O'Neal's 26th Alabama
by Tod L. Molesworth
Please note!!!
It's time to start the painful process of changing my e-mail!!!
It is now - - Drummer41st@worldnet.att.net
(810) 324-6119
updated April 8, 2002
Photos of
Captain Sydney Binion Smith, Company E
Captain James Stacy McCoy, Company B (mortally wounded at Malvern Hill)
Lt. Col William Russell Smith, Staff
Lewis J. Jones, Company I & Andersonville section
Ransom T. Powell, 10th W. Virginia, Co. I and Andersonville
1st Lt. Robert Cleveland Rector, Company D
Beautiful wartime photo of Pvt. James Hudson, Company K!!!
Reunion
II is in the works!!!
Stacy
Coats is currently working on the 2nd 26th Alabama reunion!!! The
tentative time is late April 2004. She could use some help from you
out there.
Her
e-mail is chevy2nova68@hotmail.com and her home number is (205) 391-5651.
Please give her a call if you are interested in helping put together another
great reunion.
"The
Little Regiment that Did"
The
Book!
hopefully
I'll have the darn thing done by the next reunion!!!
After
a lot of prodding by quite a few people, Clark Rye and Doyle Jones to name
a few, I am now working on a printable version of this website. I'm
making quite a bit of headway and I'm adding quite a bit of additional
information provided by descendants. It should be ready by this summer
so if there is any additional information out there please drop me a line.
The
book will be much more detailed with casualty lists for each battle, at
least what I can find. Photos will be added as they come in and it
will have much more letters that I have on this site. Anybody that
has provided photos please drop me a line giving me permission to use them
please!!!
I
really need help from locals down in Alabama!!! Somebody please look
in the local archives, libraries and newspaper offices and see if there
are any "old soldiers reunion" photographs that they ran in the early 1900's
with members of the 26th Alabama.
Following the surrender of the 26th Alabama Infantry at Greensborough, North Carolina in April, 1865 the servant of Dr. Hayes, Brigade surgeon and former regimental surgeon, wrapped the flag around his body and slipped through the Federal lines, thus saving the flag. How long the flag remained with Dr. Hayes is unknown, however, by September 21, 1900 it was in the possession of O'Neal's wife.
The date of donation to the Alabama Department of History is unknown, however, director Marie Bankhead Owen stated in an August 1943 letter that she accepted the donation of the flag from Mrs. Syden O'Neal Dudley. The date of donation must post date former ADAH director Dr. Thomas Owen's death on March 25, 1920 as he was the one who originally requested the donation in November 1903 from Mr. A. M. O'Neal.
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Welcome
to 26th Alabama Web Site
My name is Tod Molesworth,
a Yankee by birth and Southerner by heart and some ancestry who was born
in Yale, Michigan and now live 7 miles from there in the booming metropolis
of Avoca (400 people). I'm descended from William Molesworth, a drummer
of the 41st Regiment of Foot in the British Army that took Fort Detroit
in the War of 1812; Peter Shipe, a Virginian that was a baggagemaster for
George Washington and who received a land grant in Knox County, Tennessee;
Isom P. Alley, a slave owner also from Knox County; the Wintermute, Chrysler,
Kilmer and Anger Clans, Loyalist's from Pennsylvania and New York who fought
for Butler's Ranger's and settled near Ft. Erie, Ontario, Canada after
the Revolution, Levi Hoopengarner, who was captured at the Battle of Mark's
Mills, Arkansas in March, 1864 as a member of Company D, 43rd Indiana and
spent 10 months in Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas and Joseph L. Benight, a member
of Company E, 85th Indiana Infantry.
Having no genealogical connection to this Regiment,
my attachment to it began when I was bedridden in the Spring of 1996 and
out of cabin fever I started looking for common Regiments in the big battles
for Southern Independence. The 26th Alabama Regiment kind of jumped
out at me because it was both at Shiloh then all the big battles in the
East. Of course, after I started researching, I found that the 26th
Alabama that was at Shiloh was not the same Regiment and that Regiments
designation was eventually changed to the 50th Alabama and is now called
the 26/50th Alabama (Coltart's).
