USA > Alabama > Montgomery County > Montgomery > Directory of the city of Montgomery, and historical sketches of Alabama soldiers > Part 7
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During this six months, the Battalion of the regiment which had escaped capture, was doing efficient service, under the command of aptain R. H. Isbell, first in the defence of Fort Pillow, and after its evacuation, in the brigade of the lamented General Villipigue, in the campaign of the summer of 1862 in North Mississippi. This battalion participated in the hard fought battle of corinth, and constituted a portion of the rear guard of the army in the difficult retreat after that disaster.
The first Alabama were released from prison on the first general exchange of prisoners at Vicksburg, on the 16th of September, 1862. Itrendezvoused a few days in camp at Jackson, Miss. Here, through the kindness of the ladies of Mobile, the regiment was re-clothed, no furloughs being granted men or officers. Without being even armed it was at once ordered to Port Hudson on the Mississippi. where it was joined by its gallant little battalion. Upon summing up here it was found that the regiment had lost three hun- dred men, by the campaign of Island Number Ten, and the resulting impris- onment of six months ; one hundred and fifty having actually died in prison.
Under the thorough recruiting system always adopted by this regiment, it was soon filled up to its original standard, and its discipline and efficiency restored under the firm, but impartial command of Colonel Steedman, the thorough soldier commanding it. At Port Hudson the regiment was again assignod to heavy batteries, which the men had to construct and mount after great labor. Coming as they did into this malarial region in the fall, debili- tated by imprisonment, the men suffered greatly from malarial fever and diarrhæ. At this time and afterwards, Drs. Hamilton of Mobile and Mad- ding of North Alabama, were surgeon and assistant surgeon for the regiment and were always favorites with it.
In the memorable seige of Port Hudson, which began on the 27th of May, 1863, the first Alabama especially distinguished itself. Those who partici ..
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pated in its unequal struggle, give to this regiment the highest praise for the conspicuous gallantry with which their tried soldiers repulsed the numerous assaults made by the enemy upon its lines ; also for the uncomplaining for- titude with which they stood the scorching rays of a summer sun, and the pinchings of hunger when the provisions of the garrison had been exhausted. When called upon by the commanding General to know if they would eat mule meat rather than surrender, they replied-"yes ! give us dog, if neces- sary !" The loss of the regiment during the seige, was about one hundred and fifty men, killed and wounded. With the balance of the little army, this regiment was again surrendered, but the non-commissioned officers and privates were paroled, and permitted to go to their homes as best they could, through the pine wastes of East Louisiania, South Mississippi and West Alabama. The officers of the regiment were kept as prisoners of war. For two months they were confined in prison in New Orleans ; thence they were sent by sea to New York, and from there by rail to Johnson Island, on Lake Erie. The majority of these gallant officers were never exchanged, but lan- guished in the various Northern prisons, for nearly two years, suffering all the rigors of the uncivilized retaliatory measures so much in vogue during the last year of this horrible war.
After a short furglough the men of this regiment and the few officers who had escaped capture, were ordered to rendezvous on the 19th of September, 1863, in parole camp at Cahaba. On the 16th of October, 1861, they were declared exchanged ; and on the 10th of November, the regiment, under com- mand of Major Samuel L. Knox, reported to General Joseph E. Johnston, at Meridian, Mississippi, mustering six hundred and ten muskets. Here the regiment participated in the campaign aginst General Sherman, in his famous raid from Vicksburg to Meridian. When the army reached the Tom- bigbee river, the first Alabama was ordered to the garrisons of Forts Powell and Gaines, where it reported to Major General Maury on the 25th of March. After a short stay here, on the 5th of May it was ordered to Pollard, Alabama. Taking advantage of this rest, the regiment was again recruited ; and on the 23rd of May, 1864, when it reported in the Army of Tennessee, at Altoona, to General Johnston, it numbered six hundred muskets, the regiment being in perfect order, exc ting the admiration of the army.
