3 of 20 Jan 1863 for Van Dorn’s Cavalry Corps lists the corps with 4 brigades (OR, Vol 17, Part II, pp 846-847; Vol 24, Part III, p 592):

1st Brigade: 1st Miss, 4th Miss, 28th Miss, Balch’s Tenn Btn
2nd Brigade: 3rd Ark, 2nd Mo, 1st Tenn, Ballentine’s Miss Rgt
3rd Brigade: 3rd Tex, 6th Tex, 9th Tex, Whitfield’s Lgn
4th Brigade: Regts now under the command of Col. Roddey.

It goes on to state: “When the proper general officers are assigned to command, the corps will be organized into two divisions, as follows:

“The First and Second Brigades will form First Division; the Third and fourth Brigades will form Second Division. General W H Jackson will command the First Second and Third brigades as a division until further orders.”

As of 24 Jan 1863 a list of brigadier generals in the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana included Martin. (OR, Vol 24, Part III, pp 600-601)

The organization of Van Dorn’s Cavalry Corps on 2 Feb 1863 listed the new assignments as per General Orders No 8. (OR, Vol 24, Part III, p 614)

First Division (Brig Gen W T Martin)

1st Brigade (Brig Gen George Cosby): 1st Miss, 28th Miss, Ballentine’s Rgt, Balch’s Btn
2nd Brigade (Col P D Roddey): Roddey’s Rgt (other troops not designated)

Second Division (Brig Gen W H Jackson)
1st Brigade (Brig Gen F C Armstrong): 3rd Ark, 4th Miss, 1st Tenn, Rgt from Montgomery Ala [5th Ala]
2nd Brigade (---):3rd Tex, 6th Tex, 9th Tex, Whitfield’s Lgn

Van Dorn arrived from Mississippi about 20 Feb 1863 with three brigades of cavalry. (Jordan & Pryor, The Campaigns of Lieut Gen N B Forrest, p. 231)

Armstrong’s Brigade: 3rd Ark, 2nd Miss, 1st Tenn, Forrest’s Old Rgt [Balch’s Tenn Btn], Saunder’s Btn

Whitfield’s Brigade: 3rd Tex, 6th Tex, 9th Tex, Whitfield’s Lgn

Cosby’s Brigade: 2nd Ky, 1st Miss, 28th Miss, Ballentine’s Rgt

Then on 25 Feb 1863 another re-organization was promulgated in Special Orders No 50 (OR, Vol 23, Part II, p 650):

“IV. The cavalry command of Major-General Van Dorn, re-enforced by Forrest’s brigade, will constitute a separate division of this army, to be known as Van Dorn’s cavalry division. The brigades of Wharton, Morgan, and Hagan (late Wheeler’s) will constitute a separate division under Major-General Wheeler.

VI. The two regiments of Alabama cavalry under Colonel Roddey, and Captain Griffiths’s First Kentucky Cavalry, will report to Major-General Wheeler for assignment.”

I understand that the two Alabama regiments referred to are Roddeys 4th Ala Cav and Patterson’s 5th Ala Cav. (Confederate Military History, Vol VII: Alabama, pp 264-268)

After the engagement at Thompson’s Station on 5 March 1863 Martin’s report only listed Cosby’s Brigade as being in his division. However, in spite of commanding only the one brigade, Martin is still listed as commanding a division in Van Dorn’s command, (OR, Vol 23, Part I, pp 121-122)

Cosby’s Brigade: Woodward’s Rgt [2nd Ky], Pinson’s Rgt [1 Miss], Starke’s Rgt [28th Miss], Ballentine’s Rgt

Roddey appears to have remained in Wharton’s command since on 22 March 1863 Wharton states in a message to Polk that he had just he issued orders to Roddey. (OR, Vol 32, Part II, p 720)

However, in Special Orders No 81 of 28 March 1863 it states (OR, Vol 23, Part II, p 728):

“IX. Col P D Roddy’s regiment of Alabama cavalry is detached from Brigadier General Martin’s division, and will proceed to Northern Alabama.”

Some time later on 18 May 1863 Special Orders No 132 states (OR, Vol 23, Part II, p 841):

“VIII. Colonel Patterson’s regiment of cavalry id detached from Brigadier-General Martin’s brigade, and will proceed immediately to join Colonel Roddey for duty.”

I hope this is all of some use,

Ryan Toews