1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (Union)

The 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (Union) was a Union Army regiment composed primarily of white Alabamians and other Southerners loyal to the Union during the American Civil War. It was formed in Union-occupied territory in northern Alabama and Tennessee between 1862 and 1864.

Organized under the authority of the U.S. War Department, the regiment drew its recruits from pro-Union pockets in northern Alabama, particularly areas that had already been occupied by Union forces. Many of the soldiers were men who had suffered persecution and hardship due to their Unionist sympathies under Confederate rule. Desertion from the Confederate army was also a source of recruits. The regiment's companies were mustered in at various locations, including Huntsville, Alabama, and Nashville, Tennessee.

The 1st Alabama Cavalry saw active service in numerous campaigns and skirmishes throughout the war in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. They participated in scouting missions, raids, and guarding supply lines. Specific engagements included actions around Decatur, Alabama, and operations against Confederate guerrillas and partisans. Their knowledge of the local terrain and Confederate tactics proved valuable to Union commanders.

The regiment played a significant role in suppressing Confederate resistance and protecting Unionist civilians in the region. Its soldiers often faced hostility from Confederate sympathizers even after the war's conclusion.

Following the end of the Civil War, the 1st Alabama Cavalry was mustered out of service. Its members returned to their homes, often facing economic hardship and social ostracism for their loyalty to the Union. The regiment's history provides a unique perspective on the complex divisions within the South during the Civil War and the experiences of white Southerners who chose to fight for the Union cause.