1st Battalion, Trans-Mississippi Confederate Cavalry

ORGANIZATION:
This battalion was organized at Shreveport on March 9 (18), 1864, with four companies. Company E joined the battalion in June. At times, the unit was called the 1st Arkansas and Louisiana Cavalry Battalion or the 1st Battalion Mounted Cadets. The members of the unit were men and boys over or under conscript age and men who had received disability discharges from other units. Throughout its entire service, the battalion performed courier duty under the direct supervision of the headquarters of the Trans-Mississippi Department. The men carried messages to and from a number of cities and towns, including Shreveport, Alexandria, and Monroe, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; and Camden and Washington, Arkansas. At the end of the war, many men simply went home; others signed paroles at the cities nearest their duty stations.
Mustered Out: 5/26/65
June 30, 1864 Shreveport, La. Field & Staff
The 1st Battalion Trans. Mississippi Cavalry since it’s organization has been on duty in Courier service in the Trans-Miss. Department under direction of Dept. Head Quarters.
OFFICERS: Major Thompson J. Bird (Byrd), originally first lieutenant of the "Pointe Coupee Volunteers", Co. H, 11th Louisiana Regiment Infantry. Thompson J. Bird was born 7-31-1827, died 5-6-1902. See Jennings, "The Plains and the People".
ASSIGNMENTS: courier service BATTLES:

ROSTERS: The roster of this battalion contains 585 names.

July 20, 1863, Company A. Ark. & La. Batt. of Wounded Cadets, On the Courier lines leading from Shreveport, La. Although the Record of Events card for Company A reads "Wounded" Cadets, all the cards for their men read "Mounted" Cadets.

Company B, September 17, 1863, On the Courier lines leading from Shreveport. La.

Company D February 15, 1864, On the line of Couriers between Houston, Texas and Shreveport, La.

Company E, sometime after June 1, 1864 On Courier line from Shreveport to Camden & Washington, Ark.

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