North Alabama Cavaliers - Yellowhammers
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:00 pm
The North Alabama Cavaliers: Company I, Forrest's Battalion; later Company I, 12th Alabama Cavalry.
Formed in the New Market AL area in December 1861, this company was first attached to Forrest's Battalion. The company wore distinctive 'yellowhammer' woodpecker feathers in their hats. This company's arrival in Hopkinsville, KY in January 1862 incited other soldiers to call out "yallerhammer, yallerhammer, flicker, flicker".
Most of the company was captured at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862. After being exchanged in the fall of 1862, the company was assigned to conscript duty around Huntsville. In 1863 it was incorporated into the 12th Alabama Cavalry Regiment, serving under General Joseph Wheeler. The company saw hard fighting all through the Atlanta campaign, and disbanded the night before the surrender in North Carolina in April 1865.
From 'Old Huntsville' magazine.
Formed in the New Market AL area in December 1861, this company was first attached to Forrest's Battalion. The company wore distinctive 'yellowhammer' woodpecker feathers in their hats. This company's arrival in Hopkinsville, KY in January 1862 incited other soldiers to call out "yallerhammer, yallerhammer, flicker, flicker".
Most of the company was captured at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862. After being exchanged in the fall of 1862, the company was assigned to conscript duty around Huntsville. In 1863 it was incorporated into the 12th Alabama Cavalry Regiment, serving under General Joseph Wheeler. The company saw hard fighting all through the Atlanta campaign, and disbanded the night before the surrender in North Carolina in April 1865.
From 'Old Huntsville' magazine.
