Jeff Davis Cavalry Legion

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The Jeff Davis Cavalry Legion was a Confederate unit during the American Civil War. Made up of cavalry companies from three different states, it fought primarily in the Eastern theater as part of the Army of Northern Virginia.^[1]

Unit history[]

On October 24, 1861, a special order was given merging the 2nd Mississippi Cavalry Battalion, two other Mississippi companies and an Alabama company to join together and form the Jeff Davis Cavalry Legion. The order said, “The following companies will be organized into a battalion, the designation of which will be the Second Battalion of Mississippi Cavalry, Maj. William T. Martin commanding; Captain Martin's company of Mississippi cavalry, Captain Gordon's company of Mississippi cavalry, Captain Perrin's company of Mississippi cavalry, Captain Stone's company of Alabama cavalry.”.

Led by Colonel Martin, the legion joined what would eventually become the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5th, 1862; doing surveillance of the Union movements and gaining knowledge of their dispositions. Reporting to Gen. Jeb Stuart, the report led to a flank maneuver around McClellan's army, in which two squadrons of the legion participated. Later, Stuart wrote that the legion had performed extremely well and helped him greatly.

During the Seven Days Battles the legion was ordered to across the Chickahominy River. They took control of South Anna, screening the crossing of Thomas J. Jackson and his troops. After Jackson crossed, the legion went north and fought against the 42nd New York Infantry Regiment. It dislodged the Union from the position and took 3 prisoners. On September 5th, during the Maryland Campaign, the brigade of Wade Hampton crossed the Potomac River in order to retake a battery captured by the Union. The legion operated as rear guard and covered the mountain gap while the rest of the brigade followed Lee's army to Middleton; and at daylight of September 13th the legion was attacked by the pursuing Union forces. It held off the Union troops until it had to give way, buying the Confederates valuable time. "Martin and his men fought with their accustomed gallantry," was Hampton's report.

When Martin was promoted and transferred in 1863, command of the legion developed on Lt. Col. J. Frederick Waring. The composition of the legion changed several times during the war and in March 1864 it was augmented into a full regiment of 10 companies. When Hampton went to South Carolina, the legion, its brigade now led by Pierce M.B. Young, accompanied him. Serving as part of the Army of Tennessee it fought in the Carolinas Campaign and surrendered with the rest of Johnston's forces in April 1865.

Companies[]

The Jeff Davis Cavalry Legion consisted of the following companies from counties and states in which they were raised:

• Comp. A - Natchez Cavalry - Adams County, Mississippi
• Comp. B - Chickasaw Rangers - Chickasaw County, Mississippi
• Comp. C - Southern Guards - Kemper County, Mississippi
• Comp. D - Sumter Mounted Guards - Unknown county, Alabama
• Comp. E - Canebrake Legion - Marengo County, Alabama
• Comp. F - Georgia Hussars - Chatham County, Georgia
• Comp. G - Liberty Mounted Rangers - Liberty County, Georgia
• Comp. H - Morehead Rangers - Unknown County, Alabama
• Comp. I - McKenzie's Company - Unknown County, Alabama
• Comp. K - Robert's Company - Unknown County, Alabama

See also[]

• List of Mississippi Civil War Confederate units
• List of American Civil War legions

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Hopkins, Donald A. (1999). The Little Jeff: The Jeff Davis Legion, Cavalry Army of Northern Virginia. White Mane Pub. ISBN 978-1572491724.
• Hopkins, Donald A. (1999). Horsemen of the Jeff Davis Legion: The Expanded Roster of the Men and Officers of the Jeff Davis Legion, Cavalry. White Mane Pub. ISBN 978-1572491731.

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