Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/466

Rh distinguished in the profession. He was elected to the United States Senate, as the successor of James L. Pugh, for a term beginning March 4, 1897.

Brigadier-General Philip Dale Roddey was born in Moulton, Lawrence county, Ala., in the year 1820. His parents were in humble circumstances and able to give him but scanty educational advantages. For several years he labored as a tailor in his native town, but his natural ability was recognized by his election for a term of three years as sheriff of the county. Later he entered upon the adventurous occupation of steamboating on the Tennessee, in which he was engaged, with his home at Chickasaw, at the beginning of the war. When Alabama seceded he at once began to raise a company for the defense of the Southern cause, and he entered the Confederate service as captain of this company of mounted men. He was exceedingly efficient as a scout, and was held in high esteem by his commanding general. At Shiloh his company was the escort of General Bragg, and Roddey was complimented for gallantry on the field. While Bragg was organizing for his Kentucky campaign, he advised General Price that "Captain Roddey is detached with a squadron of cavalry on special service in northwest Alabama, where he has shown himself to be an officer of rare energy, enterprise and skill in harassing the enemy and procuring information of his movements. Captain Roddey has the entire confidence of the commanding general, who wishes to commend him to you as one eminently worthy of trust." When it is remembered that the Federal forces were now in great strength at Corinth and vicinity, that Bragg proposed to move past them to the north, and Roddey was depended upon to watch the enemy, it will be seen that the captain was given an important trust. On August 21, 1862, General Bragg said in general orders: "A portion of our cavalry, consisting of the companies of Earle,