Prattville Dragoons

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The Prattville Dragoons rode first to the Fair Grounds in Montgomery, Alabama, and then partially by train, and partially by horseback to Pensacola, Florida to the Camp of Instruction there being led by General Braxton Bragg. The majority of the Prattville Dragoons brought their personal civilian and hunting firearms with them, but those lacking arms were issued Colt 1851 Navy Revolvers and sabers. While in Pensacola, the Prattville Dragoons were first assigned as the "mounted" Company "I" of the 7th Alabama Infantry. They left Pensacola in February 1862 traveling light and suffered through snow, sleet and rain in Chattanooga, Tennessee that March. They marched further and participated in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. When their initial term of enlistment expired, the Unit "en masse" reenlisted and was accepted as Company "H" of the 3rd Alabama Cavalry in Tupelo, Mississippi in June 1862. Captin Cox returned to the steamboat business, and Wilbur Fisk Mims was voted into the Captain position. As a Company of the Third Alabama Cavalry, the Prattville Dragoons accompanied the Confederate Army of Tennessee into Kentucky and were engaged in daily conflicts with the enemy, particularly at Bramlet's Station and the Battle of Perryville. It fell back with the army, and was on constant and arduous duty during the remainder of the war, protecting its communications, guarding its rear and flanks, and often raiding upon the enemy's trains and outposts. The whole regiment was a part of the brigade composed of the First, Third, Fourth, Ninth, Twelfth, and Fifty-First Alabama Cavalry, commanded first by Gen. Allen of Montgomery, then subsequently by Gen. Hagan of Mobile.

. The Prattville Dragoons encamped to await Union parole, but after remaining dormant for several days without any sign of Union Officers to officially parole them, the Unit disbanded and returned to their homes.

References

* Tarrant, S. F. H., "Honourable Daniel Pratt: A Biography" (1904)
* Mims, Wilbur Fisk, "War History of the Prattville Dragoons"

External links

* [http://jjoakley.com/dragoonhistory.html War History Of The Prattville Dragoons]
* [http://www.civilwarhome.com/3alacav.htm The Third Alabama Cavalry]
* [http://www.pratthistory.com/daniel_pratt.htm Daniel Pratt at Pratthistory.com]