Rex Miller's "Croxton's Raid" has two chapters which deal with Croxton's activities in Talledega County, the occupation of the town and the Munford incident. The description of the Occupation of Talledega indicates that the Yankees were pretty rough on this area.

"Saturday, April 22 the brigade (Croxton's) spent the morning getting the rest of the troopers across the Coosa River. About sundown they reached Talladega. A force of about 70 rebels were met outside of town."

Col Abner A. Hughes of the 48th Alabama Infantry, ANV, was home recuperating, and lead this force against the 8th Iowa Cavalry, armed with Spencer repeating carbines. The ensuing skirmish did not last long with Col Hughes and his company falling back through town, with the Iowans hot on their heels.

The rest of Croxton's brigade entered Talladega, burning the county jail, railroad depot, conscript camp, and nitre sheds. Stores were broken into and looted, mules and horses were taken with other valubles from private citizens. Most of the private residences were entered and searched for valubles. All the watches, silverware, and silverplate not previously secreted was taken by the Yankees. Col. Hugh Caperton was shot through the window of his own home by a squad of Yankees, and died instantly. Supposedly Croxton threatened to burn the entire town.

On Sunday April 23 the 2nd Michigan Cavalry Reg of Croxton's brigade advanced toward Blue Mountain and the Alabama and Tennesee River Railroad, to destroy the iron furaces there. Here they encountered the force of Gen. Benjamin J. Hill. Quoting Thacher's "One Hundred Battles in the West," Miller gives this account of the battle:

"The affair with Hill was started by a brilliant dash of two companies, lead by Lt Woodruff of Company L, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. Two pieces of artillery opened on our command. Col Johnston (CO 2nd Michigan) ordered the advance to charge and followed them rapidly with the regiment. The advance had possession of the artillery within five minutes and the brigade didn't overtake the Second until night.

"The troops of General Hill scattered like men who had become demoralized, or had risked their lives as often and they cared to in a bad cause. Yet in their breaking up and scattering they carried with them serveral of our men, who, by their headlong course had become detached from the regiment. There was an apparent disposition to spare lives. Our men were immediately paroled."

Miller continues:

"This action in Munford was the last to take place east of the Mississippi. The two men killed in the Second Michigan and the one Confederate represented the last to die in open combat."

"Lieutenant Andrew Jackson Buttram was born in Carroll County, Georgia in 1851. He was only 14 years old when killed at Munford. His father, Charles Jefferson Buttram, was a Methodist preacher who served in Company H of the 41st Georgia Infantry Battalion."

It is not clear from Miller's text, but I assume that Lt Buttram was an officer of the 41st Georgia Battalion. He also states that the monument was erected November 14, 1914 by the John T. Morgan Chapter of the UDC, and was donated by a Leon G. Jones.