USA > Alabama > History of Company B (originally Pickens Planters) 40th Alabama Regiment, Confederate States Army, 1862-1865 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 0365
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofcompany00will
HISTORY
OF
1
COMPANY B
(Originally Pickens Planters)
40th Alabama Regiment
2.
Confederate States Army
1862 to 1865.
1.71820
PREFACE.
The following pages (except those from the diary of Sergeant Jno. H. Curry) are taken without revis- ion or correction from the diary of Captain (after- wards Major) E. D. Willett of Company B, 40th Ala- bama Regiment of Volunteers of the Confederate States Army, who died in Carrollton. Alabama, March 16, 1890. It is not expected or contended they will shed any additional light on that momentous strug- gle, known as the War between the States, about which so many volumes have been written, or that they will reveal anything which is not already well known. The sole purpose of this little book is to place in a more enduring form for the benefit of the survivors and the descendants of those who constitu- ted that Company and Regiment, that diary (now well thumb worn) which faithfully records the move- ments, engagements and causalties of Company B, and the 40th Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. Nor is it contended that absolute verity accompanies the facts narrated. They have the advantage, however, of being written at the same time, yes, on the same day the narrated facts occurred. No matter how long the march, or how fierce the battle the author of the diary on each day recorded the doings of Company B, and the 40th Alabama on that day from the infor- mation which was then conveyed to him. Voltaire cynically wrote to a friend that "History is a parcel of tricks we play with the dead," but certainly this cannot be true of events which are conscientiously recorded by one of the actors on the very day of the actions. The valor, devotion, heroism, determination and self-sacrificing spirit of the Confederate soldier have shed an imperishable lustre on his name, on the
South, and on the whole Nation. Company Band the 40th Alabama did their full parts in contributing to this result, for we see them in these pages with decimated ranks but undaunted spirits fighting the very last battles of the war and reporting for duty on May 5, 1865, nearly a whole month after General Lee's surrender. When we recall these things and read these pages we see how great was their sense of duty and love for Dixie, and it fills our hearts with pride to be the descendants of such a race of men. Such men Joseph Addison had in mind when he ex- pressed the fine thought that-
""Tis not in mortals to command success, But we'll do more, Sempronius, we'll DESERVE il."
Anniston, Alabama.
J. J. W.
THE PICKENS PLANTERS, Company "B."
40th Regiment Alabama Volunteers, C. S. A. Col. A. A. Coleman commanding, organized on the 13th day of March, 1862, at Speeds Mill in Pickens County, Alabama.
ROLL OF OFFICERS AND PRIVATES OF COMPANY "B."
Elbert D. Willett, Captain.
John T. Terry, Ist Lieutenant.
James A. Latham. 2nd Lieutenant.
James. H. Wier,
2nd Lieutentant.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Jesse T. Hancock,
.1st Sergeant.
Eli D. Vance, .
2nd Sergeant.
Jno. W. Sanders, 3rd Sergeant.
Win. K. Shaver, .. 4th Sergeant.
Win. C. Stewart, (discharged) 5th Sergeant.
John R. Weems, 1st Corporal.
Jas. Wiley Horton,
2nd Corporal.
Jacob H. Eaton,
3rd Corporal.
Andrew W. Largent,
4th Corporal.
PRIVATES.
Allen, James M.
Acker, Bayless G. Acker, George W.
Barham, William.
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Belk, George W. Burris, James H. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Black, Sam'l D . Bush, John E. Bush, James M. Byars, James A. Burns, Joseph H. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Cook, Jno. P. Carver, Wesley HI.
Cockerell, James M. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Collins, Jonathan. Collins, Joseph. Cameron, Joseph. Cameron, James. Cameron, Thomas. Calley,-Wm. P. Cole, Lewis T.
Channell, Thos. C.
Connell, David J. ( Loaned to Capt. Summerville one man.) Daniel, Thos. P. Easterling, Henry. Eads, John A.
Freeman, Morgan.
