His companies Record of Events contains interesting information on their activities. These may be read in Broadfoot's Supplement to the Official Records which volumes are available in many large city and university libraries.
David C. Patten/Patton, Private, Captain Blackburn's Company, 1st Middle Tennessee Cavalry*, enlisted August 14, 1862 at Nashville for 3 years, description: 25 year old Farmer, 5' 9", fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, born in Jackson, Tennessee, on duty as Ambulance Driver February, 1863, detailed as Blacksmith May, 1863, continuously present until discharged June 24,1865, mustered out June 25 at Fayetteville, Tennessee [His records include his actual enlistment papers]
* This organization subsequently became Company A, 5th Tennessee Cavalry, USA
M395: Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee
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Fifth Cavalry
TENNESSEE
(3-YEARS)
Fifth Cavalry. -- Col., William B. Stokes; Lieut.-Cols.,
Robert Galbraith, William J. Clift, Majs., John Murphy, Shelah
Waters, John F. Armstrong John Wortham, Faver Cason.
This regiment was recruited and organized in Middle Tennessee
by Col. Stokes, acting under authority from Gov. Johnson, in
July, 1862. It was made up at Nashville principally, the
recruits coming from various counties in squads. It was first
known as the 1st Middle Tenn. cavalry, but was subsequently
changed to the 5th Tenn.
The regiment was in various battles and skirmishes during the
latter part of 1862, actively participated in the battle of
Stone's River from first to last, and closed the fight on the
Manchester pike on Monday evening, Jan. 5, 1863.
From that time until the close of the war it was employed
mainly in detachments, in the eastern part of Middle
Tennessee. One battalion was stationed at Shelbyville for
some time and did good service in a number of battles and
skirmishes, for which it received high compliments from its
superior officers.
The other portion of the regiment under Col. Stokes was
stationed at Carthage and had frequent skirmishes. Among
other duties it was required to carry the mail from Carthage
to Gallatin, which invited the attacks of the enemy.
A portion of the regiment was in the battle of Lookout
Mountain under command of Capt. Cain and Lieut. Carter. A
part was at Chickamauga and Chattanooga under Lieuts. Robinson
and Nelson.
The regiment was subsequently ordered to Sparta, Tenn., to
break up the guerrilla bands which infested that region. The
guerrilla chiefs, Hughes, Bledsoe and Ferguson, declared a war
of extermination against Col. Stokes' command, and then began
a series of skirmishes and battles in which no quarter was
given on either side.
After completely subduing the guerrillas the regiment was
ordered to Nashville, where under the command of Lieut.-Col
Clift, it participated in the battles in front of that city.
Upon the removal of the regiment to Nashville Col. Stokes was
assigned to the command of the forces at Carthage, where he
remained until honorably discharged in April 1865.
The regiment was mustered out Aug. 14, 1865, in accordance
with orders from the war department.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 384