From this time forward, until the close of the war, the history of the first Alabama is identified with that of the Army of Tennessee. The regiment was temporarily attached to Canty's Alabama brigade; and with it fought the‘ battle of New Hope Church on the 28th of May. Immediately after this i was transferred to Quarles' brigade, where it remained until the close of the war. On the 27th of June the first Alabama took a conspicuous part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. 1ts ranks being full, and occupying a prominent position on the mountain, its gallant conduct was remarked by all. It was again actively engaged on the 19th of July, in the battle of Peach-tree Creek, and suffered considerable loss. The most destructive, if not the most des- perate battle, in which the first Alabama has ever participated, was around Atlanta, on the 28th of July. 1864. It was engaged in the desperate assault made against the enemy's lines on this day. The heroic manner in which these gallant and tried soldiers withstood the frightful destruction rained upon them from the enemy's works, has stamped them as heroes. One half of the regiment, (about 300,) were killed and wounded on this field.
When Atlanta was evacuated the first Alabama withdrew with the rest of the army, on the line of the Macon and Atlanta Rail Road It remained here until the beginning of General Hood's bold, but disastrous campaign in the rear of General Sherman, and against Nashville. The first Alabama shared all the toils and marches and battles of this campaign. At Franklin
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Tennessee, the whole regiment was engaged in the assault upon the works of that place. Its loss here in killed, wounded and captured was very heavy, perhaps 150 men. It was here, while gallantly leading the regiment, that Major Samuel L. Knox received his mortal wound, dying a few days after- wards. Alabama has never produced a more gallant young officer than he was.
Again in the battle before Nashville the first Alabama was engaged, losing heavily, (total about seventy-five.)
Exhausted and worn out the regiment reached Verona, Mississippi, with the remnants of Stewart's Corps, and on the 16th of January, 1865, was ordered with the Army of Tennessee to North Carolina. After much delay and great suffering the regiment reached Goldsboro, North Carolina ; a small portion of the regiment participating in the two last battles of the war, Averysboro and Bentonville. On the last day of the last battle at sundown, Lieutenant Win. Williamson of the first Alabama was mortally wounded-as true a christain soldier and patriot as ever lived, he was beloved by all.
The first Alabama was present and ended its career at the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston to General Sherman, on the 27th of April, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina. At this time the regiment did not number exceeding one hundred. Upon its rolls during the whole war there are not less than three thousand names.
In as meagre an outline as this sketch is, it is impossible to enter into the detail of the regimental history. And where all its men and officers have proved themselves heroes thoughout this terrible war, it is impossible to designate individuals. The fame of the first Alabama is without a stain ; none can say aught against it. It never faltered upon a battlefield, or failed to obey promptly and without murmur, every order.
It was conspicuous in every command in which it served throughout the war, for its discipline and thorough, soldier-like conduct. It was ever pointed to as a model regiment. Desertion was unknown to its ranks. The same high-toned, patriotic "esprit du corps," which characterized its early history, was maintained to the last. Its dead lie scattered upon many batttlefieds, and in the cold, dismal burial grounds of Northern prisons. Peace be to their ashes ; and may Alabama honor their memories by caring for their widows and orphans.
THIRD REGIMENT ALABAMA INFANTRY. 0
At the first sound of the tocsin of war the companies from Mobile, Mont- gomery, Lowndes, Coosa and Macon counties, offered their services to the State of Alabama, and Provisional Confederate Government, and hur- ried to the rendezvous at Montgomery, where they were formed into Regi- ment, since known as the Third Alabama Infantry. Its organization was as follows :
1st. Mobile Cadets, Mobile, Capt. R. M. Sands.
2d. Mobile Rifles, Mobile, Capt. L. T. Woodruff.
8d. Washington Light Infantry, Mobile, Capt. A. Gracie, Jr.
4th. Tuskegee Light Infgntry, Tuskegee, Capt. W. G. Swanson.
6th. Southern Rifles, Union Springs, Capt. R. H. Powell.
6th. Gulf City Guards, Mobile, Captain W. H. Hartwell.
7th. Montgomery True Blues, Montgomery, Capt. W. G. Andrews.
8th. Metropolitan Guards, Montgomery, Capt. F. Winston Hunter.
9th. Wetumpka Light Guards, Wetumpka, Capt. E. S. Ready.
10th. Lowndes Beauregards, Lowndes, Captain M. F. Bonham.
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In obedience to orders from the Adjutant General of the State of Alabama, an election was held for Field Officers, with the following result:
Jones M. Withers, Colonel, Mobile.
Tenent Lomax, Lieutenant Colonel, Montgomery.
Cullen A. Battle, Major, Tuskegee.
