Hello,
"Autauga" is the name of the county that the Prattville Dragoons were in. The "Autauga Guards" was a company of infantry, one of the early ones to leave such as the Prattville Dragoons and Capt. Tom Brown's company of cavalry (wound up being company in 1st Ala. Cavalry if I am notmistaken). It was attached to Blythe's Miss Legion or Battalion for some reason and was finally reassigned as a company in the 24th Alabama Infantry around 1863. The "Prattville Dragoons" was named that from the beginning (I have the "War History of the Prattville Dragoons" by Capt. Wilbur Mims). They were attached to the 7th Alabama Infantry for a while until finally assigned as Co. "H", 3rd Alabama Cavalry. According to a period newspaper clipping they were given uniforms of black broadcloth with gold embroidery, donated by Dan Pratt and his mills. I read of this in the "History of Autauga County" by Gray. They used this dress uniform on special occasions and when they were buried, if possible. The black broadcloth uniform is what they marched off to war in at the very first. Whether they also had a phatigue uniform I don't know (the "Perote Guards", 1st Ala. Vols for example had heavy grey cashmeer uniforms with blue trim but also had a phatigue uniform). The "Autauga Rifles" was another company of infantry from the area of Indipendence outside of Prattville. They wound up being Co. G and L if I am not mistaken, of the 6th Alabama Infantry. The Autauga Greys, from what i have read, was a home guard unit comprised of mostly old men and boys. They did their duty none the less I am sure.

But anyway, I am sure all these companies in their early war finery were issued Confederate grey uniforms from one of the many CS Arsenals once the Arsenals got going. I just wonder why none of the Prattville Dragoons' uniforms has ever surfaced in Prattville? I am quite sure many old soldiers wanted to be buried in their uniforms. Even if they did not still fit, which most didn't on the old veterans (like mine), I ma sure some wanted the uniforms buried with them. Many I am sure were destroyed by fire when old homes were lost due to fire.

An interesting story of my own ancestors uniform and accourtrements: My gr gr grandfather stenhouse was a Lt. in the "Columbia Greys", Co. "C", 2nd S.C. Vols. He was discharged in early '62 due to pneumonia nearly killing him. I am unsure of further active service, if any, other than when Sherman came through Columbia. In one of my gr gr grandmother's letters she said he was off helping in the defense of Columbia, etc.. Their home in downtown Columbia (he was a merchant, or grocery and hardware owner) and store were burned by Sherman's men. In a letter dated 1907 written by Lt. Stenhouse's sister to my great grandmother here in Prattville, Aabama, his daughter, she was telling of Eben Stenhouse's death and how she had packed his "war relics" as she called them in his old trunk and sent it to her. Well, I grew up with that old trunk holding a place of honor in my grandmother's home. But it held no war relices, just some old female type cloths, etc.. Memaw had no knowledge of any uniform or war relics. So it is my belief that the trunk was robbed of these things in transient on the rail road or how ever it was sent. That really makes me mad too!
Later,
Dave