In
his scouting and raiding operations, which were mostly in northern Alabama,
Alabama tailor, sheriff, and riverman Philip D. Roddey proved highly successful
and rose to the command of a Confederate cavalry division. He served as
Bragg's personal escort at the Battle of Shiloh and then led forces in
northern Alabama where he raised several regiments, the most famous of
which is the 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment. Sometimes operating
with larger forces in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi, he usually operated
independently in his home region. He did however fight at Tupelo. His command
was engaged in the unsuccessful resistence to Wilson's raid through Alabama
in the final days of the war. He was later a New York City businessman.
His assignments included: captain, Roddey's Alabama Cavalry Company (Spring
1861); colonel, 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment (October 2, 1862);
commanding brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of Mississippi
and East Louisiana (January - February 1863); commanding brigade, Martin's
Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana (February
- April 1863); commanding District of Northern Alabama, Department of Tennessee
(July 1863); brigadier general, CSA (August 3, 1863); commanding cavalry
brigade, Army of Tennessee (August 1863); commanding brigade, Martin's
Division, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee (September 1863);
commanding cavalry brigade, Army of Tennessee (October 1863 - July 1864);
commanding cavalry division, Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East
Louisiana (July 1864); and commanding District of North Alabama (also called
Roddey's Brigade), Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana
(September 24, 1864 - May 4, 1865).