Freeman, Isham A. Fowler, John F. Goodwin, John
Graham, George M. Hicks, John F. Hicks, Dan'l N. Hicks, Henderson. Hicks, John R. Howell, Anderson T. Hall, Joseph N. Hildreth, Sardine. Irby, William H. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Irwin, Robert.
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Jones, Robert A. Jones, William H. Jones, Thos. W. Jones, Wm. G. Jones, Henry W. M. (Loaned to Capt. Summer- ville one man.) Jennings, John J. Jennings, Abner D. Jennings, Wm. H. Jones, Marcellus S. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Kirk, John. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
.King, Samuel G. Lancaster, Eli J. Lee, Thos. H.
Lancaster, Joseph. Ledbetter, Richard B.
McA Teer, Wm. R.
McDaniel, George W. (Loaned to Capt. Sum- merville.) MeGeo, Jno. P., Sr. McManis, John E.
Mullins, Benj. F.
McDaniel, Reuben, (Discharged at Demopolis.) Morrison, William. McVoy, Alex D. Pate, James B. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Pratt, Joseph A. Pratt, Jno. L.
Parker, Chas. R. ( Loaned to Capt. Summerville one man.) Pearson, Samuel. Parker, James F. . Robertson, Samuel. Robertson, Hugh. Reddish, James HI. Russell, John A .. Russell, Asbury C.
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Russell, Chas. W. Reynolds, Thos. K.
Reynolds, James S. Ralph, Francis W.
Staggs, John W. (Loaned to Capt. Summerville one man.) Savage, Abner W.
Shockley, Thos. W.
Speed, James H. (Loaned to Capt. Summerville one man.) Strickland, Wm. G.
Strickland, John J.
Strickland, Abel.
Strickland, Sam'l. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
Williams, Paul I.
Williams, Thos. H.
Williams, Thomas.
West, James HI.
Weems, James F.
Wood, Joshua.
Wood, William.
Wood, Enoch.
Walker, Francis M. (Discharged at Demopolis.) Walker, Jno. J. (Loaned to Capt. Summerville one man.)
Walker, Miles W. (Loaned to Capt. Summer- ville one man.) Vance, Wm. V. Yates, Wm. M. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
The above Company, on the 2nd day of April, 1862, took up the line of march from Carrollton, the place of rendezvous, to Pickensville, at which place on the 3rd day of April, 1862, it went on board the Steamer Warrior, to be transported to Demopolis, Alabama, the place by the Governor appointed for the organization of Col. A. A. Coleman's regiment,
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and on Friday, April 4th, 1862, arrived at Demopolis, or Camp Coleman.
The Company remained at Demopolis until the 19th day of April, 1862, and while there the Com- pany was examined by Dr. Colgin, Surgeon C. S. A., and the bounty paid to the Company by Capt. Benj. Yancy. The Surgeon discharged the following members of the Company: William C. Stewart, James H. Burris, Joseph H. Burns, James M. Cock- erell, Wm. H. Irby, Marcellus Jones, John Kirk, Reuben McDaniel, James B. Pate, Samuel Strick- land, Francis M. Walker, and Wm. M. Yates; which discharged soldiers returned to their homes from Demopolis. And as above stated, by order of the Governor, on Saturday, the 19th day of April, the Pickens Planters started on board the Warrior to Mobile, Alabama, and arrived at Mobile on the 20th day of the same month, on Sunday, and were stationed in a warehouse on Royal Street.
On the 26th day of April, 1862, we took up the line of march (Saturday) for Cantonment Walter, five miles from Mobile, down the bay on Dog River, and arrived at said Cantonment on the same day. The Company had but little sickness until it was stationed at Cantonment Walter, when the measles broke out in camps and fifty-six of the Company had the measles, and two members died, to-wit: John F. Fowler died on the 11th day of May, 1862, in camps of measles, succeeded by congestion of lungs, and his body was sent home in Pickens County to his father. He was without family, un- married and about seventeen years of age. Wesley H. Carver, unmarried, died also of measles, suc- ceeded by typhoid fever, in Marine Hospital in Mobile, and his body was also sent home. He died on the 17th day of May, 1862.
