USA > Alabama > Montgomery County > Montgomery > Directory of the city of Montgomery, and historical sketches of Alabama soldiers > Part 12
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From the 31st of March until the 9th of April, when it closed its arduous career, it rested neither day nor night. The highest encomium that can be
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pronounced on this regiment, is the simple statement of the fact, that it was a part of that gallant band of 8,000 men whom General Lee could muster for battle on the 9th of April ; and that on the morning of that day, it went into action with its wonted enthusiasm and its usual success; for when the news of the surrender of the army was received, its men were huzzaing over a captured battery and a routed foe.
This regiment served successively in the following divisions : Mccown's in the army of Kentucky, Wm. S. Preston's, Buckner's corps, army of Tennessee, Buckner's division in the army of East Tennessee, commanded by Longstreet-in Ransom's division in Beauregard's army, and in Johnson's division in Hill's corps, Anderson's corps and Gordon's corps, in the army Northern Virginia.
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT ALABAMA INFANTRY. 0-
The Forty-fifth Regiment of Alabama Volunteers was organized at Auburn, Alabama, about the Ist of May, 1862, with the following field officers; Colonel Goodwin of Macon county : Lieutenant Colonel James G. Gilchrist of Lowndes ; and Major E. B. Breedlove of Macon-which gentlemen successively filled with credit and ability the office of Colonel of the Regiment. Five of the companies were from Macon County, two from Russell, two from Barbour and one from Lowndes.
The Regiment immediately after its organization, was ordered to Corinth, and met the army under Beauregard at Tupelo, Mississippi, where in the severe or- deal of new camp life, the Regiment was called upon day after day, to pay its Jast tribute of respect to the mortal remains of many of its most gallant and meri- torious members; but this gloom and dispondency was soon disipa ed by the prospect Fof breathing the pure air of Tennessee and Kentecky, and in a short time the iron-horse carried the joyful soldiers through their own beloved Ala- bama, cheered by the smiles of her own beautiful and lovely women, who gather- ed at the depots and the stations, bringing their welcom offerings to those who were fighting the battles of their country : and buoyed up, too, with the hope of gaining glory and conquest on the sacred soil of Kentucky.
The Regiment landed at the little village of Wahatchie near Chattanooga, sur- rounded by a high range of mountains on both sides, and in a few days along with Braggs army commenced the long and dreary march into Tennessee, over the lofty range of the Alleghany mountains. No enemy was seen after traveling day after day. Kentucky was reached, but still no battle, soon the boom of can- non is heard in the front and a fight is expected ; but no fight yet; 5,000 federals surrendered at Mumfordville and filed by in silent and harmless array. The word is forward and all look with bright anticipation to the pleasure of taking Louis- ville, but there is a turn to the right, and as the boys are going through Perry- vilie, the boom of cannon is heard. It is Buell. Hardee bas determined to meet him. The Forty-fifth Alabama is drawn up in the little village of Perryville, de- serted and left desolate hy its once happy inhabitants. A battery must be taken, and the regiment is ordered to take it. The first fight and every man tries his best. The gallant Gilchrist on his old Grey tells the boys to forward, and with a yell they go forward, to take the Battery; they do all that human bravery could do, but it was impossible to take it, supported by a corps of the enemy, and the regiment s'owly and sullenly retired, having lost a great many of its most gallant men and officers. The regiment followed Bragg's army on its retreat to Knoxville and then went to Murfreesboro, and took an active and gallant part in the battle of Murfreesboro, in the Brigade of General Pa ton Anderson. After this battle it was put in the Division commanded by General Cleburne, in Wood's Brigade, afterwards commanded by Gen. Lowery It took an active part in the skirmishes around Belt Buckle, Tennessee, and after many a dreary and tiresome march, and oft expected battle, it went into the battle of Chickamauga on Satur- day evening, when with the rest of the Division it made one of the most gallant charges of the war. On the next day, Sunday, 20th Sept., 1863, it went into one of the hardest and most terrible battles of the war; and the number of its dead on the battlefield attested that the regiment had done its duty.
The long resting spell after this is too monotonous to speak of, nor could its
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many marches or its trying expectation of getting into action, be related in a short sketch.
At Resaca it was engaged in a severe skirmish, also at New Hope church, where the Division hurled back the victorious columns of Logan's Corps, and in fact on every day from Dalton to Atlanta it was continually fighting.
