Letter from Samuel Will John

I thank you for yours of November 9th, enclosing the letters of Thomas Curry, Esq. and of my old comrade, Anderson H. Givhan.

I have read carefully these letters, and am sure the letter of Thomas Curry is correct in all of its statements, though I was not with the company in its camp on the Curry plantation, which is located on the public road leading from Marion to Greensboro, and very near the county line.

I know, that his father, Jabez Curry, did give over twenty horses to the company, to be ridden by men, who were not able to mount themselves; and he also supplied the company with many uniforms.

Samuel Jennings Murphy and Burwell J. Curry were both members of the cavalry company, which was raised very early in -61, and was doing picket duty on the southern coast of Mobile county; and my information is, that the company's camp was near Bayou la Batre; and while there, Burwell J. Curry proposed to S. J. Murphy to raise this cavalry company if Murphy would take command of it; and this agreement was carried out.

Most of the statements of my comrade, Givhan, are true, but the lapse of fifty years has caused him to transfer an occurrence that took place in the camp of Horton's company, near Dayton, Ala. to Murphy's company, the "Curry Dragoons".

In October -61 I left Selma, in company with Thomas Norris, and two or three others, and we rode to Concord Church, which is about two miles west of the old cross roads, called Athens, or Liberty Hill. There we found Capt. Horton and some forty, or fifty men in camp, without tents, or arms.

I slept that night, in the pulpit of Concord church, and the next day, the tents were brought to us, as stated by Mr. Givhan, but I did not think was as late as October 31st.

The first rain demonstrated that we could not any longer camp at Concord church, because the ground was low and flat, and mud soon became ankle deep.

The camp was then moved about two miles west, on the road and pitched around Center Chapel, which was a high, dry, dandy ridge, where we encamped and drilled daily, almost all day.

Here we were "found" by the patriotic citizens, who sent in all the forage needed for our horses, and the choicest food, that the men could consume.

Later the camp was moved to a place about a mile and a half, or two miles, south of Dayton; and here we were informed, that a difference had arisen between Capt. Horton and Gov. Moore about the term for which the company should enlist in the Confederate army, and this caused Capt. Horton to go to Montgomery to confer with the Governor: and when he returned, he informed the company, that the Governor would not accept that company, unless they would go into the service for "three years, or the war."

This question was discussed by the men around the camp fires that night, and we were informed that we would be called upon to decide what we would do the next morning.

The next morning the company was formed, and the ultimatum of Gov. Moore was submitted to the company with the request that every man who would enlist for "three years, or the war," to ride four paces to the front, and at the word, the whole company moved out, as one man, with the exception of the oldest man in the company, a Mr. Orr, who was then sixty-five years old; and he said he was perfectly willing to enlist for one year, but not for three.

This unanimous action of the company displeased Capt. Horton so much, that he told us that if we wanted to go for three years we could go, but that he would not command us, and upon breaking ranks, we could consider ourselves discharged, and in fifteen minutes, every man, except two or three, who lived around Dayton, was on his way home.

We had heard while in camp, of the organization of the "Curry Dragoons", and on reaching Selma, we heard that, that company was to pass through Cahaba on a certain day for Mobile, and there to be mustered into the Confederate service.

Messrs, Thomas Norris, Charles Hill and myself went to Cahaba on the day named, and there met Messrs. William H. Ulmer, John D. Molette and many others who had been in Capt. Horton's company; and just before dark, the "Curry Dragoons", under command of 2nd Lieut. William B. Cathey, rode in , and in a few moments, were all aboard a steamboat, bound for Mobile.

Lieut. Cathey told us he had no authority to enlist any more men, but he was satisfied we would be accepted if we came to Mobile promptly, clothed and mounted.

Messrs. Norris, Hill and myself returned to Selma that night; made our arrangements; took the steamboat, "St. Charles", the next day, and went to Mobile; and the morning after, we reported to Capt. Samuel Jennings Murphy, in Command of the "Curry Dragoons". Where we were quartered in the Hitchcock Compress and the Independent Compress; the men in one press, and the horses in the other.

In a few days we were furnished with sabers and pistols, and duly mustered into the Confederate service by Gen. Slaughter, and we were assigned to duty as the escort of Brigadier Gen. Gladden. We drew rations from the commissary and forage from Qsll. of C. S. Army and were paid by the pay master.

On Feb. 22, 1862, Gen. Bragg, who was in command of the Department of the Gulf, with headquarters at Pensacola, had all of the troops in and around Mobile, including the volunteer organizations, then called "Home Guards", mustered, reviewed and inspected them; and within a day, or two afterwards, we received orders to go to Corinth: and as the company marched down Royal St. a beautiful, spring like day, they were given a cordial and hearty a "goodbye and God speed," as though every man had been a citizen of the city of Mobile.

