Eugene was born in Oct 1846 in Leake County, Miss. The 1860 census has him in that county at age 13. The Post Office is at Carthage. He has 2 cards in his archival file. There is little information on this unit, However, Col. Benjamin D Lay on 20 March 1863 was a Surgeon in the army. on Jan 1864 he applied for and soon afterward received permission to raise a regiment within the lines of the enemy. This attempt failed as many conscripts were very young or very old. On 15 Jan 1864 there were only 150 men in camp and the rest were at their homes.

General Polk, writing to Gen. S.D. Lee on 15 Feb1864, authorized Col. Lay to raise as much of a command as possible.

On May 24, 1864, Col Scott, commanding the District of Southwest Mississippi and East Louisiana, reported that Col. Lay had not yet succeeded in forming a regiment. His Command was listed on a return of 30 June, in Scotts Command. In August, under the district command of Gen. George B. Hodge, district south of Homochitto. "Lay's Mississippi Cavalry Regiment is mentioned.

In Nov 1864 a large Federal push from Baton Rouge had a considerable fight with Scott's Cavalry at Liberty. On 18 Nov. Lt. E. Brown of Lay's Cavalry and 10 men while on picket duty were captured. In Feb 1865 few of Lay's cavalry were left making up only 3 or 4 companies. General Wirt Adams asked that the be assigned to his command. Thus ends the scant information on the 20th Cavalry.

Eugene died 9 March 1922 in Summit, Pike Co. Miss. and is buried in Amite Cem. Amite, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. We are related by a distant marriage.

My Grandpa - (Robinson) Original enlistment in Co.H later Co.B 4th Miss Cavalry 29Nov62 at Galatin. In Jackson hospital mid-July64. Within enemy lines, re-enlisted in Co.D (20th) Lay's Cavalry for War.