USA > Alabama > History of Company B (originally Pickens Planters) 40th Alabama Regiment, Confederate States Army, 1862-1865 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
£
18
ground between our and the enemy's pickets, and our men could not bury the enemy's dead, nor would the Yanks send a flag of truce asking the privilege of burying their dead until Thursday at 12:00 o'clock noon, when a flag of truce came and terms were arranged and they hauled off their dead and buried them. On that field two hundred dead bodies were carried off for burial. The 40th Ala- bama remained under arms all day New Year, and again on the same ground bivouaced Thursday night at 10:00 o'clock. That night orders came to be ready to move at 3:00 o'clock to Snider's Bluffs, eight miles above on the Yazoo. The Regiment started at the time appointed, and got there Friday morning at daylight, January 2nd, 1863, when it was thought an attack would be made, but no attack was made and the enemy seemed to be retreating down the Yazoo. The 40th Alabama, with others, were then by the Hill Road marched back to its first position, supporting the battery, having marched sixteen miles at "quick" and "double quick! " The Regiment was much fatigued and hungry. The men got lunch of beef and bread cooked and sent from Vicksburg, and before the men finished cating, the booming of the artillery announced fighting commenced down on the Yazoo one and a half miles from us. Before our arrival back, Gen. Maury, with 400 men and artillery, had gone across the Bayou to attack the Yanks, it hav- ing been learned that the whole Yankee army was retreating to their gun boats. The 40th was again ordered in line of battle and marched down to the Chickasaw bridge, ready to support the force Gen. Maury had taken over, in case of a fight. He drove the enemy to their boats, capturing many spades and commissary stores, and some few prisoners, and returned back. The 40th Alabama remained in line
19
until nearly dark in a terrible rain. About dark the Regiment was ordered back to select a place to bivouac during the night. It rained torrents, and the 40th Alabama by company selected the best places possible. Company "B" went up on a erag or spur of the mountain, cut wood and made large fires, and spread some blankets to keep the rain off. They availed but little, and it rained all night, rained out our fires two or three times. We built them up again. All the Company suffered greatly, having no shelter, and most of the night no fires. Lieut. Wier, in a chair taken from battle field, sat up in it all night, with corn stalks put up and his blanket over him. Capt. Willett and Lients. Terry and Latham sat up on a log all night with blankets over them, but all officers and men got very wet. Lieut. Wier brought a sack of good crackers off the battle field and distributed them to the Company. The other Companies of the Regiment were in like manner scattered about on the mountain wherever they could get a suitable place. In these places the Regiment remained all day Saturday, January 3rd, 1863, and until Sunday morning, January 4th, 1863, when orders from the Division Commander, Gen. Maury, came ordering the Brigade from the bottoms to a field near Dr. Smith's on the mountains. On Sunday morning, January 4th, 1863, the whole Brigade went upon the hill and remained there Sun- day night and Monday and until Tuesday morning, January 6th, 1863, when orders came again for the Brigade to march down to the bottoms of the Yazoo about one mile above the first position of the 40th Alabama. The camp was a low one and in fair weather did finely, but would be a bad camp in rainy weather. While at that camp some of the Company went down to Chickasaw Bayou, near Mrs. Lake's quarter, and fished up a barrel of
20
pickled pork and carried it into camps, and it added greatly to the provision stock of Company "B." Many barrels were fished up out of the Bayou which had been thrown into the water by the retreating Yankees.
On Wednesday evening orders were issued ordering the Brigade to move camps lower down the Mississippi towards Vicksburg to the Indian Mound the battle field of Sunday, December 28th, 1862, and the whole Brigade in its proper order encamped in the corn fields between the Bayou and the mountains, the 40th in rear of the Indian Mound. The field is low and black soil, very slip- pery in wet weather, with water convenient, but wood very inconvenient-had to be carried from the tops of the big hills by the men. The lazy mess, to-wit: Capt. Willett, Lieuts. Terry, Latham and Wier hauled some very heavy one horse loads off the hills. It worried the teams very much, but the weather was cold and rainy and there was no other chance.
JANUARY 25TH, 1863.
