After Northern Alabama was occupied by the Union, Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama were increasingly in fear of Union raids. In 1864, there were 296 students at the University and they formed the "Corp of Cadets." While attempts were made to keep to the usual academic courses then taught, the University was also a military camp of instruction.

    Branscom T. Shockley and Henry McKenzie Burt were ninteen-year-old students at the University of Alabama in March 1864. They secretly worked together to enroll enough Cadets from the University to form a Cavalry company for the Confederate Army -- with the understanding that the volunteers would remain students until the term ended in July 1864. It was important that Shockley and Burt keep there plans from the faculty  as they would have viewed it as insubordination.

    Over one hundred students joined Shockley and Burt forming Schockley's Independent Escort. These cadets served under Brig. Gen. Daniel W. Adams until they were surrendered with Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest on May 10, 1865, at Gainseville, Alabama. The following is a list of the company's members that was compiled from several sources. University of Alabama Cadet's names are in bold type.

    Years later, Shockley's brave cadets were remembered with a plaque at the University of Alabama noting the patriotic devotion of Capt. Branscom T. Shockley and his comrades who formed the Cavalry escort that faithfully served with Brig. Gen. Dan Adams until they were paroled at Gainesville, Alabama, on May 10, 1865.

    This information is from History of Shockley's Alabama Escort Company, Hoole, William Stanley, ed. University, Ala.: Confederate Publishing, c1983.
 
 

Shockley, Branscom T.           Capt. b. Oct. 1844, d. 1876

Burt, Henry McKenzie            1st Lt. b. Sept. 2, 1844; captured at Selma and paroled on
                                                   the road from Montgomery to Selma

Miller, John Haywood             2nd Lt. b. Jan. 30, 1943, wounded, captured, and escaped
                                                  Selma, April 1865

Watkins, John P.                     3rd Lt. b. Mar. 15, 1846, d. July 11, 1897

Webb, William Thomas           1st Sgt. b. Oct. 24, 1843, d. Aug. 5, 1878

Driskell, Thomas J.                 2nd Sgt., b. Jan. 3, 1845, d. 1901. Pvt. in Co. F, 3rd Ala. Reg.

Cowin, Thomas Edwin             3rd Sgt.; Name also spelled Cowen

Scott, D. M. C.                        4th Sgt. b. Aug. 2, 1844, d. 1870

Patton, Robert Weakley        Comm. Sgt., b. Mar. 8, 1844. Killed in Battle of Selma,
                                                 April 2-3, 1865
 
 

Allen, Joseph M.                   Enlisted age 16

Archer, Charles S.                Enlisted age 16

Barker, Charles L.                Enlisted age 16, surrendered at Demopolis, paroled at Selma

Bean, James                         Enlisted age 18

Bender, Daniel Juston       b. Mar. 26, 1846, d. Jan. 24, 1893

Billbry, George M.

Brayer, A. B.                        Name also Brazier; enlisted age 16

Calloway, Darby M.             Surrendered and paroled at Greensboro.

Carson, Shelby Chadwick   b. Jan. 26, 1846

Chadwick, E. S.

Clopton, William H.               Wounded at Selma, paroled Gainesville, May 10, 1865

Collins, J. W.                         Captured at Selma; paroled between Selma and Montgomery

Connor, Junis K.                  Captured at Selma; paroled Montgomery, April 1865

Crum, Augustus Willis         b. April 16, 1846, d. May 31, 1880

Cruso, Chales W.                 b. Mar. 17, 1847

Elgin, Richard P.

Frazer, Nathan Hix              b. Oct. 20, 1845

Galloway, A. G.

Garner, Clement Cortez      b. Oct. 10, 1847

Gilmer, Morgan Smith         b. Nov. 30, 1847; wounded during Battle of La Fayette, Geo.
                                              June 24, 1864

Hale, C. H.                            b. July 26, 1847

Harris, Bayless E.

Harrison, James T.                  Paroled Columbus, Miss, May 1865; later Lt. Gov. of Mississippi

Jones, William Clarence      Later Senator from Wilcox Co., Ala.

Lewis, William T.                    Remained with Brig. Gen. Adams until end of War; paroled
                                              Gainesville, May 1865

McGraw, Waters

McLemore, Moses Joseph  b. Nov. 12, 1846, d. 1885 or 1886 in Greenville, Ala.

Mobley, John W.                  b. sept. 21, 1846; believed killed in Battle of Selma
                                               on April 2, 1865

Moore, William W.                Wounded Battle of Selma, April 2, 1865

Perkins, J. Hampden               Enlisted age 16; captured Selma; paroled Montgomery &
                                              Columbus, Miss.

Pittman, James F.

Pitts, Philip Henry                b. Jan. 27, 1849; Pvt. 9th Ala.

Rivers, Williams Jones            Enlisted age 16 at Montgomery; wounded Battle of Selma;
                                             drowned in Fla. in 1883

Robertson, William J.             Enlisted Montgomery April 1864, age 17; paroled Montgomery

Roquemore, John DuPree  b. Aug. 27, 1847, d. MAr. 12, 1900.

Rosser, Henry                        Enlisted Montgomery April 1864, age 17

Sawyer, Thomas

Stoddard, J. Thomas           b. May 21, 1847; enlisted Tuscaloosa, age 16

Stokes, Henry                       Enlisted Montgomery April 1864, age 17

Stroud, Alonzo Bibb              Enlisted Talladega, Fall 1864, age 17

Syring, Frank P.                     Enlisted Montgomery April 1, 1864, age 17;
                                              paroled Gainesville, May 1865

Watt, James H.

Weathers, William                 Name also Withers

Webb, Lucius de Yampert     b. June 18, 1846; enlisted Tuscaloosa Mar. 1, 1864, age 18;
                                                wounded near Opelika
 
 

Other general references:

Alabama Civil War Unit Bibliography

Alabama Archives: Confederate Military Unit Histories

Alabama Research links

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Updated 19 Feb 2001
© 2001 DABF