It took two nights and a day to get to Corinth, where after shifting us about, we were finally sent up the M & O. Railroad to a little station called Bethel, in MacNairy county , Tenn., which is about four miles west of the court house of that county, at Purdy; and there the field service of the "Curry Dragoons" began.

After doing scout and picket duty for sometime at Bethel, we went to Purdy with the companies of Captains Smith and Boykin, and the Ten. Cavalry company, and reported to Col. J. Q. Loomis, in command of the 25th Alabama Infantry; and the next morning, the wagon train of Gen Polk's corps came through, headed for Corinth; and Col Loomis with his regiment and these four companies of cavalry guarded its rear and flank into Corinth.

Raw troops were coming into Corinth on every train, and as always happens, measles broke out, and it was found upon inspection that we had in the "Curry Dragoons" sixty-nine men, who had never had measles. For this reason, the company was ordered to Rienzi, the first regular station on the M. &. O. road, south of Corinth.

Here, the company went into camp around a vacant residence, which was converted into a hospital and put in charge of Dr. Dow Eiland, who was a private in that company.

The men who were well enough, were kept on scout and picket duty on the road leading eastward from Rienzi.

Along with the measles, came the mumps; and following these two diseases, came ervispelas of the face and scalp, with the result, that we lost nine of our men while in that camp.

While in Camp at Tupelo, the "Curry Dragoons" was made Company F. of the 3rd Alabama Regiment, of which our Captain was made Lieut. Col. and 1st Lieut. Curry was assigned to Staff duty.

At the same time the company being a twelve months company, was required by law to reorganize "for three years, or the war." and it elected William B. Cathey, Captain; R. W. Cole 1st Lieut; Thomas Norris, 2nd Lieut; William E. Wailes, 3rd Lieut.

From this time on, the company was always in the ranks of the 3rd Alabama cavalry regiment, and did its full share in making the glorious history of that gallant regiment.