Very little information was available from one
common source, so through hundreds of hours of research of National Archive
microfilms, the Alabama Department of History files, Official Reports (OR's),
local genealogists, historians, pension files and descendants contacted
on line, I have compiled as about a thorough account as possible
until I get some help from sources that were unaware of my project.
There will be additions and corrections as this page becomes known and
other ancestors contact me. If you are a descendant, please, contact
me just to say hello and possibly let me know more. Mistakes will
be made due to the confusion of the 26/50th and interpreting handwriting
so please let me know (nicely) of these mistakes. I know I've
misspelled some names but in a lot of cases I'm at the mercy of the Archive
transcribes.
Descendants, if you have a wartime or post war
photograph of any of these men I would truly love to add it to the site.
I've found references of Captain E. M. Leech (Co. K) and Pvt. William Terrell
(Co. H) having photographs with Captain Leech's still around in 1911.
Where are these photos!!! If you have any copies of letters home
or even reminiscences from the soldier, widow, children or even grandchildren,
I would to see them and if possible, include at least excerpts of them.
If you see an ancestor that I don't have a place and date of birth, no
date of death, discharge, pardon or pension information in their biographies
and know more about them, please let me know.
Regimental Background
This Regiment fought throughout
the War for Southern Independence. Formally accepted into the Confederate
Army in Tuscumbia, Alabama in December of 1861, it used the 10 Company
3rd Alabama Battalion as a nucleus. Men were recruited mainly from
Marion and Fayette Counties with a few from Walker, Winston, Tuscaloosa
(Co. G) and Jefferson Counties. The names of the towns in Northwest
Alabama bear witness to the roots of the Regiment as they bear the names
of troops who served, and died, in the War for Southern Independence.
Names like Glasgow Corner, Wigington, Guin, Bankston, Belk, Hamilton, Goddard,
Barnesville, Stewart and Berry. While I've always heard of how much
shorter men were during these times, I was quite shocked to see many instances
of these farm boys approaching and surpassing 6 feet in height! So
they weren't only giants in courage but giants in stature as well.
This proud regiment was in the brigade (1200 men) that
held up Meade's Division in rearguard action at Frosttown Road Gorge in
the Battle of Boonesboro (South Mountain) as well as hold "Bloody Lane"
while vastly outnumbered three days later at Sharpsburg. It was also
one of the first regiments to breech the works at Chancellorsville on Stonewall
Jackson's brilliant flank attack on May 2, 1863 and obtained further glory
the next day by charging and taking the breastworks twice only in conjunction
with the 5th Alabama and having to fall back due to lack of support.
When they were finally re-enforced they again charged and took the breastworks
for the final time. By the end of that battle the Regiment was under
command of a 1st Lt. Miles Izates Taylor, Company H PHOTO!
After the officer corps was decimated at Chancellorsville,
the regiment again suffered at Gettysburg and were very small in number
when detailed to transport one of the first group of prisoners to the new
Prison Camp near Sumter, Georgia on February 15, 1864. While the
camp was called Andersonville and will forever live unjustly in infamy
in Northern eyes, I've found and am tracking down references from survivors
stating the integrity of men of the 26th Alabama (four
so far including the Powell letter).
They were temporarily assigned there for three months to build up their
strength and rest and the Federal men were actually sad to see them go!
They were then assigned to the Army of Tennessee for the rest of the war
and were again badly hurt at Peachtree Creek, Georgia and Franklin, Tennessee.
