The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Private William Lewis Golson

Livingston's command never numbered more than eight companies. Golson belonged to one of three independent companies that were assembled as Chandler's Cavalry Battalion. Later five companies organized for service with the Conscript Bureau were assigned. Conscript Bureau companies do not appear to have been organized for first-line combat service, and fared poorly when faced with well-armed and well-trained Federal mounted units.

The 6th and 8th Alabama Cavalry served under General James H. Clanton. At Ten Islands and Bluff Spring, Fla., these two commands were easily driven away with almost no loss to Federal opponents. At Bluff Spring, just over the Florida line, Clanton was left on the field severly wounded and his men dispersed into swamps along the Escambia River. Those who managed to escape collected at Greenville, Ala., and rode north to resist Wilson's column from Benton in Lowndes County to Columbus, Ga. Survivors then moved west across the state to join Forrest's encampment at Gainesville, Ala.

It's no wonder that so few were left at the surrender.

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Private William Lewis Golson
Re: Private William Lewis Golson
Re: Private William Lewis Golson
Re: Private William Lewis Golson
Re: Private William Lewis Golson