Thomas Williams, private in the Planters, was
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taken sick with fever about the first of June, 1862, and lingered on until the 14th day of June, 1862, when he died. He was buried at Cantonment Walter. The Government, on account of apprehen- sions of an attack on Mobile, refused to furlough an escort to take the body of Williams to his home. He left a wife and four children, was about fifty years of age and resided in Pickens County, Alabama, on Bear Creek. Up to the 21st day of June, 1862, no other deaths have occurred in the Pickens Planters.
On the 16th day of May, 1862, the 40th Regiment of Alabama Volunteers was organized, and the fol- lowing companies composed and now compose the regiment, to-wit:
Co. "A" 40th Ala. Reg't . Capt. E. S. Gulley
" "B"
.. E. D. Willett
" "C" 66 66 W. A. C. Jones
. . A. G. Campbell
.. .. .. Edward Marsh
Thos. W. Coleman
""G"
.. Ilagh Summerville 6. C. C. Crowe
..
6.
" "J"
..
06 ..
66
.. Hiram Ghant A. M. Moore.
And on said 16th day of May at said organiza- tion Col. A. A. Coleman was elected Colonel of said Regiment, which is the Fortieth Regiment of Ala- bama Volunteers.
On the 2)st day of June, 1862, Charles W. Rus- sell, private in Capt. Willett's Company, died in hospital at Cantonment Walter of the measles fol- lowed by typhoid fever. His body was taken home by John Shirley to Pickens County. He was about twenty-six years old and left a wife in Pickens County.
On the 18th day of April, 1862, I transferred to Capt. H. Summerville to complete his company
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eight men, David J. Connell, James F. Speed, Charles R. Parker, Henry W. M. Jones, George W. MeDaniel, John J. Walker, Miles W. Walker and John W. Staggs, on condition that he retransfer them so soon as he recruited that number to his company, which he did soon after.
On the day. of , 1862, John H. Higley was elected Lieutenant Colonel of said Regi- ment, and Devereux Hopkins was elected Major. Hopkins refused to accept, and the 30th day of June no Major has been elected or appointed for the Reg- iment. A contest arose between Capts. Gulley and Jones about rank and promotion to the office of Major.
On the 25th day of June, 1862, the Fortieth Regiment Alabama Volunteers with all the Confed- erate army of Mobile was reviewed by Gen. G. T. Beauregard, and then brigade drill commenced at the old Race Course. The Regiments that drilled were the 40th Alabama, 3rd and 4th Florida and 27th Mississippi, 38th and 32nd Alabama. Some- times they were drilled by Gen. Forney and Gen. Jones.
About the 4th of July there was a general review of all the troops of the Mobile army to cele- brate that day by Gen. Jno. H. Forney. It was a very hot day and rained a hard rain in the evening and all the army got very wet.
On the 5th day of July, 1862, Thomas P. Daniel and Abner W. Savage and Abner D. Jennings took siek with typhoid fever. Savage and Jennings had previously had the measles. Savage lingered for about two weeks, and on the 20th day of July, 1862, in the Hospital at Cantonment Walter, Abner W. Savage died and was buried at Cantonment Walter and his grave marked by a nice board at the head of his grave. He was unmarried and about eighteen
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years of age, was a good soldier and very stout and able bodied before his sickness.
Thomas P. Daniel lingered until the 21st day of July, 1862, when he also died at Cantonment Walter in Hospital. His case was a severe one from the start; he grew worse from the beginning. He was buried in a nice coffin at Cantonment Walter and a nice headboard put at the head of his grave. He was about thirty years old, left a wife and one child who reside near Reform in Pickens County, Ala- bama. He was a noble man, a patriot, one of the best of men, loved by officers and men, robust and stout, was never sick a day from the day he entered the service until he took his last sickness. Nothing seemed to benefit him. He sank rapidly and died as stated ahove on the 21st day of July, 1862.