The 26th Alabama finished the war with very few members left in the ranks
(31 with 16 original (1861/2) members),
but luckily quite a few lived through the experience of being a prisoner
of war or the horror of the hospitals of the time to give us some historical
references through the Alabama Department of History. Even better
were the far sighted soldiers and their loved ones that kept letters to
home that were later donated to institutions that freely give permission
to place these letters in a non-profit site like this with very little
hassle. I think this is very important so that everybody can read and appreciate
what these men and their families went through during this horrible war.
If they are kept in a vault and lofty charges attempted to be collected
then they will rot without being appreciated or finally brought out of
hiding by somebody (unlike myself) with the money and means to do so, a
heck of a chance to take! My thanks to the Alabama Department of
History, The University of Oklahoma and University of Michigan (home of
the Wolverines!!)
Through my research I've found requisitions for
Tower Rifles (Enfields) and .58 caliber Enfield ammunition. There
are survivors accounts and Official Reports to the effect that there was
a Corps of sharpshooters, with one survivor stating this corps was made
up out of members of each Company and armed with Whitworth's. More
than likely the members were picked through a shooting competition.
I've found records of requisitions for Sharps Rifles in 1863 but unfortunately
I've failed to find any reference to Whitworth's, the "holy grail" of modern
arms collectors. I've also found reference to 69 caliber Buck and
Ball ammunition.
With the confusion
of two Regiments with the same designation in the beginning of the war
I have extensive information as well as full muster rolls of the members
of the 26th/50th compiled for cross referencing. Feel free to contact
me with questions and information about this Regiment also.
My thanks to RootsWeb for
hosting this site for free. My labor of love grew to quite an unruly
child that would have been really hard to handle myself!! They have
given excellent support and deserve any donations you could possibly give
for their free genealogical sites that they host!
Photo taken in Hamilton, Alabama (by chance, where
our
reunion will be) on July 24, 1929.
Standing from the right
Seated, left to right
S. M.
Davis
B. Felkings
Steve
Lindsey
M. D. Shelton (Company B)
Judge
H. M. Bell
W. M. Alright
W. H.
Edwards
T. W. Terrell (Company H)
W. G.
Fowler (2nd Sgt., Co. C)
E. F. Franks (26/50th Alabama)
T. H. H. Lalley
Photo courtesy of Johnny M. Bull, great
grandson to Mathew Downs Shelton, Company B bbull@ficom.net
Letter from T. R. Caldwell to Miles I. Taylor dated July 19, 1909 from Amory, Mississippi
Dear Sir, Friend and Comrad,
I received yours of the 13th last night. Was rejoiced to hear from you. I attended the reunion at Memphis. Saw a number of friends and comrads & talked about you but could hear nothing. I knew you had gone to Texas but knew nothing after that. I met Captain Vandiver on the 24th of June at the laying of the cornerstone of the Masonic Building at Caladonia, Miss. He is well and lives at Caledonia, Miss. Capt Sanders and Leech died last summer. I have been attending the reunion of our Regiment for 5 years over in Ala. Capt. C. Leech was President and I was Vice President of the organization. At this reunion I met many of the Regiment. Capt. Turner and O'Neal among many others. We had some big times you may bet. Since the death of so many I expect the organization will be abandoned. I am yet in good health & my wife. But she has been a cripple from a fall for more than a year. I fear she will never walk any more. We have 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. 2 married 2 at home and one in the U. S. Army & has been for 12 years. Brother John died 20 years ago. His family, 2 boys & 2 girls all married and doing well. Alex Thompson died 8 years ago. Our comrades are getting off pretty fast. I got a letter from Thad Halviston last year. He was wanting to make proof so that he could get a pension. He is in California. Has a good big family & I expect hard circumstances. I have done fairly well since the war. I own 2100 acres of land that is worth from 10 to 30 dollars per acre and stock. I am out of debt. My rent brings me about 1,000 per year. I am a member of the legislature now and one term before this. I have lived a happy life up to now. I have a fine crop this year but to take the State of Miss. It will not be over 40 or 50 percent at best. I have a nephew near Athens, Texas, W. R. Caldwell. Wish you could see him & let him know who you are. He would enjoy your aquaintence & association. He has called on me twice on his trips to Georgia. If you ever get out this way call on me. You can stop off at Amory, Miss. on the Frisco. I live 5 miles out and have nice fruits and fishing grounds. You will be payed for your visit if you enjoy these things. I will close for the present. Will be glad to get a long letter from you & will answer any questions or enquires made if I can. With best wishes for you and yours, I remain your friend to command.
