Hubbard's
Company of
Alabama
Rangers
Information for the following historical record of "Hubbard's Company of
Alabama Rangers" came from a small Alabama newspaper that was called the
"Daily Mountain Eagle". My Great-Great Grandfather, Benjamin Dekalb Kelley,
gave an interview to that newspaper in 1925 in which he gave a very detailed
account of his experience with this unit during the War Between the States,
as well as a list of soldiers, and the county they came from, that served
with him during that time. His personal account is the only known record,
from an individual member, about this unit prior to it being mustered into
the 1st Confederate Cavalry Regiment as Company K, and later consolidation
into the 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment.
Shortly after secession in 1861, and over the first few months of the War
Between the States, residents of Alabama formed independent military units
for service in the newly formed Confederate States Army. "Hubbard's Company
of Alabama Rangers" (also known as "Hubbard's Cavalry Company") was orgainized
at Landersville, Lawrence County, Alabama, in September of 1861 as an independent
cavalry company made up of men who could furnish their own mounts and tack.
These companies that were formed were usually named after the person responsible
for its creation or the town or county from which it came. This company
was no different and got its name from David C. Hubbard, who had been trained
at West Point, and was elected its Captain. Other officers elected upon
the company orgainization were First Lieutenant William Wren from Armory,
Mississippi, Second Lieutenant Robert M. Clark, from Mount Hope, Alabama,
and Third Lieutenant Esom D. Kelley, from Eldridge, Alabama.
The unit did its preliminary drilling and training at Landersville and
Florence, Alabama, and gained recognition as one of the best drilled and
trained companies in the confederate army. When Captain Hubbard's superiors
felt it was ready, the company was ordered to Fort Henry, which guarded
the Tennessee River on the Kentucky/Tennessee border to reinforce Brigadier
General Lloyd Tilghmans garrison and provide scouting and reconnaissance
duty. The company boarded the transport boat Time, which was owned
and operated by William Arthur Johnson (a future colonel and commander
of the 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment) and set out for West Tennessee.
The company landed near the fort and participated in minor some skirmishes
before the fort fell in early 1862. Avoiding capture, the company was involved
in several engagements and actions in western Tennessee that followed the
fall of Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River also in early 1862. During
this time the company suffered many casualties and Lieutenants Wren and
Clark were captured. Captain Hubbard resigned during this period and the
command was passed on to Esom D. Kelley who was elected Captain in March
of 1862. Another change that was made was that the company was absorbed
into the 1st Confederate Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., and was given the designation
of Company "K". Company K was detached early though and took part in the
Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862 as an independent cavalry company once
again fighting in a mixed unit of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama cavalry
units. Due to the number of casualties that had been suffered up to and
including Shiloh, Company K was detailed to go to North Alabama, along
with other independent cavalry companies commanded by Captain Philip Dale Roddey, Captain Josiah Patterson, and Captain John Newsome, to be consolidated
into the new 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment which would be commanded by Philip
Roddey after his promotion to Colonel. Captain Kelley retained command
and now was known as Company K, 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment,
C.S.A., and would fight in and around North Alabama for the remainder of
the conflict.
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