On Wednesday, 7th January, 1863, the 40th Alabama camped at Indian Mound, and to this date, January 25th, 1863, all the time have been at the same place. No events of interest occurred. The Yankee fleet and army had all left and gone up the Mississippi River, and during the time compara- tive quiet prevailed. The Regiment did brigade guard duty and drilled some. Most of the time was
cold and rainy weather very disagreeable for sol- diering, and the poorest place to buy anything the Regiment had been at. Nothing to sell, nothing to buy except what the Commissary had, and that only meal, beef and molasses. On the night of January 20th Company "B" with three other companies of
21
40th Alabama went on picket from the Bayou to the mouth of the Yazoo, and remained until next day, when they were relieved by other pickets.
On the 23rd January, 1863, the Yankee fleet again appeared in the Mississippi above Vicksburg, in sight about seven miles from the city. On the 23rd January on the opposite side of the Mississippi a skirmish took place in which the Confederates were successful. On Sunday 25th of January canon- ading was heard in the same direction. The result is not learned. Daily canonading goes on from the batteries on land and the gun boats. A seige before Vicksburg is expected, and it may continue a long time, but to all human appearances the place cannot be taken. It is fortified wonderfully by Nature, and the Confederates have the advantage decidedly. The place is fortified by Nature and Art and a noble army for its defense, large and well appointed. The Commander-in-chief is Lieut. Gen. Pemberton and Maj. Gen. Stephenson second in command. Of the sick T. H. Lee and M. P. Thompson from Columbus have returned to camp. The Company "B" 40th Alabama Regiment now rank and file numbers ninety-four men, not all with the command. There are away January 25th, 1863, at Columbus, Miss., in hospital: D. N. Hicks, E. J. Lancaster, T. H. Wil- liams, B. T. Black. J. A. Pratt, Jno. C. Pratt, J. J. Strickland, Juo. Goodwin and Jas. M. Bush as nurse. At Mobile on detached service Jno. G. Rob- inson and Jno. R. Hicks. At Citronelle Corporal A. W. Largent. At home sick, J. W. Horton, Jno. L. Pratt and Enoch Wood. Andrew Bush at Jackson in hospital. W. J. Strickland and J. L. Kerr in hos- pital at Vicksburg, Miss. These are all the absen- tees from Company " B" at this date, January 25th, 1863.
22
DESCRIPTION LIST OF COMPANY "B" 40TH REGIMENT ALA. VOLUNTEERS, MARCH IST, 1863.
NAME.
RANK.
Elbert D. Willett Captain
Jno. T. Terry . 1st Lieutenant
Jas. A. Latham 2nd Lieutenant
Jas. H. Wier 2nd Lieutenant
Eli D. Vance.
1st Sergeant
Tandy R. Thomas 2nd Sergeant
Jno. W. Sanders.
3rd Sergeant
Walter M. Gilkey
4th Sergeant
Sardine Hildreth
1st Corporal
Geo. W. Belk.
2nd Corporal
Jacob II. Eaton
3rd Corporal -
Andrew W. Largent
4th Corporal
Allen, James M
Private
Acker, Balus G
Private
Acker, Geo. W
Private
Barham, Wm
Private
Black, Sam'l D
Private
Black, Benj. 'T
Private
Bush, Jno. E
Private
Bush, Jas. M Private
Bush, Andrew J Private
Byars, Jas. A. Private
Brandon, Jno. R
Private
Cook, Jno. P Private
Collins, Joseph Private
Collins, Jonathan Private
Cameron, Jos. D
Private
Cameron, Jas. B Private
Cameron, Thomas Private
Calley, Wm. P Private
Cole, Lewis T Private
Channell, Thos. A Private
Curry, Jno. H Private
23
Eeds, Jno. A Private
Easterling, Henry Private
Freeman, Morgan W Private
Freeman, Isham A Private
Freeman, Marcus M
Private
French, Jno. M Private
Goodwin, Jno
Private
Graham, Geo. M
Private
Hicks, Dan'l N
Private
Hicks, Jno. R.
Private
Hicks, Jno. F
Private
Howell, Anderson T Private
ITall, Jos. N Private
Hall, Jos. C. Private
Horton, J. Wiley Private
Jones, Thos. W
Private
Jones, Wm. J Private
Jones, Robt. A Private
Jones, Wm. H Private
Jennings, Jno. J. Private
Jennings, Wm. HI
Private
King, Sam'l G.
Private
Kerr, Jno. L.
Private
Lancaster, Jos. Private
Lancaster, Eli J
Private
Lee, Thos. H. Private
Ledbetter, Richard B
Private
Lavender, D. Spencer
Private
Lipsey, Wm. L.