On the 22nd July, 1864, it went into one of the bloodiest and hardest actions of the war, loosing one halt of it- men and officers, and here, too, its gallant and be- loved Colonel H. D. Sampley received a mortal wound and died at Marietta, Geor- gia, in the hands of the enemy, sor etime in August. And in this action major George C. Freeman had one of his legs shattered by a musket ball whilst gallantly leading his men to the charge, en account of which wound he had to have his leg amputated.
"How sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest."
It next participated in the battle of Jonesboro, August, 31st, where, as usual, "{Id Pat's boys" drove every thing before them. And then came the long and disastrious march into Tennessee, and to tell of its miseries and sufferings would require more time and space than we have to spare.
On the evening before the battle of Franklin, at the little village of Springhill the regiment drove the outposts of the enemy before them, "OLD PAT," looking on and saying it was one of the most gallant feats of the war, and on the next day, "the great the important day," just as the sun was sinking in the west it went into the terrible battle of Franklin, with waving banners and with that yell which Southern boys alone know how to put up, and what was still more .impressive and encouraging, with their beloved General Cleburne leading them on to victory or death ; and with him they-met death calmiy and heroically ; human valor could do no more. And as we pass on let us breath the name of Captain John R. Carson, of company K, a noble and gallant youth who fell here.
"How beautiful in death the soldier's corpse appears, Embalmed by fond affection's breath and bathed by woman's tears; Oh ! let me die like those who for their country die, Sink on her breast in calm repose and triumph where they lie."
At Nashville it sustained its ancient and a knowleged character for bravery and honor and though it participated in the disorderly retreat it preserved its honor entire, and so to the the last, away in the piny woods of North Carolina when compelled by the fate of war to surrender its arms, each man as he placed his gun on the rack to be turned over to the conquerer, felt a conscious pride that he beloged to a regiment that had at all times and under all circum- stances, sustaind a high and and Honorable name and received the approving com- pliments of General Lowery and General Cleburne.
It surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, about 28th April, 1865, having been consolidated with the 1st, 16th and 26th Alabama volunteer regiments, a short time before under the name of the Ist Alabama consolidated regiment, with R. H. Abercrombie, Colonel, James Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel, of Macon, county ; Ellis Phelan, Major, Montgomery.
TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT ALABAMA INFANTRY.
This Regiment was organized November 19th, 1861, in Montgomery, Ala- bama, and elected the following field officers : Colonel, Frank K. Beck, of Wilcox ; Lieutenant Colonel, J. B. Bibb, of Montgomery ; Major, Felix Tait, of Wilcox. Soon after organization, the regiment was ordered to Mo- bile, and attached to General Gladden's brigade, and remained there until Feb., 1862-when it was ordered to the Department of East Tennessee, com- manded by Gen. E. Kirby Smith, and placed in Gen. Ledbetter's brigade. It was soon afterwards transferred to General Seth Barton's brigade. While under his command the regiment marched almost constantly up and down the different valleys and across the mountains of East Tennessee. In June the Twenty-third was transferred to General Thomas H. Taylor's brigade. Major Tait resigned, and was succeeded by Capt. J. J. Longmire, of Wilcox. The regiment remained with Brigadier General Taylor, forming a part of
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Major General C. L. Stephenson's Division, Kirby Smith's Corps, Cough the Kentucky campaign of 1862, marching nearly to the Ohio River.
