Formerly Captain of the "Burnsville Blues", Co. �E�, 17th Mississippi Regiment, Capt. M. D. Moreland resigned his commission in the summer of 1862 and returned to recruit a cavalry company. Officers and men of his new command were accepted in service at Warren�s Mills, Miss., Sept. 7, 1862.

Capt. Moreland and his men formed Co. "C" of Roddey's 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment. Col. Philip D. Roddey organized this regiment at Tuscumbia, Ala., on Oct. 21, 1862, including three companies which had been operating in the Tennessee Valley for some time. None of his companuies received formal letter designations until at least six months later. Also known as Johnson�s Regiment, and (less frequently) the 1st Alabama Cavalry of Roddey�s Brigade, this unit officially mustered as a Confederate cavalry command November 1, 1863.

Frequently detached from the regiment, Moreland's Company "C" divided on Aug. 1, 1863. These became Companies "D" and "G" of Moreland�s Cavalry Battalion. The battalion was increased to regimental size in early 1864. It served with Johnson's Brigade of Roddey's cavalry command during 1864-65.

Poorly armed and disciplined, reports concerning Moreland and his troops are generally unfavorable. General Forrest made specific complaints about the number of men from Moreland's cavalry who were absent from duty. An inspection of Roddey's cavalry completed in late 1864 bears out a high number of officers and men absent without leave in relation to other Confederate cavalry assigned to General Roddey. The report also specifies the kinds of arms reported among Moreland's officers and men.

Freeman's company was assigned to duty at Salisbury NC prisoner-of-war camp.

M. W. Strawn