T. R. Caldwell
Amory, Miss.
A "maneuvering" guide to this site
Blue
writing This
is for reference when the 26th Alabama or the
Brigade or Division in which the 26th Alabama was
assigned are referenced in the Official Reports.
Maroon
writing These are either my comments
or additional information
that I have found through my research.
Red writing These are either links within the page or to other sites
GenealogistNames
for the enlisted personnel are listed
alphabetically (somewhat) in each company but the
non-coms and officers are listed by rank.
Fort Donelson, Tennessee, February 15, 1862
Pvt. Daniel Newton
Ford, Co. I (Company A, 3rd Alabama Batt.)
Pvt. Benjamin
F. Arndale, Co. I (Company A, 3rd Alabama Batt.)
Pvt. Joseph F.
Maddox, Co. I (Company A, 3rd Alabama Batt.)
Pvt. Lewis S.
Wimberly, Co. I (Company A, 3rd Alabama Batt.)
"A Battle is Hell ,
a defeat, the worst thing in the world,
and a victory the next worse"
Dow Junior
Ballenger letters
Schoff Collections
Clements Library
University of Michigan
| List of Engagements |
| Muster List |
| Company A |
| Company B |
| Company C |
| Company D |
| Company E |
| Company F |
| Company G |
| Company H |
| Company I |
| Company K |
| Headquarters Staff |
alabama
department of archives and history
Museum
of the Confederacy
Ken
Jones, Civil War Historian - e-mail kjones@tarleton.edu
point
lookout POW Organization
Sons
of the Confederacy, Savage/Goodner Camp
ENGAGEMENTS & ASSIGNMENTS (8)
Battle Description text date
| Fort Henry, Tenn.
(Bombardment & Evacuation) |
Approximately 83 men from A & C Companies, Third Alabama Battalion (I & K of 26th) | OR's
order |
February 6, 1862 |
| Battle of Fort Donelson | First casualties of the 26th Alabama | OR's
Casualties |
February 15, 1862 |
| Fort Donelson, Tennessee
Surrender of |
OR's | February 16, 1862 | |
| Yorktown, Virginia | Siege and Evacuation | letter | April - May, 1862 |
| Battle at Dam #1 | April 16, 1862 |
February 6, 1862
General Pillow's
command Fort Donelson
February 6-16, 1862
"Left Wing" General Bushrod Johnson
"Drakes Brigade" Colonel Drake
"Third
Alabama Battalion" (elements of Co's I & K, 26th Alabama, Major
Garvin)
"Left of Position"
(Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill)
Rains' Division (Brig. Gen. C. J. Rains)
26th Alabama (Col. Edward A. O'Neal)
Requisition for "straw for men to sleep on, many sick from sleeping on
ground"
390 non coms and men by Col. O'Neal at Yorktown April
2, 1862
(The last time, on record, that the 26th mustered
over 300 men, I've seen references
that the 26th had over 300 at Gettysburg but I haven't found records to
support that and
I would highly doubt it after their terrible losses at Chancellorsville
in May).
