The 3rd Battalion Florida Cavalry was organized in May of 1863 from our
independent companies, including one recruited by W. B. Amos in Santa Rosa County, which
became Co. D. The 3rd Florida Cav. then became part of Murphy's Alabama Cavalry Battalion
in September of 1863. Three additional independent companies were added, bringing the unit
to regiment size. It was redesignated the 15th Confederate Cavalry in early 1864 at
Mobile, composed of Alabama and Florida companies which had been on coastal defense duties
for two or three years. Placed under the command of Col. Henry Maury, it remained in the
vicinity of Mobile and Pensacola for most of 1864, except for a period in the fall when it
was sent to Louisiana to play a roll in the fight at Tunica. It served successively in
Jenifer's, Reynolds', Patton's, McCulloch's, and Clanton's brigades, Maury's army. It was
early described as "full, well mounted and well armed", but by December, it was
reported as poorly clad and scantily fed. Then in January 1865, its ranks were filled with
citizens from Mobile and the surrounding area, armed with miscellaneous weapons but
numbering 1200 men. By February, its numbers were reduced to 800, but its companies were
almost always on detached duty, watching and checking for an enemy advance against Mobile.
In April 1865, it was sent to establish a courier line to Demopolis, but before this was
done, the regiment took part in a disastrous fight at Claiborne where it blew up the
magazine and evacuated Choctaw Bluff on the 14th of the month. The greater part of the
regiment disbanded, and the few who remained were paroled at Demopolis. Col. Henry Maury
was disabled by a wound just before the close of the war and the regiment was commanded by
Lt. Col. Myers at Claiborne.
Field and Staff Officers: Col. Harry Maury (Mobile); Lt. Col. Thomas J. Myers (Florida);
Major: Robert Partridge (Florida); Adjutant William R. Jordan (Florida)
