"Early in April, 1861, when our community was astir as to the important question of enlisting in some branch of military service in defense of our dear Southland, there appeared in our midst one Samuel D. Oliver from Robinson Springs, a neighboring town, urging the necessity of organizng a company of cavalry. His endeavors were richly rewarded by a ready response of the best citizens of town and vicinity. The work of a few days sufficed to secure a sufficient number to form the organization.......Capt. W.F. Mims, Co. H. Third Cavalry, Prattville Dragoons, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama."
Prattville Dragoon Company Flag
According to Larry Nobles book, Old Autauga, Portrait of a Deep South County, Samuel D. Oliver began this task, even before the announcement of Alabama's secession from the Union. He arranged a meeting at the home of George L. Smith, located in Prattville, to form a volunteer unit to protect Autauga County from what everyone knew was coming, the inevitable invasion of the south by Lincoln's armies. The meeting took place in the west front parlor of Smith's home. Afterward, a group of volunteers met on December 8, 1860 at Alida Hall , the large upper room of Daniel Pratt's Cotton Gin Factory. This group of volunteers are most likely the men who formed the "Prattville Guard", a home guard unit with Samuel D. Oliver as Captain, commisioned by the Governor on Febuary 28, 1861. This company was registered by the State Adjutant General as part of the Alabama Volunteer Corps, putting it on a special list of commands that could be called into active military service at any time, making these men a rather elite group of Autauga County citizens. Members of the "Prattville Guards" became the first Autauga County Unit to volunteer in the struggle for Southern Rights. Within a few months, many of these same men went on to form the Company "Prattville Dragoons" to be tendered to the Confederate States Army.
George L. Smith Home
Daniel Pratt's Cotton Gin Factory
These were the first steps of distinquished service in the Confederate States Military for Samuel D. Oliver. Upon organization of this Cavalry company at the Fair Grounds in Montgomery, Samuel Oliver was elected First Lieutenant, with Jesse J. Cox serving as Captain. The Prattville Dragoons were first attatched to the 7th Alabama Infantry Regiment, as Company I at Pensacola, FL. Oliver was Present with his company at Corinth, MS, the Battle of Shiloh, and at Tupelo, MS. At Tupelo, Lt. Oliver submitted his resignation on April 20, 1862 along with that of Capt. Cox, and Lt. Felder. All were accepted and each Officer was given a commision in the Infantry.
Dana M. Mangham's "Cox's Wildcat's" The 2nd Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters, describes Oliver's next command. While at Tullahoma, Major Cox contacted his friend, Confederate Attorney General Thomas Hill Watts, to get permission from the War Dept. for Lt. William Mills to raise a company for the Sharpshooters from that portion of north Alabama recently occupied by the Federal Army. Watts secured permission, and Lt. Mills reported with 81 men comprising Company E on November 11, 1862 with Captain Samuel D. Oliver commanding.
Major Cox of the 2nd Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters was one and the same as Captain Jesse J. Cox of the Prattville Dragoons. The new recruits in Oliver's Company were comprised of enlisted men and many newly enrolled conscripts. The Company was raised primarily from Autauga & Montgomery counties, organizing on July 30th, 1862 at Talladega, AL.
Mangham goes on to say that in November of 1862, the Battalion was moved south to the vicinity of Chattanooga and then dispatched to Bridgeport, Alabama to garrison a vital crossing on the Tennessee River. On December 10th, the use of conscripted soldiers impacted the Sharpshooters moral, as a mass desertion took place from Oliver’s newly formed company. Nineteen in all deserted and a party was immediately dispatched to secure their return. Captain Oliver and a detail of armed men were sent to track them down. Lt. Willie Sandwich of Company B was ordered to “proceed to all places in Alabama and Georgia where he may ascertain that there are absentees from the Battalion without authority, and bring or send them to their command under arrest. Army of Tennessee court-martial documents show that at least nine of the deserters were captured and returned. All nine appear to have been from the Chestnut Creek area of Autauga County. Each was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to 60 to 90 days hard labor at the Chattanooga Guard House. These nine confined men, Captain Oliver along with his detail of men still pursuing the other deserters, and the rest of Company E remained on detail at Bridgeport with another 165 Officers & men. The rest of the Brigade went foward to fight at Murphreesboro.
The first half of 1863 resulted in a reorganization of the Battalion to a "Georgia" formation, resulting in Oliver's Company E being transferred out on June 29, 1863. The Company then became the center of formation for the 9th Battalion of Alabama Infantry at Tullahoma, TN. Almost immediately afterward on July 28th, the 9th Alabama Battalion was redesignated the 58th Alabama Infantry Regiment under Colonel Bushrod Jones. The company was known as Oliver's Company, or Company K.
Placed in General William B. Bate's Brigade, the regiment was in the Battle of Chickamauga in September. On the first day, it captured four pieces of artillery; on the second, it was in a desperate charge which broke the enemy line. Unfortunately, it's losses were 148 out of 254 men. A few weeks later, November 1863, the regiment was consolidated with the 32nd Alabama. The field officers of the 58th were retained, and the new regiment was placed in Clayton's Brigade. After consolidation, Oliver's Company became Company E. The consolidated regiment had 400 present at Missionary Ridge, but it lost 250 in casualties and prisoners. Oliver was slightly wounded at Missionary Ridge.
The regiment wintered at Dalton, GA. At Resaca, within a few minutes, it lost 95 k and w out of 300 engaged. It was in numerous skirmishes during the retreat and fought at the battles of New Hope and Kennesaw Mountain. The 32nd-58th Alabama was also in the battles around Atlanta with a long list of casualties. It moved with General John Bell Hood into Tennessee and participated at Columbia, Franklin, and Nashville, and again at Franklin on the retreat. Ordered to Spanish Fort, the regiment was in the garrison there during the siege. Oliver surrendered at Meridian, MS, with his regiment under Col. Bushrod Jones.
Samuel married Eliza A. Goodwyn on October 23, 1856 in Autauga County. He & his wife lived on her father's plantation where Samuel worked as a planter. Eliza's father, Albert G. Goodwyn, was a well known & respected physician in Robinson Springs. Samuel's bother-n-law, Albert Taylor Goodwyn was also a member of the 58th Alabama Infantry Regiment, who went on to become heavily involved in Alabama state politics.
Samuel Oliver was a member of the Robinson Springs UCV Camp No. 396. His name is engraved on the monument showing service at the rank of Captain & Major.
Samuel died on June 8, 1895. He is buried at the Robinson Springs Cemetery on AL HWY 14 at Robinson Springs in Elmore County. His wife filed for a Confederate Widow's pension application, Elmore County Pension No.39230 with witnesses, Albert Taylor Goodwyn, and J.R. Rogers.
Robinson Springs Cemetery, Elmore County, Alabama