On the 21st day of July, 1862, our camps were broken up at Cantonment Walter, and the 40th Regiment Alabama Volunteers moved to and en- camped at Camp Marshall Austell, one and a half miles from Mobile; all the sick were moved to hos- pitals in Mobile. Abner D. Jennings was one of the sick moved to Mobile. He got worse, and on the 27th day of July, 1862, at the General Hospital, he died, and was buried in the new graveyard in Mobile. His grave was marked by a board at his head. He was about twenty-four years of age, left a wife and one child, who reside in Pickens County, Alabama. His father, Wm. Jennings, attended him in his last sickness until he died.
On the 23rd day of July, 1862, all the regiments about Mobile were sent to Chattanooga, with nearly all the army of Tupelo, and only two regiments were left at Mobile, the 40th (ours) and Col. Ketchum's, 38th Regiment Alabama Volunteers. The 40th com- menced guard duty in Mobile, the whole regiment, and on to August 1st doing that duty with the 38th and some cavalry in and about Mobile.
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On the 14th day of August, 1862, Henderson Hicks, Wm. Morrison, Thos. W. Shockley, Abel Strickland, Jas. F. Weems and Jas. D. Wier were discharged from the service on account of disease and disability.
On the 27th day of July, 1862, Lieut. J. H. Wier got leave of absence for twelve days, and returned back to Camp Marshall Austell at the expiration of the time.
On the 2nd day of August Lieut. J. A. Latham got sick leave of absence for twenty days, and at this writing, November 2nd, 1862, has not returned to his Company. He went to his home in Pickens County, and had a severe attack of camp fever.
On the 13th day of August, 1862, Capt. E. D. Willett got leave of absence to go home for fifteen days, went home, and returned to camp Marshall Austell on the 28th day of same month.
On the 3rd day of September, 1862, Lieut. Jno. T. Terry got leave of absence twenty days to go to his home, and about ten days after was attacked with jaundice, and did not return to camps for sev- eral days after his leave expired.
To date, November 2nd, 1862, have had no deaths among the officers of Company "B," and consequently no promotions in the Company since its organization, March 13th, 1862.
On the 9th day of August, 1862, Win. L. Lipsey, Benj. T. Black, Jno. M. French and Win. S. Taylor enlisted and were received into the Company.
On the 18th day of August, 1862, John R. Bran- don enlisted and was received into the Company, and on the 19th day of same month John G. Robin- son enlisted and was received into the said Company " B," all from Pickens County, Alabama.
On the 27th day of August, 1862, H. F. B. Gil- bert, of Sumter County, was enlisted and received into the Company.
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On the 10th day of September, 1862, Sergt. F. W. Ralph got tired of the service and substituted one Peter Clark in my Company, and was himself dis- charged. The officers and men not wanting the said Peter in the Company, but willing to let Sergt. Ralph (who was nearly crazy) out of the service, took the substitute, and on the same day transferred the said Peter Clark to Company "H," Capt. C. C. Crowe's Company, so that Sergt. Ralph, by a substi- tute, is serving his country in a Company from Perry County, Alabama.
On the 31st day of October, 1862, Jno. P. McGee, Sr., was discharged from the service on account of measles and bronchitis.
On the 8th day of October, 1862, the camp at Marshall Austell was broken up and the 40th Regi- ment ordered to Camp Forney, on Spring Hill Rail- road four miles from Mobile, between Government and Dauphin Streets, and was there ordered into a brigade composed of the 18th, 36th, 38th and 40th Regiment Alabama Volunteers, at first commanded by Col. J. T. Holtzclaw, senior colonel for about two weeks, when Brigadier General Cummings reported for duty at Mobile and took command of said brigade. It was in official papers called the First Brigade of the Army of Mobile. Col. A. A. Coleman commanded the 40th, Col. R. II. Smith the 36th, Col. J. T. Holtzclaw the 18th and Col. Ketchum the 38th Regiments. At Camp Forney we cleared off a large area of ground for a brigade drill ground; and for many weeks, until the 2nd day of December, 1862, drilled in brigade drill, battalion drill, company and skirmish drill daily when the weather would permit. About the 23rd of November, 1862, all the regiments of that brigade commenced building cabins for winter quarters, and had, up to the 2nd day of December, 1862, nearly completed the cabins for quarters.