Private
McAteer, Wm. R
Private
McAteer, Jackson.
Private
McManus, Jno. E
Private
Mullins, Benj. F Private
Pratt, Jos. A Private
Pratt, Jno. L. Private
Pratt, Jno. C.
Private
Parker, Jas. F Private
1.11
24
Pearson, Sam'l
Private
Peteet, Jno. T. .
Private
Reddish, Jas. H
Private
Russell, Jno. A Private
Russell, Asbury C Private
Reynolds, Thos. K Private
Reynolds, Jas. S
Private
Robinson, Jno. G Private
Robinson, Sam'l
Private
Strickland, Wm. G
Private
Thompson, Mark L
Private
Taylor, Wm. S.
Private
Williams, Paul I
Private
Williams. Thos. H
Private
West, James H Private
Wood, William
Private
Wood, Joshua Private
Wood, Enoch ..
Private
Weems, Jno. R Private
Vance, Wm. V
Private
Yerby, Jas. E Private
Shaver, Wm. K Private
Robinson, Hugh J.
Private
Strickland, Jno. J Private
Elmore, Chas. Private
Elmore, Anderson Private
Elmore, William Private
Ehnore, James Private
Hunnicutt, Robt Private
Elmore, Bowman Private
Elmore, Jacob Private
Elmore, Jno. T Private
Elmore, Jordan J Private
Shepherd, Hiram Private
Johnson, Jno. W Private
Shirly, Julius Private
Davis, Jerry Private
25
Irwin, G. W Private Phillips, Wm. L Private
(In the original Diary there appears after each name a personal description of each man giving his age, color of his eyes, color of hair, complexion, size, where born, occupation before enlistment, when. where, by whom and for what period enlisted.)
DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF COMPANY "B" 40TH ALABAMA REGIMENT WHO HAVE DIED IN THE SER- VICE TO MARCH IST, 1863.
NAME. RANK.
Fowler, Jno. F Private
Carver, Wesley H Private
Williams, Thomas Private
Russell, Chas. W Private
Savage, Abner W Private
Daniel, Thos. P Private
Jennings, Abner D
Private
Hollingsworth, A. J Private
Jas. E. Yerby
Private
Peteet, Jno. T
Private
Pratt, Jno. L
Private
Kerr, Jno. L Private
Mullins, Benj. F
Private
Gilbert, H. F. B
Private
Belk, Geo. W Private
McManus, Jno. E Private
Calley, Wm. P
Private
Cameron, Jas. B
Private
Reynolds, Jas. S
Private
Weems, Jno. R.
Private
(In the original Diary there appears after each namo a personal description of each man, giving his age, color of eyes, color of hair, complexion, size, where born, occupation before enlistment, when, where, by whom and for what period enlisted, and when, where and from what cause he died.)
26
DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF COMPANY "B" 40TH REGIMENT ALABAMA VOLUNTEERS, DISCHARGED AND TRANSFERRED TO MARCH 1ST, 1863.
NAME. RANK.
Strickland, Abel Private
Morrison, Wm Private
Hicks, Henderson Private
Weems, Jas. F. Private
Shockley, Thos. W Private
McGee, Jno. P
Private
Wier, Jas. D Private
F. W. Ralph Sergeant
Hancock, Jesse T Private
Gilber, H. F. B
Private
Irwin, Robt. Private
Wood, Enoch Private
Jennings, W H. Private
Easterling, Henry Private
Sanders, H. H.
Private
Acker, G. W
Private
Jones, A. D
Private
(In the original Diary is given a personal descrip- tion of each man as above stated, together with the cause and place of his discharge or transfer.)
The 40th Regiment Alabama Volunteers re- mained at Camp Timmons, doing the usual guard duty, brigade guard duty and picket duty on the Lake farm by company, and picket duty down at the bend on the Mississippi River, and regular drill- ing in battalion and company, and skirmish drills. At that camp Jas. E. Yerby took sick with mumps, followed by fever. He was taken to Vicksburg hos- pital and died on the 4th day of March, 1863. He was a good soldier and excellent citizen at home, had the love and respect of the whole Company,
27
faithful to do duty. He left a wife and five children, who live in Pickens County, Alabama, the place of his residence. During the time the Regiment was at Camp Timmons the weather was very disagree- able. It rained almost incessantly, and the camp and roads became very muddy indeed. The water was bad and not at all suitable for the health of the Regiment. The rations were scanty, beef very poor and meal very coarse, and other rations inferior in quality and scanty as to quantity. At that camp D. N. Hicks and several others returned to camp from hospital. At that camp John H. Curry a young man just eighteen years old joined the Com- pany. He came from home with Dan'l N. Hicks. At said camps Jno. L. Kerr a young man from Sum- ter County, Alabama, just arriving at eighteen, came to camps and joined the Company.