"Forces within the post of Yorktown" 26th Alabama - 283 April
30, 1862
*Rains
reprimanded for using land mines in evacuation, land mines were
deemed ungentlemanly by General Johnston.
| Williamsburg, Virginia | Battle | May 5, 1862 | |
| Seven Pines | Battle | report | May 31-June 1, 1862 |
Maj. General Daniel H. Hills Division
First Brigade (Brig. General Robert E. Rodes) "Alabama Brigade"
26th Alabama (Col. Edward A. O'Neal)
with 3rd, 5th, 6th and 12th Alabama Regiments
| Seven Days Battle | June 25-July 1, 1862 | ||
| Gaines Mill | Battle | report
casualties |
June 27, 1862 |
| White Oak Swamp | Action | report | June 30, 1862 |
| Malvern Hill | Battle | report
casualties letter |
July 1, 1862 |
| Boonesboro
(South Mountain) in Maryland |
Battle | report
letter casualties |
September 14, 1862 |
| Sharpsburg (Antietam) in Maryland | Battle | report | September 17, 1862 |
| Shephardstown Ford, West Virginia | Action | September 20, 1862 | |
| Louden, Faquier and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia | Actions | October 26-November 10, 1862 | |
| Fredericksburg, Virginia | Battle | December 12-15, 1862 | |
| Chancellorsville, Virginia | Battle | reports
casualties |
May 2-3, 1863 |
Organization of command
during the Battle of Chancellorsville
D. H. Hill's Division (Brig. Gen. R. E. Rodes, 2. Brig Gen. S. D. Ramsuer)
Rodes Brigade (Brig. Gen. R. E. Rodes, 2. Col. E. A. O'Neal, 3. Col. J.
M. Hall)
26th Alabama (Col. E. A. O'Neal, (2)Lt. Col. John S. Garvin, (3)1st Lt.
M. J. Taylor)
| Gettysburg | Battle | reports
Ballenger letter |
July 1-3, 1863 |
| Manassas Gap | Retreat | July 5-24, 1863 | |
| Kelly's Ford, Virginia | Skirmishes | July 31-August 1, 1863 | |
| Brandy Station | Action | August 1, 1863 |
Army of Virginia (Gen. Robert E. Lee)
Second Army Corps (Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell)
Rodes Division (Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes)
Rodes' Brigade (Col. Edward A. O'Neal)
26th Alabama (Lt. Col. John C. Goodgame, temporarily from 12th Alabama)
Organization of Command
until detached to Alabama in February, 1864
Army of Northern Virginia (Gen. Robert E. Lee)
Second Army Corps (Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell)
Rodes' Division (Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes)
Battle's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Cullin A. Battle)
26th Alabama (Col. Edward A. O'Neal)
| Bristoe Station Campaign | Battle | October 9-22, 1862 | |
| Mine Run Campaign
Payne's Farm |
Battles | report | Nov. 26-Dec.
2, 1862
November 27, 1863 |
Sixty-first Alabama ordered to relieve twenty-sixth Alabama Feb. 12th, 1864
ordered to furnish guards to convey prisoners
(order) Feb.
15th, 1864
to Fort Sumter, GA (Andersonville). Interesting
note: A Colonel O'Neal is depicted in Ted
Turner's "Andersonville" telling Union soldiers that they will be released
if they decide to
fight for the South. (letter
from Andersonville survivor) (letter
from Lt. Col. Garvin)
Ordered to join Army of Tennessee, Genl.
Joseph Johnston June
7, 1864
Jumble
of orders relating to this posting
Army of Mississippi
(Major General Wm. H. Loring)
June 30, 1864
Walthall's Division (Major General Edward C. Walthall)
Second (Cantey's) Brigade (Colonel Edward A. O'Neal)
26th Alabama (Major David F. Bryan) along with 17th, 29th Alabama &
37th Miss.