2nd Lieut. C. Forsyth, Mobile Cadets, appointed Adjutant.
Wm. S. Moreland, Mobile Cadets, appointed Sergeant Major.
When these companies had been formed into a Regiment, it was turned over to the Provisional Confederate Government, and the following Staff Officers appointed :
E. A. Sample, Surgeon, Montgomery.
Paul C. Lee, Assistant Surgeon, Montgomery.
John W. A. Sanford, Captain and A. Q. M., Montgomery.
B. L. Wyman, Captain and A. C. S .: Montgomery.
From Montgomery the Regiment was ordered to Lynchburg, Va., one of the military rendezvous' of the Confederate Provisional Army, and after re- maining there a few days, was sent to Norfolk, which was then thought would be the main point of attack.
The regiment was selected for this duty because most of the companies forming it had been old organizations, and was thought to be better prepared to take the field than regiments from the State which had not the same nucleus to build around. As a matter of history it is proper to say that it was the first Regiment from Alabama that started for the theatre of war.
Subsequent developments did not justify the expectations formed by the Government as to the main and primary point of attack, although Norfolk, with its magnificent works, navy yards, ships and splendid docks, made it more than reasonable to suppose that the Federal Government would lose no time or means to wrest so important a point from the "rebels."
Both officers and men received the orders to proceed to Norfolk, with glad and cheerful feelings, ambitious as all were then to be first to strike for the sacred cause which the sacrifice of so many noble and gallant spirits has since made doubly dear to every Southern heart.
In this, however, they were destined to be disappointed. Weeks and months rolled on, and yet no active service. The enemy concentrated on the line of the Potomac, and the tide of battle, which a short time previous, seemed destined to lash its furies against the devoted and since unfortunate city, was soon turned to the banks of this magnificent stream.
It will not be amiss to state here that the regiment during this time was under the command of Lieut. Col. Lomax, Col. Withers, very soon after his arrival, having been assigned to the command of a brigade, consisting of the 1st Virginia, Col. Mahone, (since Brigadier and Major-General, ) 12th Virginia, Col Weissiger, and his own regiment, the 3d Alabama.
Although a state of inactivity prevailed, as far as field operations were con- cerned, the time was not lost, or spent uselessly. Constant and hard dril- ling, under the supervision and instruction of the accomplished Lomax, was the order of the day, and the twelve months of anxious attention on his part, to the training and drill of his men, laid the foundation for the reputation which the Third Alabama subsequently won on more active and bloody. fields.
In July, Col. Withers having been appointed Brigadier General, and or- dered to Mobile, an election was held for Field officers, with the following result : T. Lomax, Col. ; C. A. Battle, Lieut. Col. ; C. Forsyth, major, and Lieut. J. A. Wilson, of the Southern Rifles, appointed Adjutant.
In April, 1862, the Regiment, at its reorganization, re-elected all of its Field officers. Lieut. S. B. Johnson, T. L. I., was appointed Adjutant, vice Lieut. Wilson resigned ; and Lieut. T. P. Brown, M. C., Capt. and A. Q. M., vice Capt. Sanford resigned.
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A division in Capt's. Andrews' and Bonham's companies, (part of the for- mer transferred to artilllery service, ) having occurred, a new company was formed, and named, in honor of the gallant commander of the Regiment- the "Lomax Shary Shooters," under Capt. Bonham-Capt. C. Robinson taking charge of the "Lowndes Beauregards." About the same time the "Dixie Eagles," Capt. Jelks, Union Springs, was attached to the Regiment.
After repeated memorials, signed by both officers and men, to be transfer- red to Manassas and the Peninsula, movements indicated that the hour of inactivity had passed, and that the Regiment must soon take its place by the side of those who had toiled and suffered on the long and weary marches from the Potomac to Richmond and Yorktown. On the 5th day of May, 1862, orders were issued for the evacuation of Norfolk, and although anxious for active service, there was not a man who did not leave the city with a heavy heart, knowing as they did that the kind and hospitable people who had entertained them so handsomely in health, and watched with such tender care over their sick beds, must soon be subjected to the taunts and insults of enemies.
The Regiment was moved to Suffolk and Weldon, and afterwards to Pe- tersburg, where it remained only a few days. It was then sent to Drewry's Bluff, to support the batteries at that point which were being threatened by the enemy's gunboats.