On the evening of the 17th of February, 1863, it raining torrents, orders came from the 40th to move up to the bridge known as Chickasaw Bridge, in that terrible rain. The Regiment was formed and just at dark commenced the march, Lient. Latham in command of Company "B." Capt. Willett con- ducted the Regiment acting as Major, Lieut. Col. Higley having gone before, Major T. C. Stone sick, Capt. E. S. Gully, senior captain at home on sick leave, and Col. A. A. Coleman having also gone home on sick leave. As stated the Regiment moved at dark in the rain (it having rained for two days previous) and the roads were well nigh impassable. The mud and water was from shoe mouth to knee deep, mostly knee deep, and but the one road, and on either side deep gullies. The Regiment marched that dreadful road three miles in the dark in mud knee deep, and got to the bridge about 11:00 o'clock night. The 2nd Texas had not moved and the 40th were at the bridge in the dark. When the men got
£
£
28
there they were warm and perspiring freely, but stopping the rain soon chilled the men. They had no tents or cover, and were soon ordered to bivouac on the hills. Each Company went upon the hills and after an hour or two got fires started and parti- ally warmed and dried their clothes. The clothes of the men were coated with mud, and it could be got off only by washing the clothes or drying and beat- ing the mud off. Many lost their shoes and many fell and injured themselves. But few slept any that night. Next day the weather was better, and the Regiment next day dried their clothes and the next day a camp was laid off in the corn field and the whole Regiment moved to it Saturday evening in a hard rain. The Regiments remained at Chickasaw Bridge until the 19th day of March doing guard duty, picket duty at the Lake farm and on the Levee, also drilling in battalion company and skir- mish drills. Lieut. Wier was detailed as enrolling officer and got leave of obsence for thirty days. He started for Pickens the 26th day of February and came back on the 7th of March bringing recruits for Company "B" Chas. and Anderson Elmore, J. A. Lipsey. Jas. E. Yerby was taken sick at Camp Tim- mons and sent to hospital at Vicksburg. There on the 4th day of March, 1863, he died. Also Americus J. Hollingsworth by the march to Chickasaw Bridge was taken sick and the attack was violent. He lin- gered five or six days in great pain, and on the 28th day of February he died. He was a little over eigh - teen years old, unmarried. Yerby was thirty-one years old and left a wife and five children in Pick- ens County. Company "B" had not much sickness at Chickasaw Bridge. The rations were short, for twenty days we had no meal at all, but the men foraged in the cane brakes and procured an irregu-
£
29
ur supply of meat. The men also bought meal and ther articles to cat.
On the 18th day of March, 1863, Lieut. J. T. 'erry got sick leave of absence and started home. Ie got home and had a severe spell of sickness. In the 19th day of March, 1863, the 40th Alabama vas ordered to Haynes Landing and marched to chat place on the Yazoo nine miles the same day and pitched tents on a hill above the landing. Remained there until Saturday night 21st March when the 40th Alabama left in boat for Deer Creek. Arrived at Rolling Fork on 22nd, Sunday, early. Took up line of march for Deer Creek wading one quarter of a mile in back water waist deep. Arrived at Dr. Moore's farm on Deer Creek at 10:00 o'clock a. m. Left tents and all baggage but blankets behind. Came up with enemy's gun boats and land forces at Dr. Moore's. Had a skirmish with the enemy and they shelled the 40th Alabama three hours heavily. Gen. Featherstone was in command of 40th Alabama, 22nd Mississippi, cavalry and artillery. This shelling was at the Messinger farm. Company "F" was detailed as skirmishers, and had one man wounded in the face-left eye knocked out. Monday, 23rd, advanced to Williams' farm. Com- pany "A" left in rear to support battery, Capt. Gul- ly's company, he, the Captain having gone home on sick leave from Camp Timmons, also Lieut. Cobb, Lieut. McGowan in command. Next day fell back to Messinger farm, it having rained all night before. Tuesday, 24th, advanced to eight mile post on Little Deer Creek.