After coming out of Kentucky, the troops from the same States were thrown together as much as possible, and the 23d, with the 20th, 36th. 31st and 46th Alabama Regiments, were formed into a brigade, at Lenoir's Sta- tion, near Knoxville, and placed under the command of Brig. Gen. E. D. Tracy, of North Alabama. The brigade was soon after ordered to Murfrees- boro', and thence to the Department of East Louisiana. Arrived at Vicks- burg, January 1st, 1863, in time to participate in the engagement at Chicka- saw Bayou, under Gen. S. D. Lee. The Brigade remained in and around Vicksburg until the latter part of April, 1863, when it moved in the direction of Grand Gulf, below Vicksburg, and at daylight on the morning of the first day of May, met General Grant at Port Gibson, Mississippi, where with Gen Bowen's Division, making in all less than five thousand men, they fought all day, and retired late in the evening, crossing Bayou Pierre, and burning the bridges. The command recrossed the Big Black, and took position near Warrenton, nine miles below Vicksburg. On the afternoon of the 13th of May, moved in the direction of Edward's Depot. On the morning of the 16th, met General Grant again, and fought the battle of Baker's Creek. At the battle of Port Gibson the brave and chivalric General Tracey was killed. Brig. General (afterwards Lieutenant General) S. D. Lee made application for the brigade, and took command near Warrenton. On the 17th, partici- pated in the fight at Big Black Bridge, and, by some oversight, Col. Beck failed to receive orders to fall back, and the consequence was the regiment was left alone at the Bridge, and resisted the crossing of Gen. Grant's army for nearly twelve hours. Of course, all were glad to see Col. Beck and the Regiment, as it was believed the command had been captured. Gen. Lec complimented the regiment for its gallantry. On the 19th, went into the Trenches around Vicksburg, and fought every day and night, undergoing all sorts of hardships. Gen. Pemberton surrendered on the 4th July, and the regiment was paroled on the 12th, and marched to Enterprise, Miss., a distance of about 150 miles. On the 26th, received furloughs of thirty days, with orders to report at expiration at Demopolis. Col. E. W. Pettus of Dallas was promoted to Brigadier General, and took command of the Brigade, which was exchanged and ordered to Lookout Mountain ; remained there until 23d November. The Brigade acted with distinguished gallant- ry at Missionary Ridge, 24th and 25th November ; fought all day on the right wing, repulsing the opposing forces, and retiring after night on account of disasters on the left and centre. Went into winter quarters 1st December, 1863, at Dalton, Ga. The brigade participated in the battle of Crow's Val- ley, 20th July, 1864.
Major Longmire resigned, and the commission for major was forwarded to Capt. F. McMurray, of Union Springs. Capt. McM. did not accept on ac- count of wounds received at Port Gibson and Missionary Ridge, having lost a hand at the latter place. Capt. A. C. Roberts, being next in seniority, his papers were forwarded to Richmond.
On the 6th of May, the command left winter quarters and took position on Rocky Face Mountain, and fought there until the night of the 12th, when it moved in the direction of Resaca. On the night of the 13th the regiment was put on picket. On the morning of the 14th commenced skirmishing- brought on the engagement, and lost very heavily in the main batttle that afternoon. Fought all the next day-in fact, almost every day and night down to New Hope Church.
On the morning of the 28th, Captain A. C. Roberts, Co. C, was killed, before having received his commission as Major. Capt. J. T. Hester, Com- pany D, was made Major.
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The Regiment was in all General Johnston's campaign, and with General Hood. On the morning of the 31st August, fought the battle of Jonesboro'. On the 2d September, Atlanta was given up. From the 6th May until the 31st August. the regiment was almost daily under fire. In September moved around to Palmetto : 29th, started on the Tennessee campaign under General Hood. On the morning of October 12th, Resaca was surrendered. That brave and gallant officer, Col. Beck, was killed by cannon shot. Col. B. was noted for true courage : nd heroism, and was kind to the men under his command. Lieutenant Colonel Bibb was made Colonel, and commanded the regiment until the surrender.
The regiment behaved gallantly at Columbia and Nashville. Gen. Cum- mings' Georgia brigade covered the retreat to the Tennessee river; crossed the river and arrived at Tupelo, about the 1st January, 1865. On the 19th, received orders to go to South and North Carolina ; in February, arrived at Branchville, and fought Sherman from there on to Bentonville-at which place it was under the command of General Johnston. In April, ordered to Saulsbury, to meet a raid by General Stoneman. Remained there until the general surrender in May, 1865.
The 23d had between eleven and twelve hundred men, from first to last. Left ' Rocky Face' on the 6th May, 1864, with four hundred and thirty mus- kets. Surrendered at Saulsbury, SEVENTY-SIX MEN-the balance having been killed and disabled in the different skirmishes through which the com- mand had passed, and a few deserted.
SEVENTH REGIMENT ALABAMA CAVALRY.
i The seventh Alabama cavalry was organized at Newbern Alabama, from men not liable to conscription, by Captain Joseph Hodgson of the veteran first cavalry. The organization was completed July 22d, 1863, and officered as follows : Colonel, Joseph Hodgson, Montgomery ; Lieutenant Colonel, H. J. Livingston, Autauga ; Major, Turner Clanton, Macon : Adjutant. Wm. T. Charles, Montgomery ; Quartermaster, Wm. K. Hyer, Pensacola ; Assistant Surgeon, Williams, Pickens; Captains : Frank C. Randolph, Montgomery ; E. D. Ledyard, Mantgomery ; B. C. Tarver, Montgomery ; Chas. S. Storrs, Coosa ; L. H. Mottier, Shelby ; A. H. Bright, Pensacola ; O. P. Knight, Randolph ; S. V. Ferguson, Pickens; D. P. Scarborough, Green ; and Dalton Yancey, Montgomery.