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On the 27th day of November, 1862, Andrew Bush and A. J. Hollingsworth joined Company "B" 40th Regiment by enlistment, arriving at the age of eighteen years. They were from Pickens County, Alabama.
On the -- day of November, 1862, D. S. Laven- der and Jno. C. Pratt joined Company "B" 40th Regiment Alabama Volunteers, having been brought from camp of instruction at Talladega, Alabama, to camp of 40th Regiment with one hundred other men, who were apportioned to the several companies to equalize them, and Company "B" then having over an average number did not get but two men, the ones above named. They were taken to Talladega, Alabama, under what was known as the Conscript Act.
DECEMBER 12TH, 1892.
On the morning of the 2nd day of December, 1862, orders came to Col. Coleman 40th Regiment to be ready in two hours to march to Mobile to take the evening train on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad for Grenada, Miss., and at 2:00 o'clock the Regiment started, leaving tents and all heavy baggage, and marched to Mobile, about 750 effective men, and the Quartermaster had a train of box cars ready which the Regiment took with the baggage they could carry and left for Meridian, Miss. in a cold rain and no rations in their haversacks. At 3:00 o'clock a. m. arrived at Meridian, changed arms and baggage from that train to the ground and had fires kindled, and had crackers and pickled pork issued for break- fast, not having had anything to eat since the morn- ing before except what the men could buy or pick up. The Regiment remained at Meridian until next morning at 4:00 o'clock, December 4th, and left in train, or rather two trains for Jackson, Miss., at which place we arrived at 8:00 o'clock p. m. and
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were thence ordered to Grenada; but when we arrived at Canton at 12:00 o'clock night received orders to return back to Jackson as the light at Cof- feeville was over and our army had retreated back to Grenada. At 12:00 o'clock the cars started back to Jackson and arrived there at daylight on morn- ing of the 7th December, 1862. That day the cars, after breakfast, on the New Orleans Railroad car- ried us out two miles to a creek and the 40th pitched tents there. At the same time in the same field the 79th, 80th and 8Ist Tennessee Regiments composing Vaughan's Brigade encamped. We remained at Jackson until the 17th of December doing some drilling and provost duty in Jackson. On the eve- ning of the 16th of December orders at Jackson were issued for the 40th Alabama Regiment to go to Columbus, Miss. to resist an attack of the enemy down the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. On that night tents were struck, and Company "B" remained all night at camps, and hauling baggage to Jackson. On the morning of the 17th the Regiment took up the line of march for Jackson, Miss. to take the cars for Columbus and arrived there at 8:00 o'clock a. m. At 10:00 o'clock the Ist Battalion left in the cars with Col. Coleman and Lieut. Col. Higley, Maj. T. O. Stone remaining with the 2nd Battalion. At 3:00 o'clock p. m. the 2nd Battalion left in cars for Columbus. The sick of Company "B" had increased in number' on account of cold weather and exposure. The sick of Company "B" left at Jackson were these: Jos. A. Pratt, Josh. Wood, Wm. V. Vance, Joseph Lancaster and J. F. Parker.
The 40th Regiment arrived at Meridian on the morning of the isth of December, and waited there for transportation until 3:00 o'clock p. m. The Reg- iment went in open cars to Meridian in the severest weather, and suffered from cold and hunger greatly.
