Notes from A. H. Givhan

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Director's Correspondence

This is a typed copy of notes gathered from A. H. Givhan. It is uncertain who gathered the notes and put them into this format.

Letter found in the Alabama State Archives.

Notes on the History of Company F. Curry Dragoons,

3rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment.

Mr. A. H. Givhan, a survivor of the above named Company now residing at Gastonberg, Wilcox County, joined the command in Mobile. He served with this command to the close of hostilities in May, 1865.

Mr. Givhan says that in the fall of 1861, Mr. W. H. Horton, of Dayton, Marengo county, undertook to raise a cavalry company for the Confederate service. The men rendezvoused at old Concord church, in west Dallas county, but in two or three days removed to Center Chapel, where they remained for some day. On Oct. 31, he was sent to Uniontown with some wagons where he secured a lot of camp equipage. About the middle of October the Company was carried to Dayton. In the meantime Capt. Horton who had been chosen to that office, went to Montgomery, but for some reason, not now remembered, the command was not accepted. On his return the men were disbanded.

A number of the men, however, being anxious to get to the front and see actual service, agreed to go to Mobile, and join the Curry Dragoons, in camp there. Mr. Givhan says that they left for Mobile in January, and at once enlisted in this Company. The Company was in Camp at Hitchcock' Compress, where it remained, drilling and otherwise engaged in preparation, until the latter part of March, 1862.

Events were shaping up for a general engagement in Tennessee or north Mississippi, and there we much anxiety on the part of the troops stationed on the coast to be sent to the main army under General Albert Sidney Johnston. Late in March, Capt. Murphy drew his men up in line, and made them a talk explaining the situation, and stating that it was his intention to go to the front. He stated, however, that the Company was yet as only in the State service, and that it would not be possible for him to take the men without their consent. He then asked all who were willing to enter the Confederate service, on the reorganization of the Company, to step one pace to the front. Much to the Captain's gratification every man in the entire company of over one hundred stepped forward, with one exception. The name of the one who refused to go was private ----------- Stokes, who lived near Marion. He was at once released by the Captain and retuned to his home.

The Company at once started for Tennessee. It went up on the M. & O. Railroad and disembarked at Bethel, a small station north of Corinth. There Mr. Givhan took the measles, and with W. F. Setzler was sent to a hospital in Corinth. In the meantime, the Company itself was quarantined on account of the measles and was stationed at Rienze. While he was ill, Mr. Givhan says that the Company had some small engagements. Later it was assigned to the 3rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment, under Col. James Hagan, on the formation of that command.