It was originally intended as one of the regiments of the brigade of Gen- eral Jas. H. Clanton ; but soon after reaching Pollard it was detached from that brigade and retained upon coast duty for nearly one year, operating in front of Mobile and Pensacola. It was engaged in no affair of importance, until General Asboth advanced from Pensacola with a brigade, in Septem ber, 1864, and attacked three companies of the seventh, stationed at Gon- zalia, about fifteen miles from that place. A gallant defence was made by Captain Tarver until he was forced to retire before the artillery of the enemy.
Early in October, 1864, the seventh was ordered to report to General Forrest, at Corinth, and from that time until the close of the war underwent continuous and severe sevice, winning for itself a special compliment in general orders and a high reputation with the corps.
Being assigned to the brigade of Colonel E. M. Rucker, the seventh soon became a favorite of that gallant officer, furnishing him as an escort the company of Captain Storrs, which had been organized at Tuscaloosa by the Cadets of the University, and was composed of some of the best young men of the State. This company of mere boys did excellent service, wherever placed, and always reported more men for duty during a fight than at any other time.
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Moving up into West Tennessee, this regiment did special service in the attack upon Johnsonville, in which the enemy lost so many gunboate, trans- ports, and subsistence stores to the value of six millions of dollars. After the fight General Chalmers complimented the seventh in a general irder, for gallant conduct. Immediately after this affair a portion of Rucker's com. mand crossed the Tennessee and joined the advance of General Hood. The remainder were compelled by the swollen streams to make a detour by way of Farmington and Iuka. Upon the arrival of Forrest, General Hood commenced his march upon Nashville, Rucker's brigade of cavalry in the advance. Before reaching Mount Pleasant, on the 19th of November, the enemy's cavalry was struck, and a running fight kept up until he was driven into Columbia, on the 20th. On the 23rd, the cavalry skirmished all day in front of Columbia. On the 24th they charged and carried two of the ene- mies' lines. At Springhill they drove in the opposing cavalry, and carried three temporary works. In one unsuccessful charge upon the fourth line, about twenty-five officers and men of the seventh got within fifty yards of the enemy's infantry, and could neither advance nor retire, being compelled to take shelter under a hill until Cleburne's infantry relieved them.
On the 1st day of December the regiment moved towards Nashville, and was placed on picket duty within three miles of the city, until the 7th, when it was sent with a battery of Parrot guns to blockade the Cumber- land river. While on that duty it engaged the Iron-clads of the enemy for three days, disabling the boldest of them. Being ordered back to the line of batte, the 7th reached the brigade at Davidson's, on the Charlotte pike, while it was retreating in disorder before the enemy, and was imme- diately thrown into line to protect the retreat. After a severe fight the advance of the enemy's cavalry was checked. The 7th then rejoined the brigade and formed in line of battle within one mile of Brentwood, where occurred that night one of the bloodiest and most terrible cavalry fights of the war.
The Granny White pike runs out from Nashville almost parallel to and only one mile distant from the Franklin pike. Three regiments of Rucke:'s brigade, were placed in line of battle one-half mile from the point where the Brentwood road from the Franklin pike crosses the Granny White pike. Major Randolph with the 7th Alabama cavalry was stationed on the Brent- wood road, one half mile West of the Granny White pike, with instructions to defend the left and rear of the brigade from a division of the enemy's cavalry, and if too severely pressed to notify Colonel Rucker, and fall back to the point of intersection of the two roads. About sunset Major Randolph was ordered to fall back to the intersection, as Colonel Rucker was routed ; but upon reaching that point discovered the brigade in flight, with the Fed- erals advancing rapidly, they having reached the point of junction in advance of the 7th, and cutting off retreat in that direction.
