The 1st Alabama Cavalry was raised from Alabama Unionists at
Huntsville, Alabama and
Memphis, Tennessee in October 1862 after Federal troops occupied the area. It was attached to the
XVI Corps in various divisions until November 1864, when it became part of the
XV Corps. During this time, its duties primarily consisted of scouting, raiding, reconnaissance, flank guard, and providing screening to the infantry while on the march. The regiment was selected by Major General
William T. Sherman to be his escort as he began his famous 1864
March to the Sea. It was assigned to the Third Division of the Cavalry Corps,
Military Division of the Mississippi, in January 1865. It fought at the battles of
Monroe's Crossroads and
Bentonville and was present at the surrender of the
Army of Tennessee at the
Bennett Place. It was sent to the District of Northern Alabama,
Department of the Cumberland, in June 1865. The regiment was mustered out of service at Huntsville, Alabama, on October 20, 1865, with only 397 men present. Out of the 2,000 men who served in the unit during the war, 345 were killed in action, died in prison of disease or other non-battle causes, 88 were captured, and 279 deserted, with no accurate count of wounded. ==Casualties==