Company History
I have always been partial to this company and felt that they must have been exceptional men. And at last I have been proven correct by men who were there. In a letter recently discovered by Lee Murphy, great grandson of Capt. Murphy of Co. F, there is this note. "Genl Little, who is commanding this part of Genl Price army complained very much to Head Quarters of their taking me away – he wrote to them about my company and told them it was necessary to have a good company here and mine was the best he had seen in the service. I had them out drilling a few days ago in presence of Genl Price’s army and I surprised all their officers. A graduate of West Point told me it was the best drilled company he ever saw." Quote from Samuel Jennings Murphy in a letter to his wife. Most of the men that comprised Company F came from Perry County and Dallas County, Alabama. Many of the men originally enlisted in Capt. Murphy's Company, Alabama Mounted Independent Volunteers which later became The Curry Dragoons also known as Company F.
Since so many of the men came from Perry county I decide to find out what was there just before the Civil War started. I found there was Marion Military Institute then called Howard College. "At the beginning of the Civil War, the Alabama Baptist Convention reported that the war was bearing especially hard on Howard College, so a military department was added to improve its popularity." Quote from Arthur Wilkerson Several of our men attend: John W. Taylor, William Blunt, William A Jones, Enos W. Brazelton and William Ulmer. There may be others but at this point these are the ones that I have identified.
At the end of the Civil War, some of the men were found in the Breckenridge Military Hospital in Marion, Perry County. That building still exists today. "The MMI Chapel and Lovelace Barrack were used as a military hospital and treated both northern and southern soldiers during the Civil War. " Quote from Carrie Robertson Williams Director of Alumni Affairs for Marion Military Institute History of Marion Military Institute click here.
At this point I have only placed one man from the unit in the Breckenridge hospital for sure. His name was Isaac Norton .
These paintings are of John Ulmer Molett and his wife Virginia Susan Caldwell. They sent three sons into this unit, William Molett, John Molett, and Charles Molett. The boys were all in their late teens when they took their horses and joined the Civil War. William and John made it back, Charles did not. In the Battle of Perryville Kentucky we lost several valiant men, John W. Deshazo ,2 Sergeant and William B Cathey, Captain, Patrick H. Cline, Private and Edward N. Todd, Private were among them.We hope to find reports from the war that tell about this company. At this point we have found one report about the 3 Alabama Cavalry.
"Report of Capt. T H Mauldin, third Alabama Cavalry, Wheeler's Brigade, including skirmishes December 26-January 5 1863. Fosterville, Tenn. February 19, 1863. Colonel: The Third Alabama Cavalry was engaged in skirmishing with the enemy on December 26, 27,28, and 29, 1862, from La Vergne to Murfreesborough, Tenn.
On the 30th, was present at a skirmish near Jefferson, La Vergne, and Nolensville.
On the 31st, was in a charge made by the cavalry upon the right of the Federal army, where it was subjected to a heavy fire of small-arms from infantry and cavalry, losing, however, but 1 man killed and 2 lieutenants and 2 men wounded and left on the field.
On January 1 and 2, the regiment was in front of the enemy upon the extreme left of the Confederate army without any fighting.
On the night of the 2d, it marched to the rear of the Federal army, and on the 3d was engaged in an attack upon one of the enemy's wagon trains, upon the Nashville and Murfreesborough turnpike, and returned to the field of battle near Murfreesborough about an hour before day the morning of the 4th.
During the day of the 4th, this regiment moved through Murfreesborough, and bivouacked at night about 2 miles from town, on the Manchester turnpike.
On the 5th, was engaged in a fight with some of the Federal infantry 6 miles from Murfreesborough, on the Manchester pike.
This ended the series of battles and skirmishes from December 25, 1862, to January 5, 1863, in which the regiment was engaged.
During this time the regiment lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, 25, including 3 lietenants wounded.
I would respectfully report that on the memorable field of Murfreesborough, Sergt. Maj H M Cooper and Sergt. J W Norwood, of Company A, are worthy of promotion for their gallantry in rallying the regiment and assisting in bringing it out in order from under a galling fire from the enemy's infantry and cavalry combined on December 31, 1862.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T H Maulkin,
Captain, Commanding Third Alabama Cavalry. " - taken by John Sims from pages 961 & 962 of The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records - also called the ORs
At least one of the men from F Company died it this battle, Jacob Murff.
These letters and accounts tell of the formation of the "Curry Dragoons" and other events. These men were actually in the unit except for Thomas. Thomas's brother was in the "Curry Dragoons"
The Life and Adventures of Thomas L Fuller During the Civil War by Thomas L. Fuller
Read the Regimental History By James Hagan
He was a Colonel at the time he lead this Regiment.