Wednesday, 25th March, advanced to Foris' farm. Companies "B" and "C" Lieuts. Latham and Brunson commanding, under Capt. Willett acting Major skirmished with the rear guard of enemy through an immense cane swamp and marsh and on
30
through Foris' farm, pursued the Yanks and cap- tured baggage, canteens, eatables, etc. Yarbrough of Company "C" killed, and Ehnore Company "B" wounded. In the meantime 40th Alabama, 31st and 33rd Mississippi and 22nd Mississippi and artillery under Brig. Gen. Featherstone came up to support skirmishers. The enemy fell back, and Confederate forces fell back to strong position for night. Next day; Thursday, drove the enemy into Black Bayou, and , commenced the march back to Rolling Fork. The Yanks being driven out, Gen. Featherstone took all his Brigade but 40th Alabama and artillery and started for Greenwood. 40th Alabama, Col. Higley commanding, marched three miles to Indian Bayou on Deer Creek to rest a few days. That little army had been marching in rain and mud for nine days, and the Regiment had not had dry clothes or blankets in that time. The service was hard, espe- cially on Companies "B" and "C" which did most of the skirmishing. During those days our rations were cooked at Rolling Fork and packed. We impressed the mills and beeves and hogs and had plenty after the second day. Col. Ferguson was left in command of forces on Deer Creek. On Tues- day, April 2nd, Companies "A" and "B" under command of Capt. Willett started for Fish Lake sixty miles up Deer Creek near Greenville. 2nd April marched to Capt. Willis' farm; 3rd April to Thomas' farm; April 4th to Falls' farm; April 5th to Yerger's farm: April 6th to Fish Lake; reported to Maj. Bridges in command of battalion of sharp- shooters, 250. Remained there until morning of April 7th, when it was ascertained, that Gen. Steele with 13 regiments, 8 pieces of artillery and 250 cavalry pursued us from Greenville. Col. Fer- guson ordered a retreat at 7:00 o'clock, and we retreated 28 miles to Fall's by dark. Next day fell
31
back to Thomas' where four more companies of 40th came up and three pieces of artillery. There we made a stand and shelled the enemy with seven pieces of cannon, and the enemy, though in superior force, commenced retreating. We pursued them to Fish Lake. In the meantime the 30th Alabama and other regiments were on the march to our aid, but when the enemy retreated they turned back to Vicksburg. We remained at Greenville two or three days and commenced the march back to Indian Bayou on Deer Creek. Cavalry forces hav- ing come to relieve the 40th Alabama on the 18th of April the 40th camped at Helen Johnston place, after thirty days of severe service; on Deer Creek vast quantities of property was destroyed by the enemy and slaves taken off. One of the richest portions of Mississippi was laid waste and made desolate. The 40th remained at Helen Johnston place two days and then moved over a mile to Indian Bayou, former camp and put up our tents, the first time we had seen them in a month. At that place also came up with baggage, and once more had a chance to put on clean clothes.
At this place Maj. T. O. Stone about the 28th of April was ordered by Col. Ferguson to take three companies of 40th Alabama and proceed to little Sunflower at the mouth of Rolling Fork and there take boat and proceed up Sunflower River about 100 miles. He took three companies. Company "A" commanded by Capt. Gully, just returned from home, Company "D" commanded by Capt. Camp- bell, and Company "I"' commanded by Capt. Ghant. On the 5th day of May, 1863, orders came from Vicksburg through Col. Ferguson for the 40th Ala- bama to march to Vicksburg 100 miles distant. On Tuesday the 5th day of May, 1863, Companies "B," "C," "E," ".F," "G," "HI" and "K" took up the
32
line of march for the mouth of Rolling Fork to take boat from there for Haynes Landing on the Yazoo River. On that day arrived at Little Sunflower, leaving behind of Company "B," B. G. Acker, Jona- than Collins and Jas. F. Parker sick in hospital. Also Sergt. Win, P. Calley detached to buy beeves for the army. At Indian Bayou Jno. T. Petete of Company "B," a good soldier, died on the 2nd day of May, 1863, and was buried at the nearest church on Deer Creek with military honors on Sunday the 2rd of May, 1863. He resided in Sumter County, Alabama, and left a wife and three children. He was an excellent man, On Thursday the 7th day of May the 40th Alabama took the steamboat Walsh for Haynes Landing and arrived there on the eve- ning of the same day. The 6th day of May previ- ously the Regiment remained at the mouth of