Several companies were deployed as sharp shooters on the banks of the James, and contributed no little in harrassing and driving the enemy from their guns. Hurried to the scene of action, tents and all comforts to which the men had been accustomed were left behind, and their exposure for the first time to rain and bad weather produced a vast deal of sickness. In less than a week the Regiment was reduced by disease to less than one half of its actual strength.
Three days before the battle of Seven Pines the Regiment was ordered to Richmond, and on the 1st day of June, 1862, received its first lesson in the horrors of war. Held in the second line (Saturday, the 31st May, ) as a re- serve, the men soon saw that the next morning must initiate them into scenes entirely different from those of the past twelve months.
Before daylight Sunday morning, orders were received to move forward, and in a s ort time the regiment rested on the redoubt that had been so gal- lantly carried the day previous. All seemed quiet, and nothing to indicate the presence of an enemy, save the ravages of the bloody fight of Saturday. Resting in this position, orders were received about seven o'clock by Gen. Mahone, to throw his brigade into the woods to the left of the Williamsburg road, and form into line of battle. By the carelessness or stupidity of some one, no intimation was given of the proximity of the enemy-in fact, it was generally understood that he had been driven a mile beyond the point the day previous.
In obedience to instructions, however, the line was quickly formed, and the knowledge of the enemy's presence was only gained from the regiment that had moved in ahead, and to the right of the brigade, and which had been fired upon by the enemy while their guns were stacked, and the men were lying down resting. Then came a well directed volley, which played sad havoc in the ranks of the Third. Nothing daunted it moved steadily on, the order to "fix bayonets," "charge" was given by the gallant Lomax, and the men pressing forward drove the enemy ahead of them in confusion, through a dense thicket and abattis. This line fell back on a second, drawn up on the side of a hill, and separated from the Confederate troops by a ravine,
Finding it impossible to dislodge them, and supports failing to come up on the right and left, Col. Lomax gave the order to lie down. In this position the regiment fought for nearly two hours. The enemy finding he was en-
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gaging only a small body of men, moved his troops so as to enfilade from both flanks, and the regiment was withdrawn under orders, to prevent cap- ture and destruction.
In this short space of time, one hundred and ninety-seven officers and men were placed hors du combat. The boast and pride of the regiment lay a corpse, not two hundred yards in its front, and the posititon held by the enemy. A number of men went forward to recover his body, but most of them were either killed, wounded, or captured, and the effort had to be abandoned. No officer ever commanded a body of men who had in a great- er degree the love, confidence and respect of all than Col. Lomax. It was a sad day to them, and his loss could scarcely have been felt more by his nearest and dearest relatives. In his death Alabama lost one of her most distinguished citizens, the Confederacy an officer of great gallantry and military attainments, and the regiment a devoted friend and leader. There, too, the gallant Mays, Johnson, Brown and Ellis fell ; fit company to follow the spirit of the dauntless Lomax to that "bourne from whence no traveler returns.' Capt. Wat. Phelan was severely wounded in this engagement.
After this battle, Mahone's brgade was sent to the Charles City road, where it remained on outpost duty. About the middle of June, orders from the Adjutant General' office, requiring troops from the same State to be brigaded together, compelled the regiment to sever those ties of friendship and esteem which had bound them to General Mahone and the splendid Vir- ginia troops under his command, The, 12th Mississippi, then in Rodes' brigade, was sent to a Mississippi organization, and the 3d Alabama ordered to supply its place. The regiment petitioned to retain its former position, against a change of brigade and division commanders, a request which could not be complied with. A few days after this change it became evident that important events were about to transpire, and the masterly campaign of the seven days' battles around Richmond was opened on the 26th of June. The regiment played its part at Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor and Bottom's Bridge, and on the 1st day of July was hurried into that slaughter-pen Mal- vern Hill, without line or order, although the gallant General Gordon-then Colonel of the 6th Alabama, and commanding the brigade-protested against putting his men into action until his line had been formed. In this battle the regiment lost two hundred and seven killed and wounded. Returning to Richmond after a week of severe trials, exposure and suffering, not more than one hundred and eighty men could be mustered for duty ; but the con - valescent wounded from the battle of Seven Pines, and sick from the differ- ent hospitals, soon swelled the ranks to over three hundred for duty.