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On the evening of the 18th the Regiment in cars left for Columbus, and arrived at Columbus on the morning of the 19th of December and remained at the depot that day until evening and the Regiment marched through town to the fair grounds and pitched tents. The Regiment remained at Columbus until the morning of the 27th of December. While at Columbus we all had a pleasant time there. The men and officers were better fed and could buy more than at any other place we had encamped. Many of the wives and friends of the men in Company "B" visited them there, being near their homes, but none of the officers or men were allowed to visit homes. On the evening of the 26th of December Mesdames Willett, Latham and Terry came into camps to see
us. We took them to hotel at Cady's and remained with them the night of 26th of December. The Reg. iment having orders then from Gen. Pemberton to go to Vicksburg, Miss., we remained that night at hotel with our wives, Lieut. Wier superintending the moving of the baggage of the Company to the depot that night. The train was to leave at 4:00 o'clock a. m. December 27th with the left battalion. We got up at 3:00 o'clock a. m. December 27th, 1862, and took leave of our wives at Cady's hotel and went down to the depot. The train with 2nd Batta- lion was ready to start, and did start in a very few minutes in a very hard rain, it having rained very hard all that night. The train started for Meridian Saturday morning, December 27th, 1862, and arrived at Meridian the same day in the evening about 4:00 o'clock. A train was in waiting to take us on to Jackson, but on account of confusion and negli- gence on the part of some one it caused us to lose that train at 9:00 o'clock p. m .; we had to remain that evening and night and until next day, Sunday, December 28th, 1862, at 11:00 o'clock a. m., when we
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took another train for Vicksburg. The 1st Batta- lion by this time having come up left soon after for Vicksburg on another train. On Monday evening the 40th arrived at Jackson after many delays on the road, and the train with the 40th stood there all that night, it raining torrents and the men without anything to eat except what could be picked up here and there when the trains stopped.
Tuesday morning, December 30th, 1862, the 40th Regiment left in same trains for Vicksburg, the place where the Regiment had been ordered by Gen. Pemberton, and arrived at 8:00 o'clock Tuesday, the 30th day of December, 1862.
The sick of Company "B" 40th Alabama left at Columbus, Miss., in hospital, were these: D. N. Hicks, T. H. Williams, Benj. T. Black, Mark L. Thompson, Jno. J. Strickland, Jos. A. Pratt, Jno. C. Pratt, E. J. Lancaster, T. H. Lee, Jno. Goodwin, and as nurse for them Jas. M. Bush. Thompson and Lee returned to camp at Chickasaw Bayou on the 12th of January, 1863.
At Columbus, Miss., Hugh J. Robinson deserted and has not to the 24th of January, 1863, returned to the Company. Also, at the same place, Sergt. and Jesse T. H --- , without leave, ab- sented themselves from Company from December 27th, 1862, the first until the 2nd day of January, and the second until the 7th day of January, 1863, when they returned, and have had their trials before regimental courtmartial, but the sentences have not yet been published. When the Regiment arrived at Vicksburg the seige was going on and the Regiment was ordered within two hours to take up the line of march (Tuesday night, December 30th, 1862, 10:00 o'clock) for Chickasaw Bayou, the battle field on Sunday and Monday previous. The Regiment was drawn up in line of battle on one of the hills of
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Vicksburg, and Parson Barker took it upon himself to make a short harangue. He spoke loudly and warlike, but wound up by saying he was sorry he could not go as he had positive orders not to go, though not sick at all nor excused by Surgeon. The time had come when to all human appearances the 40th would get into a fight on the morning of Decem- ber 31st, 1862, as the enemy were in large force, and a battle or continuation of the battle was expected. The Regiment heard the Parson through, and the word "forward" by Col. Higley was given, and we all marched off in fine spirits for the battle field. The Regiment marched up the River Road that is made along the base of the hills or mountains in silence, as we were at many points on the road with- in shelling distance from the enemy's batteries. No accident happened on the way. The road was very muddy, and lined all along with soldiers in the rifle pits. There were rifle pits from Vicksburg up to the place we halted, which was in the rear of a section of Walton's Battery, in a hollow. We arrived there about 3:00 o'clock at night and bivouaced in the open air, having left all baggage but a blanket behind. The Regiment lay on their arms that night, or the balance, with orders to move at day break on the morning of January 1st, 1863. Morning came and the attack was expected from the enemy. Many other Regiments came in that night, but when day came the enemy did not renew the attack. The 40th was held under arms all that day, which was Thursday, January 1st, 1863. We remained all day supporting that battery. From our position in plain view was the battle field of the Monday pre- vious, where the enemy met with a severe repulse on our works. The dead of the enemy were strewn all over the field unburied, and some of them yet alive. The battle field was a corn field, disputed
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