Roll- ing Fork all day getting the baggage of the Regiment down to the boat. This was done on skiff's or small boats sent for that purpose. On Friday, the 8th day of May, 1863, the Regiment marched to Vicksburg distant fifteen miles, and much wearied, camped in a lot near the railroad depot. The sick of Company "B" who could not march were left at Haynes Landing, to wit: Jno. C. Pratt, Jas. Collins, W. K. Shaver and Corporal A. W. Largent. On Saturday the 9th day of May the Regiment (40th), Col. Higley commanding, marched to Warrenton ten miles below Vicksburg on the Mississippi River and were again joined to Brig. Gen. Jno. C. Moore's Brigade, composed of 2nd Texas, 37th, 42nd and 40th Alabama and 35th and 10th Mississippi Regiments. Several of the sick and worn out men of Company "B" were left in the Vicksburg hospital, to-wit: Lieut. J. HI. Wier, Pri- vate Jno. C. Pratt, Jas. Collins, Paul I. Williams and Henry Easterling. On Sunday, 10th of May,
33
the Regiment 40th Alabama and the whole of Moore's Brigade was ordered to move camp a mile farther back from the rear of Warrenton, being exposed to fire of enemy's gunboats. On Monday the 11th of May the whole Regiment except the absent companies were ordered on picket at the fort at Warrenton for twenty-four hours. The Col. (Higley) selected 100 men after dark and relieved the previous pieket. Capt. E. D. Willett acting major took charge of the balance of the Regiment as a reserve, and on a levee a few hundred yards in the rear held them there in line of battle during the night. Just at dawn the next day the reserve was ordered back to camp, and Col. Higley with the 100 men remained in the fort until dark May 12, 1863, under a terrific cannonade from the enemy's gun- boats. On Wednesday 13th May the Regiment remained in camps; on Thursday 14th May the Regiment remained in camps. On Friday 15th, the 40th went on picket, in rear of Warrenton, as reserve in case of attack, and lay in line of battle in a field, and in the evening of same day the whole Regiment moved camps three miles nearer Vicks- burg on the outer or first line of defence.
On Saturday 16th of May commenced digging rifle pits and cutting down timber in our front; on Sunday May 17th, 1863, continued digging rifle pits until 3:00 o'clock in the evening, when the 40th and the whole of Moore's Brigade was ordered back to Vicksburg. The whole of Moore's Brigade with artillery fell back from first line of defense to the trenches at or in rear of Vicksburg. During the preceding week the enemy had driven our forces. The hard fought battles of Raymond, Jackson and Bakers Creek and at Big Black had been fought and Gen. Johnston's and Pemberton's forces had retired before Gen. Grant's army ten to one against
£
34
us. On the same Sunday evening, May 17th, 1863, that army or a part of the army under Gen, Pember- ton retired back to the trenches at Vicksburg, and Gen. Johnston's forces fell back to Jackson, and on the 17th of May, 1863, the garrison at Vicksburg took their position in the trenches in order of battle. Smith's Division on the left. Forney's Division in the center and Stephenson's Division on the right, and Bowen's Division in reserve, with the artillery all planted and put in position on the several redoubts or field works. The 40th Alabama Regi- ment was on left of Moore's Brigade on northeast side of Southern Railroad. On Monday, the 18th of May, the enemy continued the investment of Vicks- burg on the rear from Snider's Bluff to Warrenton, and cannonaded the line all day, feeling for our sharp-shooters, and otherwise reconnoitering our lines and getting their batteries in position to shell our lines. Tuesday, May 19th, 1863. During the morning the cannonading and skirmishing on our lines was incessant. John A. Davis of Company "G" was killed, and several in the 40th Alabama wounded. In the evening a severe battle was fought on our left. The enemy charged our works in front of Herbert's Brigade and were repulsed with great loss. The assaults continued , until nearly night. Wednesday, 20th of May, remained in trenches all day. Shelling and sharp-shooting incessant. Fallon of Company "E" and Sims of Company "D" were killed and several wounded. Thursday, 21st, continued shelling and sharp-shoot- ing all day. W. J. Jones, Company "B" while on picket was shot through the arm near shoulder and his left arm amputated. Friday, 22nd May, at dawn the shelling and sharp-shooting commenced furi- ously. The mortar fleet day and night was doing its work since the investment. The Confederates
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.