Captain Thomas Alonzo Napier enlisted & November 1861 in Benton County, TN. He was elected captain of Company I, 49th Tennessee Infantry Regiment and among those captured at Fort Donelson. While being transferred to Johnson's Island in the Mississippi River, he escaped on 26 April 1862.
There was an organization known as Napier's Cavalry soon afterwards. The muster rolls of Minor's and Hobbs' Companies show they were formerly in Napier's Cavalry. Federal reports as early as July 1862 made mention of cavalry commanded by Naper. General J.S. Negley, commander at Columbia, TN on 1 July 1862, testifying in a court of inquiry as to the operations of the Federal Amy in the summer and fall of 1862, stated that when he took command at Columbia, Napier was raising a regiment in the vicinity of Charlotte and Centerville, TN. 17 August 1862, he reported the defeat of Napier's and Anderson's guerrillas near Kinderhook. On 21 August 1862, another report stated: "Captain Dougherty, Captain Gilliam and Captain Napier, with about 500 men were on the Tennessee River in Benton County on Monday last. They captured and burned two steamboats, and attacked another, but failed to get it." On 29 October 1862, an engagement near Waverly, TN with Napier's girrillas was reported.
Confederate General Bragg on 27 November 1862 ordered: "Colonels Biffle and Napier, will, with their commands, report to Brigadier General Wheeler for duty at Lavergne (TN)"
Whether Captain Napier actually reported to General Wheeler is not known, but about this date, instructions were issued to organized a battalion of cavalry, which was done at Waverly, TN. Captain Napier returned to Waverly in Humphreys County and raised five companies of cavalry in December of 1862. They were consolidated with Cox's Battalion on 25 February 1863 to form the 10th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.
On 18 December 1862, General Grant reported that "Forrest and Napier were now on this side of the river, with five to ten thousand men near Jackson, Tennessee." A later report stated: "You are mistaken as to Naper's force. He has 700 men and two pieces of Artillery."
He was killed at Parker's Crossroads, TN. on 31 December 1862. One mystery has never been resolved. Naper was listed in the records as colonel of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, which was not organized until after his death. The only explanation would seem to be that plans had been made to the organization of the regiment and had been promised a commission as colonel, but was killed before the commission could be made.