Johnston succeeded by John B. Hood July 18, 1864
Army of Mississippi
re-organized into Army of Tennessee, John B. Hood July
29, 1864
Stewart's
Corp (Lt. General Alexander P. Stewart)
Walthall's Division (Major-General Edward C. Walthall)
Cantey's Brigade (Col. Edward A. O'Neal)
26th Alabama (Captain James W. White) August 31, 1864 Division returns
| Georgia Campaign | June
1
September 8, 1864 |
||
| New Hope Church | Battle |
June
1, 1864
|
|
| Kennesaw Mountain | Actions |
June
20-26, 1864
|
|
| Kennesaw Mountain | Battle | report | June 27, 1864 |
| Nickajack Creek | Battle | July 2-5, 1864 | |
| Chattahoochie River | Battle | July 5-17, 1864 | |
| Peachtree Creek | Battle | report | July 20, 1864 |
| Bald Hill | Assault | July 22, 1864 | |
| Seige of Atlanta | Defensive | July 23-Aug. 25, 1864 | |
| Ezra Church | Battle | report | July 28, 1864 |
| Jonesboro | Battle | Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 1864 |
to the command of Cantey's Brigade by command of General Hood October 2, 1864
| Northern Georgia & Alabama | September
29
November 3, 1864 |
||
| Decauter, Alabama | Seige | October 26-29, 1864 | |
| Spring Hill, Tennessee | Battle | November 29, 1864 | |
| Franklin, Tennessee | Battle | reports
Div. Casualties |
November 30, 1864 |
| Nashville, Tennessee | Battle | report | December 15-16, 1864 |
| Retreat from Tennessee | December 17-28, 1864 |
26th Alabama consolidated
with the 1st, 16th & 45th
and formed the 1st regiment
Alabama Infantry
April 9th,
1865
Surrender
Bennett's House, Durham Station,
North Carolina
April 26th, 1865
OLD SOLDIERS REUNION
held in early 1900's at Ebenizer Methodist Church, Fernbank, Alabama
photo
courtesy of Mearl Sims, descendant of John Fleming (top row, fourth from
right)
Bottom left to right: John Curry, Bob Franks, Rueben Todd "Co. K", Jack Wilson, Mr. Holloway, Aaron Godfrey "Co. D", Johnny E. Lavender "3rd Texas Cavalry", and William Lavender.
Top left to right: Wm. Gray "Co. B", Jeff Atkins, Black Smith, Balaam Smith, Big Bill Smith "Co. K", Jay Guin "Co. D", John Fleming "Co. K", Rev. Beatty "staff", John R. Jones "Co. K", Duff Holcomb "Co. H".
Letters courtesy of Ann Lusk, Huntsville, Alabama
Thanks to these letters from John Washington Stanford to his wife Nancy, we now have an idea of how bad the various illnesses hit the 26th in Tuscumbia. Most of these men, being rural farm boys, never were exposed to the kind of close conditions with this many men in their lives. They were exposed to various diseases for the first time, especially measles and they were hit hard! The following are all excerpts of letters from J. W. Stanford.
November 28, 1861
I
had the measles when I left home, but did not know it till I got here.
I took them bad enough the first night I got here bad enough to be very
sick. I went to the Hospital the next morning, and has been here
ever since. But I am about well and doing very well. I hope
when this letter gets to hand that you and family will be in good
health and doint well. I am very well satisfied. We are getting
along finely. All of Captain White's Company is all up but James
Dickinson and a small fellow by the name of John Moore. Dickinson
has the typhoid fever but I think he is getting better. All this
Regiment are getting well of the measles.- - - - -When I had the measles
I never done a thing but drink ginger tea, and drank whiskey moderately
and I done better than any of the rest that took medicine.
January 8, 1862
The health of the Regiment is not very
good, though it is better than it was some back. There are not very
many measles in the Regiment now. Colds and pnuemonia is the most
common complaint now. John Spradlin, Henry Hughes, W. C. Bradford,
W. T. Terrell, James Clour, Thomas Webb and H. R. McGuire and some others
are very sick in our company. Sergeant W. W. Purnell hs been right
sick but is now on the mend.
January 18, 1862
I am in tolerable good
health but not well. I feel as well or better than I did when I left
home. I have no news of importance to wright to you We have
rite smart of sickness here at this time and some very bad cases.
