Doctor Tandy Boyd was the son of Hannah James and James Lee Boyd, Sr. He was the brother of Tillman Boyd. His brother-in-law, William P Ramey, also served in Co. K of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV.
He was born on 6 May 1829 and married Sarah Reid on 19 October 1852 in Walker Co., AL. Sarah was born on 25 October 1834.
The had six children: John Daniel, born 12 January 1854 and died 4 April 1963; James Wesley, born 21 May 1858 and died 1938; Martha Jane, born 8 August 1860 and died 23 April 1943, Sarah Ann, born 29 April 1866 and died 4 October 1937; Joseph Monroe, born 2 January 1877 and died 18 April 1947; and Glenda Elizabeth, born 30 September 1870 and died about 1880.
In 1862, Doctor Tandy Boyd and several other men including his three brothers were locked in the Walker County Courthouse until they either joined the Confederate Army or be conscripted. After refusing twice, D. Boyd finally agreed to go and shoe horses for Captain E.J. Rice of the Confederate Army ehre he remained for five or six days and then escaped.
D. Boyd recruited men in Walker, Winston, and Morgan Counties in Alabama to fight for the 1st Alabama Cavalry during the war.
In December 1863, D. Boyd and his brother Tillman walked 150 miles from Walker Walker Co., AL to Camp Davies, MS to enlist. While on his way to Camp Davies, D. Boyd was repairing his gun lock when the main spring flew out and penetrated his left eye causing him to loose site in that eye.
On 21 March 1864, D. Boyd was held prisoner by the Rebels where he was exposed to very cold and rainy weather without shelter or sufficient food. This caused him to have liver, kidney, rhetumatism, and heart disease. Due to these medical conditions, he was able to draw a pension of $20 per month after the war.
Sarah died 9 November 1904 and Doctor T. died on 11 January 1908. They are buried in Antioch Cemetery at Bug Tussle near Bremen, AL.
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.