The fight at Malvern Hill proper was the bloodiest and most fruitless of the war, and the officer who commanded that portion of the line will never be forgotten by any under his orders. As far as the division to which the Third was attached was concerned, it made a desperate, but under the cir cumstances hopeless sacrifice. Rodes' Brigade commanded by Colonel (since Brigadier. Major, and Lieutenant-General) Gordon, held the right of it, and the Third the right of this brigade. Under orders from Major General Hill, the regiment was deployed to the right under orders to feel for Gen. Holmes' division (not Gen. Huger's as has so often been erro- neously stated, ) but failing to discover any troops in this direction, was moved forward several hundred yards, when it was discovered the enemy was on its immediate flank, and it over half a mile from the rest of the divi- sion and brigade. A rapid movement to the left soon filled up the gap, and formed in column of regiments, the command stood under an artillery fire of about sixty guns, where it seemed as if nothing could live, until the mur- derous and hopeless charge was ordered which resulted so disastrously to the division. The men displayed a fortitude and courage which entitle them to the admiration of the whole world. But it was dearly bought. Out of
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345 officers and men in the Third alone, 207 fell killed or wounded, inclu- ding seven color-bearers. Under ordinary circumstance it would be invid- ious, where such universal gallantry was displayed, to mention names ; but there was one noble youth who fell with his face to the enemy, at least 40 yards in front of the entire Confederate line, whose character and courage will ever live in the memory of those who survived the bloody day at Mal- vern Hill. I do not feel justified in omitting the name of F. G. Stewart, Co. A. His distinguished gallantry was the remark of the entire command.
Nothing of special interest occurred, except an alarm occasioned by McClellan's weak attempt at a show of strength in attacking our pickets at Malvern Hill, until the 19th of August, when the regiment with the rest of the brigade received marching orders to support General Stonewall Jackson in his operations against Gen Pope. The division (D. H. Hill's) was kept well on the left flank of the army, between it and the Orange and Alexan- dria Railroad, and consequently did not get up in time to participate in either of the battles of Cedar Run or second Manassas. A few days after those battles, the army took up the line of march for Maryland. Col. (after- wards Lieutenant General) Gordon, commanding the brigade, made a stir- ring speech to the men, saying that Alabamians had been selected to cross the Potomac first and plant the bonnie blue flag in the enemy's territory. Being in the advance that day, the Third Alabama was the first to cross the river, and its colors waved over Maryland's soil amid the deafening shouts and cheers of the men. There was a feeling of sad disappointment, how- ever, at the cold and formal reception of the people, and many predictions were made as to the ultimate result of the campaign. The sensation was a new one though, and buoyed with the recent splendid achievements of the army before Richmond, and at Cedar Run and Manassas, the feeling of de- spondency soon gave way to more pleasing convictions of victory and suc- cess. After destroying the Cumberland and Ohio Canal, the march was again resumed, and at 12 o'clock on the night of the 6th of September, it formed a junction with General Jackson's forces about 11 miles from Fred- erick City. Arriving near Frederick City next day, the command went into camp and remained until it was necessary to make a movement towards Boonsboro, to cover the flank of our army operating against Harper's Ferry. At Boonsboro, or South Mountain, the regiment played an important and bloody part in the engagement of the 14th September. The brigade had been divided-three regiments, the 3d, 12th and 26th, (Colonel O' Neal,) on the right, and the 5th and 6th on the left of a deep gorge in the mountain. The enemy advanced a full division against these positions, and succeeded in turning and compelling the regiments on the left to give back to avoid capture. The position of those on the right of the brigade was such, how- ever, that these regiments could hold their position until the enemy had got- ten considerably on their left flank and rear. The fight made here was a stubborn and gallant one, and the men only fell back when overpowered and when the enemy had gained their rear so far as to make capture certain to those who attempted to hold this line. No panic was visible, but a splendid resistance was made throughout the whole movement to the top of the mountain. Every man seemed to feel that the situation was precarious and desperate, and the ground was only relinquished to overwhelming numbers, inch by inch. Night put an end to the contest; and about 12 o'clock our troops were withdrawn to concentrate ona more sanguinary field at Sharps- burg. The regiment received a handsome compliment from the brigade commander in his report of the battle of South Mountain.
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