The regiment being dismounted was formed into line hastily and thrown upon the flank of such of the enemy as were passing, who, in the confusion caused by the attack, were driven back and forced to dismount. It was now dark, and several charges of the enemy were repulsed by firing in the direc- tion of the light of the guns and the rattling of sabres. Meantime two regiments of the enemy which had passed the intersection in pursuit of Colonel Rucker, attracted by the firing behind them, returned at full speed upon the rear of the seventh. Supposing that they were a portion of Rucker,s brigade returning to his assistance, Major Randolph accosted the head of the column, but upon finding them to be the enemy, he shot the man with whom he had been talking, and, galloping back to the regiment, opened fire at twenty-five yards distance. Many of the enemy were killed and wounded by this volley, and his column thrown into confusion. It was
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now nearly nine oclock and the enemy were pressing forward in front and rear, they and the seventh firing at twenty paces distance by the flashes of each other's guns. Colonel Rucker had already been captured and wounded, and hence no orders came as to when and in what direction to retire.
With great difficulty the regiment was drawn off finally, and succeeded, by marching on foot through the woods, in reaching Franklin about day-break, to which place the horses had been withdrawn. In this affair Lieutenant Fitzpatrick of Montgomery was killed, and Lieutenant Dickerson and Cap- tain Linghes captured. The killed, wounded, and prisoners of the line numbered more than fifty.
On The next day, December 17th, began the retreat from Trennessee, which watinued until the 29th, when Hood's shattered army recrossed the river. On this retreat the seventh Alabama fought daily and nightly with the enemy's advance, until Christmas day, when he stopped pursuit after a severe punishment at Pulaski. The regiment commenced operations in this campaign with about 350 men and officers. On reaching Corinth it num- bered for duty four officers and sixty men, the rest being killed, wounded, prisoners or dismounted.
Captain Storrs and Lieutenant Nabers were wounded at Columbia ; Lieu tenant Golson of Autauga and Lieutenant Caffey of Montgomery were wounded, near Columbia; Lieutenant Oshborn, of Greene, dangerously wounded on the 27th ; Lieutenant Goldthwaite, of Montgomery, was wounded at Franklin.
While the Tennessee regiments of cavalry, of which Forrest's command was largely composed, were furloughed temporarily-the seventh Alabama was kept on picket duty, to watch the movements of the enemy at Tus- cumbia and other points of the river. It was given no time to recruit its strength, but upon being relieved after a month was ordered to report to Gen. Buford at Montevallo, Alabama, about March 1st, 1865, where the Ala- bama cavalry were being organized into a division. Within ten days after reaching that point, the regiment had over three hundred mounted men for duty, so rapidly did it prepare for action after the disaster of middle Tennessee.
News having reached Montevallo of the repulse of General Clanton's command by the Federal army marching upon Blakely, the seventh and fourth Alabama were dispatched in haste to Selma, and thence to Greenville. Reaching Greenville it was discovered that the enemy in front was too strong to attack, and that a more formidable danger menaced from the rear. Gen- eral Wilson with his Federal corps had reached Montevallo about four days after the seventh had left. General Buford, who had preceeded the seventh to Greenville, immediately drew in the remnants of Clanton's brigade, and ordered to Montgomery his whole division of about four hundred men, of whom the seventh Alabama composed at least two-thirds.
On the 7th day of April, the seventh Alabama, with the Cadet company in advance, most of the members being residents of Montgomery, as indeed was a large proportion of the regiment, marched into that city about sunset. The streets were crowded with excited citizens, who had just heard of the fall of Selma, and who looked upon the arrival of Forrest's men with the liveliest joy. The ladies waived their handkerchiefs and the soldiers cheered back with new life. Such a reception amply repaid the exhausting labors of the winter.
Being ordered immediately to Benton, in Lowndes county, the regiment awaited the approach of the enemy from Selma. About noon, on the 10th of April, the scouts and pickets were driven in, and soon, from the hill upon which our little line of three hundred men were drawn out, it seemed as if not less than ten thousand of the enemy was advancing upon us. The open
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fields, which were visible for miles, appeared to be never weary of receiving the advancing columns. The seventh and fourth awaited the advance brigade of the enemy and exchanged shots with them until our line was broken, past power of reformation, by the charges of the enemy. We fell back, fighting at every availabe point, and being forced to retire as often as we made a stand. The enemy pressed the regiment very hard as it entered Big Swamp, and had it not been for a few resolute men and officers, whom Col- onel Hodgson succeeded in forming at the foot of the bridge, and by whom the head of the enemy's dashing advance were shot down, the entire com- mand must have been captured while crossing the long swamp.
That night the seventh camped at Pintlala Bridge, upon the Wire road ; and the enemy to the number of seventeen thousand, as General Wilson stated subsequently in his report, kindled their camp fires in the heart of Lowndes county, their advance having reached Lowndesboro.
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