Prattville Dragoons

The Prattville Dragoons were a Company of men from the city of Prattville, and Autauga County, Alabama, organized for service during the American Civil War of 1861-1865.

The Prattville Dragoons were the first Company of men from the city of Prattville, and Autauga County, Alabama, to form for service in the impending American Civil War of 1861-1865. The idea for forming a Company was originally suggested by Samuel D. Oliver, from nearby Robinson Springs, Alabama. The Company organized on December 8, 1860 in the west front parlor of the home of George L. Smith (now the Prattaugian Museum.), The Company was formed as a part of the "Alabama Volunteer Corps" and in her book Hon. Daniel Pratt, Mrs. S.F.H. Tarrant states that "... Mr. Pratt presented to every member of this cavalry company a uniform, made of black broadcloth, trimmed with gold braid. No other company in the State had a uniform so handsome." Mrs. Tarrant was a daughter of Gardner Cole Hale, Daniel Pratt's supervisor of the mill which made the Confederate Uniforms. He was recruited in 1848 from Fall River, Ma. to supervise Daniel Pratt's mill, using the cotton gin to gin the cotton right there next to the cotton fields, rather than sending it back to the textile mills in Ma. His son-in-law, Tarrant, was a member of the Prattville Dragoons, and injured in battle. To the amazement of the African-American freedmen in the on-looking Yankee troops, his valet laid out his cape and carried his master off the battlefield. Boss Hale, as his father-in-law was called, left a son back in Medfield, Ma who served in the G.A.R., and was truly torn when the Civil War started 17 years after his emigration from Manfield, Ma., a war between brothers.

In his book War History of the Prattville Dragoons Captain W.F. Mims (the last Commander of Co. H, 3rd Ala. Cav., CSA) spoke fondly of Pratt's generosity, stating, "Many not being able to furnish their mounts were greatly discouraged. That great and good man, Daniel Pratt, so well known for deeds of charity and generosity, supplied the defeiciency at a cost of many hundred dollars." (Quoting Historian Tommy Brown of the Continental / Eagle Manufacturing Company - still producing cotton gins in Daniel Pratt's buildings - "Daniel Pratt was Alabama's first millionaire.") The rank of "Captain" was voted by the members of the Unit, and the first Captain of the Prattville Dragoons was Jesse Cox "of Steamboat notoriety" from Mobile, Alabama. In total, there was originally "18 commissioned and non-commissioned officers and 82 privates, total 100, with two faithful colored cooks." The soldiers formed for their send-off at the school yard of the Prattville Academy and was presented a beautiful silk flag that was sewn by hand by the young ladies of Prattville. On Confederate Memorial Day in 1916, a large boulder with a bronze plaque was placed on that site to honor the Dragoons by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

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