3rd (Forrest's Old) Cavalry Regiment was organized at Memphis, Tennessee, in October, 1861, as an eight-company battalion. In January, 1862, it was increased to regimental size. The history of this unit is very complex because over twenty companies from Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana were attached to it at one time or another. After the Battle of Shiloh, four companies were transferred to the 4th (Russell's) Alabama Cavalry Regiment and thereafter it was called 18th or 26th Battalion, Balch's Battalion, and McDonald's Battalion. It fought at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and during April, 1862, contained 463 effectives. The unit was attached to Forrest's, F.C. Armstrong's, and E.W. Rucker's Brigade, and served in the Army of Tennessee and the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. It confronted the Federals in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama, and surrendered in May, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Nathan B. Forrest and David C. Kelley; Lieutenant Colonels P.T. Allin, Robert M. Balch, and Edward E. Porter; and Majors James C. Blanton, William H. Forrest, Charles McDonald, and Edwin A. Spotswood.