Civil War Headstone Dedication
Webb Cemetery
May 27, 2012

In celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, The Son’s of Union Veterans are holding a private headstone dedication service to honor five Union soldiers who volunteered to serve with the Army of The United States of America. Four of those soldiers served under the command of Captain Ephraim Latham and enlisted in August 1863 at Larkinsville, Alabama. These four soldiers served with the 1^st Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry. The 5th soldier served with the 1^st Alabama Cavalry. All of the men were from the Trenton area in the Paint Rock Valley and are buried in the Webb Cemetery.

The First Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry Company A was organized on September 10,1863 at Ft. Harker in Stevenson, Alabama. On September 24, 1863 the company was sent to guard Hunts Mill near Larkinsville, AL. Hunts Mill was the location of a sawmill that was producing lumber for use by the Union army. On September 26, 1863 they were attacked by the Confederate 5^th Company Cavalry which resulted in the capture of 18 of their men. The skirmish was called the "Mill Fight". The Company was ordered to Bridgeport, AL on October 20, 1863. After arriving in Bridgeport, they were ordered to escort Generals Hooker and Howard to Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They arrived back at Ft. Harker in Stevenson, AL on October 31, 1863. Company muster rolls from November to December 1863 show Company A at Mud Creek, AL and January through April 1864 show the Company stationed at Larkinsville, AL. Company A was mustered out of service on June 16, 1864.

The 1st Alabama Cavalry was raised from Alabama Unionists at Huntsville, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee in October 1862 after Federal troops occupied the area. It was attached to the 16^th Corps in various divisions until November 1864, when it became part of the 15^th Corps. During this time, its duties mostly consisted of scouting, raiding, reconnaissance, flank guard, and providing screening to the infantry. The regiment was selected by Major General William T. Sherman to be his escort as he began his famous "March to the Sea". It was assigned to the Third Division of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi in January 1865. It fought at the battles of Monroe's Crossroads and Bentonville and was present at the surrender of the Army of the Tennessee at the Bennett Place. It was sent to the District of Northern Alabama, Department of the Cumberland in June 1865.The regiment was mustered out of service at Huntsville, Alabama on October 20, 1865.

William A. Flanagan was the son of Ambrose Flanagan and Dianah Chewning. He was born in Madison County, AL in 1822. He married Rachel Elizabeth Wilbourn, daughter of Aquilla Wilbourn and Elizabeth Wilson in 1849 and they lived in Jackson County, AL in the Paint Rock Valley. They had 3 sons: Andrew born 1853, William born 1855 and Ambrose born 1857. William was a farmer and was an overseer of 20 slaves in both Paint Rock Valley and on the family farm in Brownsboro, AL. On August 29, 1863 William enlisted to serve as a soldier with the Union Army as a private in Larkinsville, Alabama. He was assigned to the 1^st Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry Company A. He was 42 years old and had dark hair, green eyes, fair complexion and was 5’9’’ tall. Between September 1863 and November 1863, William was promoted to 1^st Sergeant. It is believed that William was working as a scout with the Union Army when he died in Stevenson, Jackson County, Alabama from smallpox in December 1864 at the age of 43.

Henry A. Webb was the son of Jessie K. and Susannah Webb. He was born on March 10, 1840 in Giles County Tennessee. He married Roseannah Hall in 1859 and they lived in Paint Rock Valley. He was a farmer and they had 2 children: Martha Ann Webb and Jessie Polk Webb. When Henry was 22 years old he enlisted as a private with the Union Army on August 28, 1863 in Larkinsville, Alabama. He had dark hair, green eyes, fair complexion and was 5’11’’ tall. He was assigned to the 1^st Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry Company A. After the war, Henry married Sarah E. Williams in April 1871 and had 2 children: John and Jane Webb. After her death he married her sister, Nancy E. Williams on April 30, 1877 and they had one daughter: Dovie M. Webb. Henry died in Trenton, AL on April 4, 1918 at the age of 78.

Andrew J. Flippo was the son of Henry S. and Susannah Nipper. He was born in 1845 in Jackson County, AL. He enlisted as a private with the Union Army on August 28, 1863 in Larkinsville, AL and was assigned to the 1^st Tennessee and Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry Co. A. He married Tabitha Cox on May 5, 1864 while he was still enlisted. Andrew was mustered out of service on June 16, 1864 and died 5 months later on November 28, 1864 of unknown causes at the age of 19.

Francis M. Flippo was the son of Henry S. and Susannah Nipper. He was born March 23, 1846. Francis was a farmer and he enlisted with the 1^st Alabama Cavalry Company H on April 20, 1865 in Huntsville, AL at the age of 18. He had light hair, blue eyes, fair complexion and was 5’8’’ tall. He mustered out of service on October 20, 1865. After the war, he married Martha Jane Williams, daughter of Lieut. John Williams, on May 25, 1874 in Jackson County, AL. They had 5 children and 4 survived. His children were William, John, Minnie, Pearl and an infant son who is also buried at the Webb Cemetery. Francis died in Trenton, AL on August 27, 1910 at the age of 64.

Pictures provided by Jean Arndt and Melanie Elliott

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