The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-26
Talladega. Ala.. Aug. t4 1aos

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 Talladega, Ala. Aug. II. 1908.
 Mrs. Harvey E. Jones. Spring Hill.
 Ala.
 Dear Madam:--In partial fuiffiiment of my promise. I enclose you nay person al recollections of the Cavalry battle near Varnell's Station. Ga. It was one A& the Hundreds of Wheeler's Cavalry . engagements that distinguished that superb corps d Armee, and especially notable for the results achieved by fierce lighting against tremendous odds.
 In reading an article from Mrs. Nor thington in Sundays Advertiser of Au- gust 5. inst, I regret to see that she has fallen into the common error of sNpposinE that the regiments desigpat- ed "Confeedrates had no connection with the volunteers. and implying that they were 8 form of regulars organized by the Confederate Govern ment. whereas the facts are just the centrary. Instead of the men and efll- cars composing the confederate" regi- n@nt having no connection with the volunteers they composed th0 very creme de la creme of. the volunteer cavalry. I will tell you why. The hrst of the volunteer cavalry were re- ceiyed and mustered into the service of the Confederate States. one or two com~ panies at & time and hurried to the front, where they were grouped first Into battelions. and when there were not eaough companies or battaltons from one State to form regiment, companies and battalions were taken from another State and joined with them. thus forming a reg iment. For whle the regiment thus formed was called by the name of the States contributing the troops--for in- No Fuk Ia1. Regiment. Later on. and on the re- organization of Bragg's army after Perryvtfle and the retreat from Ken lucky. the regiments thus formed were designated by the government at Rich nn0nd Confederate" and were number ed 1st. 2nd. srd etc. confederate. The company to which belonged was or- ganized two years before the civil war and offered its services to the State i'm mediately after Alabama seeded and before the Confederate States were formed. Its services were not then needed, but in July 1861. its services were called for and the company, with Captain Jefferson Falkner's company from Chambers County, immediately went to the front. and was joined in West Tennessee by Captain Coles com pany from Louisiana and formed Brewers battalion, and as such fought through both days at Shiloh and until corinth was evacuated about the 10th of May, 1862. when to this battalion was Added Baskervilles battalion composed of three companies from Mississippi, and one from Pickens County. Alabama, and Bells battalion or four companies from East Alabama. and (elim- mating Coles company of Louisian- isns which went into another regiment) formed the 1st Mississippi and Alabama regiment of cavalry w. B. Wade, AI LrnII ant Colonel and John S. Brother. Major, All of these companies so forming the regiment were among the first of the volunteers from their respective States These Confederate regiments of cay airy were scattered around in different brIgades and so served throughout the war. In 1S64-5 the brigade in which the 1st Mississippi and Alabama. then known as the "Sth Confederate" oper- ated. was composed of the 3rd. Sth and 10th Confederate regiments and 5th Georgia. The 3rd and 10th Confederate regiments were each composed of Ala bama and Georgia volunteers, and never failed to give a good account of them selves when hard fighting was to be done The last two years ofthe war 64-5-the Sth Confederate was armed with pistols and sabres only, and was kept for the charge, mounted, while the other regiments of the brigade were armed with Sabres and Enneld rineS and earbines captured from the enemy and did much of their fighting on foot When dismounted no infantry ever fought better or with more steadiness than these regiments with guns, and es- pecialiy the 10th Confederate when com nanded by Major Rudulph of Alabama or Captain Vason Of Georgia. Pardon me for thus elaborating this matter but the idea should never prevail that the Confederate" regiments had no connection with the volunteers They were volunteers par excellence, and were men giving life and all a sac rifaee on the altar or righteousness, long before conscription was serious 1y thought of. and from Belmont 10 Bsntonville they were ever at the front. when not carrying destruction 10 the foe far in his rear with their cherished Joe wheeler in his daring raids.
 Respectfully your humble servant F George Knox Miller.
 Cavalry Fight i'm VarneIl, Ga.