There is something over one hundred men sick in this Regiment and very
near all complaining. The most of our Company is improving.
There is twelve of fifteen of our men in the hospital.
January 26, 1862
J. Mathews is mighty sick
was taken very suddenly and is very low. Send his folks word by the
first chance. There aren't but 14 of our company to go on dress parade.
January 29, 1862
We have a great deal of
sickness here at this time but I hope it won't remain so long. Jay
Mathews is getting better I think. There is not more dangerous cases
I don't think. James Dickinson is right sick but not so bad as he
was before.
February 5, 1862
The health of Regiment
is not good. There is one hundred & three sick in the hospital,
seventeen of our company. Jay Mathews is better, thought the other
day he would not live.
p.s. We have just had an old time riding Benj. Pace on a rail for stealing shoes and marched him through town and sent him home. (I thought I'd just add that as there is no other place to put it and I have no record of this Benj. Pace)
February 11, 1862
The health of our Regiment
better than has been.
Forts'
Henry and Donelson
Sent
to W. R. Smith from W. W. Mackall, assistant Adjutant-General January 18,
1862 (36)
COLONEL: Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, is attacked. General Johnston directs you to move all the efficient men of your regiment by railway to the crossing of the Tennessee and thence to Fort Henry.
Captain David Bryan placed a requisition for arms from Fort Henry on January 27, 1862
How close was the remainder
of the 26th in joining Garvin?
excerpts
of letter from Captain James S. McCoy, Co. B, to his wife (February
5, 1862)
James
Stacy McCoy Collection, M390, Box 1163.01, Folder 1, Western History Collections,
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.
My Dear Companion,
---We all was formed in lines. The Col. told all of us tomorrow at
12 o'clock we would depart to Ft. Henry. There has been a fight there
recently.---
----Some
7 or 8 men are sick in the Hospital, we will leave here and when they get
well they will be sent on to us. I will not right a long letter tonight
to you tonight but when I get to Ft. Henry I will write a long letter to
you and give you a full detail of things in general.
----Direct
your letters to Capt J. S. McCoy, 21 Regt. Ala. Vol., Ft. Henry, Tenn.
They
were to leave for Ft. Henry the day it fell!!!!
Excerpts of letter from John W. Stanford to his
wife Nancy dated January 29, 1862
Letter courtesy of Ann Lusk,
Huntsville, AL.
- - - -I think that we will be ordered to Fort Henry in a few days. Those other companys (Cos. I & K) is going to stay there and I think Col. Smith will carry the balance of us there in a few days. He got a letter from there stating that we could get 30,100 armes if we would come.
Fort
Henry
excerpts of the report from Colonel A. Heiman, Tenth Tennessee Regiment(36)
In the absense of General Tilghman, who is a prisoner in the hands of the
enemy, being next in command of his division, it becomes my duty, and I
have the honor, to submit to you the following report in regard to the
bombard-
ment and surrender of Fort Henry and the subsequent
retreat of it's garrison to Fort Donelson.
The armament of the fort consisted of ten 32-pounders, two 42-pounders,
two 12-pounders, one 24-pounder rifled gun, and one 10-inch columbiad.
The garrison consisted of my regiment, Tenth Tennessee, under command of
Lt. Col. MacGavock; the Fourth Mississippi, Colonel Drake; two
companies of the Third Alabama Battalion, MajorGarvin;
a company of artillery, commanded by Captain Taylor; one company of Forrest's
Cavalry, Captain Millner; and 40 mounted men, acting Captain Milton,
stationed as picket and rocket guard at Bailey's Landing
3 miles below the fort; Captain Culbertson's
light battery (four 6-pounders and one 6-pounder rifled gun), amounting
in all to an aggregate of 1,885 men.
With the exception of the Tenth Tennessee and the Fourth Mississippi these
were all new troops, who had just entered the service. They were
not drilled, were badly equipped, and very indifferently armed with shot-guns
and Tennessee rifles.
