Dr. Jones,

Where do you find that Moorman's Battalion was raised from four companies to six companies in order to form the 24th Miss. Cav. Batt.? According to the O.R.'s, Companies A-F were all already in Moorman's Battalion. It appears to me that there was simply a name change, and all engagements of either one should be credited to both.

"Order of War Department
Special Order 19
Adjt. and Insp. General's Office
Richmond, Va.
January 24, 1865

The following companies, now forming what is known as Moorman's Battalion, will constitute the Twenty-fourth Mississippi Battalion Cavalry:

Company A -- Captain E. A. Miller.
Company B -- Captain B. Hudnall.
Company C -- Captain John Wilkinson.
Company D -- Captain Thomas J. Hargrave.
Company E -- James P. Beesley.
Company F -- Joseph W. Devenport.

By Command of the Secretary of War

Jno. Withers, Asst. Adjutant-General"

Capt. Hudnall was either captured or deserted near the end of the war. He was taken to New Orleans, Louisiana and he gave indepth information on the 24th Miss. Cav. Batt. He gave its strength as 200 men. He did state that the battalion was part of Adams' Brigade (along with Mabry's and Woods' units) but that it was detached "until very lately". The date of this report was April 12th, 1865. So, that does leave open the possibility that the battalion was not with its brigade and possibly could have been at Selma. However, one soldier of the 24th stated postwar (I seem to recall that it was in a veteran questionaire) that he was at the "Battle of Little Sipsey".

(As a very interesting side note, this same report states that Confederate "Negroe" conscripts had begun arriving at the Enterprise [Miss. or Ala.?] Conscript Camp, and Gen. Forrest had ordered that they be sent to Selma.)