Submitted by Donna W. Collins
Robert Logan was born June 22, 1840, Fayette County, Alabama to Robert "Bob" Logan and Virginia Jane "Jennie" McCaleb. The Logans were staunch Republicans and Church of Christ believers. Robert had been raised as a Presbyterian but was supposedly converted by Andrew Campbell.
The eight brothers, born between 1823 and 1847 all supported the Union cause although the oldest, Daniel Lapsley "Lap" Logan could not enlist for medical reasons. Because of a hernia, he was unable to serve in the Union Army with his brothers but he helped build bridges for the Union forces. It is possible Lap died from tuberculosis although it is rumored he was murdered and his body tied on the back of horse, taken home, and thrown into the yard.
Robert voluntarily enlisted in the Union Army, January 16, 1863, with Company B, 1st Regiment, Alabama Calvary at Glendale, Mississippi and was signed in by P. A. Sternburg. He was mustered in January 22, 1863 at Corinth, Mississippi as a private. Robert was captured by the enemy while in battle at Vinsons (same as Vincent’s on 10/26/1863?) Cross Roads and held prisoner for days. Service records from Washington D.C. do not provide the exact number of days. He was honorably discharged in Memphis, Tennessee on February 6, 1864. Robert was also an Alabama Torie.
On October 10, 1867, Robert married Mary Elizabeth Matthews, born June 11, 1848, at the bride’s home in Lamar County, Alabama by Justice of the Peace, John G. Holloway. Mary was the daughter of Henry Walter Matthews and Roxanna Maddox. Robert and Mary had nine children, the last one born seven months after Robert was killed June 21, 1884 while operating a threshing machine when his clothing caught in one of the belts and pulled him into the machine. The machine was owned by Mr. Whitehead and located on Hobson Creek near the Whitehouse Church of Christ. Robert was buried, along with his wife, in the Whitehouse Church of Christ, Cemetery, Marion County, Alabama.
Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit
can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.