56th Alabama Cavalry Regiment
| 56th Alabama Cavalry, Partisan Rangers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1863-1865 |
| Country |  Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance |  Alabama |
| Branch |  Confederate States Army |
| Type | Cavalry Partisan Rangers |
| Size | Regiment |
| Battles | American Civil War |
The 56th Alabama Cavalry was a Confederate Partisan Ranger cavalry regiment from Alabama. Initially organized as 2 separate Partisan Ranger battalions, the 56th Regiment was created in the summer of 1863 and took part in several campaigns of the Western Theater of the American Civil War before surrendering in the spring of 1865.
History[edit]
The 56th Alabama Cavalry was formed by combining two existing units on June 8, 1863: the 13th Alabama Battalion, Partisan Rangers, led by Major William A. Hewlett and the 15th Alabama Battalion, Partisan Rangers led by Major William Boyles.[1] Boyles was promoted to colonel and given command of the new regiment.
Prior to consolidation, these battalions had been assigned to guard and picket duty in Alabama and Mississippi.[2] The 13th Battalion was formed on August 28, 1862, and the 15th was organized on August 25.[3] Both battalions fought at the Battle of King's Creek near Tupelo, Mississippi on May 5, 1863, under the command of General Daniel Ruggles.[2]
The 56th was stationed in North Mississippi in the summer of 1863.[4] The regiment then took part in the Meridian campaign,[5] and the Atlanta Campaign, including the Battle of Peachtree Creek and Battle of Atlanta, and harassed Union General William T. Sherman's troops during his March to the Sea.[6]
The regiment was recruited from Autauga, Montgomery, Mobile, Butler, and Walker counties, and one company was recruited from Mississippi.[6] In January, 1865, the Mississippi company was detached from the 56th Alabama and joined the 12th Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry to form the 10th Mississippi Cavalry.[7]
The 56th Alabama surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina.[6]
Commanders[edit]
Commanders of the 56th Alabama Cavalry:[6]
- Col. William Boyles
- Lt. Col. William A. Hewlett
- Lt. Col. P.H. Debardeblaben
- Lt. Col. Willliam F. Martin
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Cole, Thom (Nov–Dec 2005). "Alabama Troops in the Civil War 1861-1865". Military Images. 27 (3): 18–39. JSTOR 44034373. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ a b Evans, Clement Anselm (1899). Confederate Military History, Vol. VII. Confederate Publishing Company. p. 285.
- ^ "Alabama Confederate States Cavalry Units". Ohio State University. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Dyer, Frederick (1909). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion - Vol. 24 Serial 37. Dyer Publishing Company. p. 482.
- ^ Moore, Ellis O. (2007). Francis Moore: A Musician's Life. Xlibris Corporation. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-4257-6910-9.
- ^ a b c d Brewer, Willis (1966). Brief Historical Sketches of Military Organizations Raised in Alabama During the Civil War. Alabama State Department of Archives and History. p. 668.
- ^ Dyer, Frederick (1909). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion - Vol. 45 Serial 94. Dyer Publishing Company. p. 791.
