1st Alabama Cavalry

The 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment was a United States Army unit made up of recruits from Alabama that fought for the Union in the Civil War. As many as 2,000 soldiers were attached to the unit during the course of the war. Of those, 345 (including 5 officers) were killed, 88 were captured, and 279 deserted.

The unit was raised at Hunstville and Memphis, Tennessee in October 1862 during Union occupation and attached to the 16th Corps for duty through November 1864, when it became part of the 15th Corps. In January 1865 the unit was assigned to the 3rd Division of the Cavalry Corps, occupying the Military Division of the Mississippi and then moved to the District of Northern Alabama, Department of the Cumberland in June of that year. The unit's 397 remaining soldiers were mustered out of service at Huntsville on October 20.

During the War, the 1st Alabama was involved in scouting, raiding, reconnaissance, flank guarding and screening for the army's infantry units. The unit 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. General William T. Sherman selected the 1st Alabama to escort his infantry on his famous "March to the Sea" through Atlanta, Georgia.