	Alabama Cavalry Company F \| home Muster roll Contact Susette Cook Letter by Robert Gilbert \| Letter from Samuel Will John \| Letter from Thomas Curry \| Notes from A. H. Givhan \| Letter from S J Murphy \| The Life and Adventures of Thomas L Fuller Letter from Samuel Will John Director's Correspondence This is a typed copy of a letter to Dr. Thomas M. Owen from Samuel Will John. Letter found in the Alabama State Archives. Law Office, Sam'l Will John Birmingham, Ala. 2028 1/4 First Ave. Nov. 13, 1911 Dr. Thomas M. Owen. My Dear Doctor: I thank you for yours of November 9th, enclosing the letters of Thomas Curry, Esq. and of my old comrade, Anderson H. Givhan. I have read carefully these letters, and am sure the letter of Thomas Curry is correct in all of its statements, though I was not with the company in its camp on the Curry plantation, which is located on the public road leading from Marion to Greensboro, and very near the county line. I know, that his father, Jabez Curry, did give over twenty horses to the company, to be ridden by men, who were not able to mount themselves; and he also supplied the company with many uniforms. Samuel Jennings Murphy and Burwell J. Curry were both members of the cavalry company, which was raised very early in -61, and was doing picket duty on the southern coast of Mobile county; and my information is, that the company's camp was near Bayou la Batre; and while there, Burwell J. Curry proposed to S. J. Murphy to raise this cavalry company if Murphy would take command of it; and this agreement was carried out. Most of the statements of my comrade, Givhan, are true, but the lapse of fifty years has caused him to transfer an occurrence that took place in the camp of Horton's company, near Dayton, Ala. to Murphy's company, the "Curry Dragoons". In October -61 I left Selma, in company with Thomas Norris, and two or three others, and we rode to Concord Church, which is about two miles west of the old cross roads, called Athens, or Liberty Hill. There we found Capt. Horton and some forty, or fifty men in camp, without tents, or arms. I slept that night, in the pulpit of Concord church, and the next day, the tents were brought to us, as stated by Mr. Givhan, but I did not think was as late as October 31st. The first rain demonstrated that we could not any longer camp at Concord church, because the ground was low and flat, and mud soon became ankle deep. The camp was then moved about two miles west, on the road and pitched around Center Chapel, which was a high, dry, dandy ridge, where we encamped and drilled daily, almost all day. Here we were "found" by the patriotic citizens, who sent in all the forage needed for our horses, and the choicest food, that the men could consume. Later the camp was moved to a place about a mile and a half, or two miles, south of Dayton; and here we were informed, that a difference had arisen between Capt. Horton and Gov. Moore about the term for which the company should enlist in the Confederate army, and this caused Capt. Horton to go to Montgomery to confer with the Governor: and when he returned, he informed the company, that the Governor would not accept that company, unless they would go into the service for "three years, or the war." This question was discussed by the men around the camp fires that night, and we were informed that we would be called upon to decide what we would do the next morning. The next morning the company was formed, and the ultimatum of Gov. Moore was submitted to the company with the request that every man who would enlist for "three years, or the war," to ride four paces to the front, and at the word, the whole company moved out, as one man, with the exception of the oldest man in the company, a Mr. Orr, who was then sixty-five years old; and he said he was perfectly willing to enlist for one year, but not for three. This unanimous action of the company displeased Capt. Horton so much, that he told us that if we wanted to go for three years we could go, but that he would not command us, and upon breaking ranks, we could consider ourselves discharged, and in fifteen minutes, every man, except two or three, who lived around Dayton, was on his way home. We had heard while in camp, of the organization of the "Curry Dragoons", and on reaching Selma, we heard that, that company was to pass through Cahaba on a certain day for Mobile, and there to be mustered into the Confederate service. Messrs, Thomas Norris, Charles Hill and myself went to Cahaba on the day named, and there met Messrs. William H. Ulmer, John D. Molette and many others who had been in Capt. Horton's company; and just before dark, the "Curry Dragoons", under command of 2nd Lieut. William B. Cathey, rode in , and in a few moments, were all aboard a steamboat, bound for Mobile. Lieut. Cathey told us he had no authority to enlist any more men, but he was satisfied we would be accepted if we came to Mobile promptly, clothed and mounted. Messrs. Norris, Hill and myself returned to Selma that night; made our arrangements; took the steamboat, "St. Charles", the next day, and went to Mobile; and the morning after, we reported to Capt. Samuel Jennings Murphy, in Command of the "Curry Dragoons". Where we were quartered in the Hitchcock Compress and the Independent Compress; the men in one press, and the horses in the other. In a few days we were furnished with sabers and pistols, and duly mustered into the Confederate service by Gen. Slaughter, and we were assigned to duty as the escort of Brigadier Gen. Gladden. We drew rations from the commissary and forage from Qsll. of C. S. Army and were paid by the pay master. On Feb. 22, 1862, Gen. Bragg, who was in command of the Department of the Gulf, with headquarters at Pensacola, had all of the troops in and around Mobile, including the volunteer organizations, then called "Home Guards", mustered, reviewed and inspected them; and within a day, or two afterwards, we received orders to go to Corinth: and as the company marched down Royal St. a beautiful, spring like day, they were given a cordial and hearty a "goodbye and God speed," as though every man had been a citizen of the city of Mobile. It took two nights and a day to get to Corinth, where after shifting us about, we were finally sent up the M & O. Railroad to a little station called Bethel, in MacNairy county , Tenn., which is about four miles west of the court house of that county, at Purdy; and there the field service of the "Curry Dragoons" began. After doing scout and picket duty for sometime at Bethel, we went to Purdy with the companies of Captains Smith and Boykin, and the Ten. Cavalry company, and reported to Col. J. Q. Loomis, in command of the 25th Alabama Infantry; and the next morning, the wagon train of Gen Polk's corps came through, headed for Corinth; and Col Loomis with his regiment and these four companies of cavalry guarded its rear and flank into Corinth. Raw troops were coming into Corinth on every train, and as always happens, measles broke out, and it was found upon inspection that we had in the "Curry Dragoons" sixty-nine men, who had never had measles. For this reason, the company was ordered to Rienzi, the first regular station on the M. &. O. road, south of Corinth. Here, the company went into camp around a vacant residence, which was converted into a hospital and put in charge of Dr. Dow Eiland, who was a private in that company. The men who were well enough, were kept on scout and picket duty on the road leading eastward from Rienzi. Along with the measles, came the mumps; and following these two diseases, came ervispelas of the face and scalp, with the result, that we lost nine of our men while in that camp. When Gen. Bragg fell back from Corinth, we went with the army to Galtillo, and then to Tupelo. While in Camp at Tupelo, the "Curry Dragoons" was made Company F. of the 3rd Alabama Regiment, of which our Captain was made Lieut. Col. and 1st Lieut. Curry was assigned to Staff duty. At the same time the company being a twelve months company, was required by law to reorganize "for three years, or the war." and it elected William B. Cathey, Captain; R. W. Cole 1st Lieut; Thomas Norris, 2nd Lieut; William E. Wailes, 3rd Lieut. From this time on, the company was always in the ranks of the 3rd Alabama cavalry regiment, and did its full share in making the glorious history of that gallant regiment. Yours truly, Samuel Will John