Letter by Robert Gilbert

Alabama Cavalry Company F | home Muster roll Contact Susette Cook

Director's Correspondence

Letter sent to Thomas M Owen from Robert D. Gilbert

Copy obtained from the Alabama State Archives

Dr. Thos. M. Owen,

Director,

Montgomery, Ala.

Dear Sir:--

At your request, I am giving you an outline of my Company, commanded by S. D. Murphy, and after my discharge from the Company, to the time the 3rd Ala. Cavalry Regt. Was organized; in the first place, as an introductory to the organization of the “Curry Dragoons”, in October 1860, the “Marengo Mounted Guards” was organized, composed of men from Dayton, Alabama, and vicinity. W. W. Horton was elected Captain, David Curry 1st. Lt., S. H. Barlett 2nd Lt. , and I was elected Orderly Sergeant. This Company was equipped with Colt’s Navy Pistols, and sabers, with dress uniforms at the Company's expense. Some 30 or more of this Company enlisted in the Company organized under Burrell Curry, of Marion, Ala. And S. J. Murphy, of Mobile, Ala. Murphy was commissioned by the War Department to raise a Cavalry Company, and he, being a close friend to Curry, got him to assist him in enlisting men. And , he, Curry, was to be 1st Lt. This was in January 1862; when the organization was complete, a vote was taken as to the name of the Company, and unanimously it was named the “They Curry Dragoons”. In the early part of February, under the command of Lt. Curry, we left for Mobile, via Demopolis, on the Steamer Alice Vivian, arrived there on time and marched down to Hotchkiss Cotton Warehouse, where we were well housed, both for men and horses. Capt. Murphy, as Captain, took command, placed us on guard duty day and night; each afternoon we had mounted drill. Madam LeVert, on one accasion, invited the Captain to march his Company in front of her residence on Government Street. The Captain on the next evening gave us quite a show of his military tactics, before the Madam, and in return, she presented the Company with a beautiful flag. Her presentation speech was a soul stirring one. Many of us longed to thank her for it. Ere she went to her long home. A few days after that we were ordered to Rienzi, in McNairy County, Tennessee, as scouts. Gen’l Bragg had his headquarters here for a short time, then moved to Corinth, Miss. Our command was transferred to Corinth also. On the trip quite a number of our men were attacked with measles and mumps, I was one of the number. As the Hospital at Corinth was crowded, we were sent through the Country on Wagons, and some by horse (the weather was wet and cold) to Tupelo. We lost 20 Men from death and discharges. The men discharged were perfect wrecks. I was one of the number. Some of them died on the way home. After this, I lost sight of the Curry Dragoons”, only heard they were merged in the 3rd Cavalry.

As for myself, I recovered my health sufficiently by September to enlist again, and I joined Col. J. T. Morgan’s Regiment of Cavalry, afterwards know as the 51st. We had a hard campaign that Winter, and my health failed again. I was transferred by request of Commodore E. Farrand to Navy Dept. of Ala. Afterwards, I was appointed by him to Asst. Paymaster, Transportation and Purchasing Agt. Stationed at Selma. After the Commodore removed his Headquarters, I was let at Selma to look after the Naval Property, which was removed to Mobile just before Wilson’s Raid. I was still at Selma up to the advance of Wilson’s Pickets to the suburbs of the City. Shortly after the fall of Fort Morgan, I joined the Commodore on his Flag-ship, Southern Republic, at Demopolis. He had all the naval staff with him. He then dropped down the river five miles to McDowell’s Landing. At that point Gen’l Taylor surrendered us to Canby.

Yours truly,

Robert Gilbert