On the morning of the 4th of February, at 4:30 o'clock, the sentinal at
our 3 gun battery announced a rocket signal from the picket at Bailey's
Landing. Shortly after daylight pickets from both sides of the river
reported a large fleet coming up, and the smoke from several gunboats now
became visable over the island. I directed Colonel Drake to send
two companies of his regiment and a section of Culbertson's battery to
the rifle pits for the defense of Dover Rd, about three quarters of a mile
from the fort, while Major Garvin
occupied the rifle pits across the road leading to Bailey's Landing.
About 12 o'clock five gunboats came in sight in the main channel.
All the troops, except the heavy artillery force, were marched out of range
of the enemy's guns. At about 1 o'clock the gunboats opened fire
with shell and shot, which was immediately returned by our rifled gun and
columbiad. Their shot fell in and around the fort. Some of
their shells fell a quarter of mile beyond the fort, showing superior range
to our own. None of the shells which fell in the fort exploded, and
but one man was wounded. I reported the result to General Tilghman,
and that the enemy was landing a large force and that additional transports
were arriving. As it was later ascertained, General Grant had 12,000
men between the fort and Bailey's Landing, and General Smith 6,000 men
on the oppisite side of the river.
On the 6th of February at 11 o'clock the gunboats made their appearance
in the chute, seven in number, and formed in line of battle 2 mile from
the fort. General Tilghman ordered the troops to be marched out of
range of the enemy's guns. None were permitted to remain in the fort
but those on duty with the artillery, who were under the command of Captain
Taylor.
General Tilghman, with his staff, took position at the center battery,
to observe the movements of the gunboats and direct the firing of our batteries.
The enemy opened fire with shot and shell, which was returned by our columbiad
and 24-pounder rifled gun until they came within range of the lighter guns,
when the whole eleven guns bearing on the river opened fire. The
enemy's practice improved as they advanced. The firing on both side
was without a moment's intermission. This fearful cannonading had
lasted now over an hour and it was evident the fort could not hold out
much longer.
The flag was hauled down and firing ceased. I returned in person
immediately to the fort for further orders. General Tilghman informed
me that he had surrendered, believing it his duty to do so, as every military
man would see the impossibility of holding the fort against such fearful
odds, and stating to me that I was not included in the surrender as I was
not in the fort at the time the flag was struck, and directed me to continue
the retreat, according to orders, to Fort Donelson by the upper road, having
gained all the time necessary for a safe retreat.
About 3 miles from the fort our rear was attacked by the enemy's calvary.
Their fire was returned hand-
somely by Colonel Gee and Major
Garvin. Major Lee of the Fifteenth Arkansas,
and Captain Leech,
of the Alabama Battalion, were surrounded and made prisoners. We
sustained no other losses.
Fort
Donelson
Report
from General Bushrod Johnson dated March 4, 1862(36)
SIR: Between the hours of 11 and 12 p.m, on February 6th, I received at
Nashville, Tenn., a telegraphic dispatch of same date from Major W. W.
Mackall, assistant adjutant general to General A. S. Johnston, commanding
the Western Department of C. S. Army, ordering me to take instant command
of Fort Donelson.
Upon my arrival, on the night of February 7th, I found at the fort the
troops which under Col. A. Heiman, had reached there during the previous
night from Fort Henry, consisting of; (listed above).
On February 9th, however, General Pillow arrived and assumed command, and
having disposed of the forces for the defense of the place, assigned me
to the command of the left wing, consisting at that time of;
Colonel A. Heiman's brigade
Colonel Davidson's brigade
Colonel Drake's brigade: Fourth Regiment Mississippi Volunteers, Major
Adair; Fifteenth Regiment Arkansas Volunteers, Colonel Gee; two companies
of Twenty-sixth Regiment Alabama Volunteers, Major Garvin; Tennessee Battalion,
Colonel Browder.
A part of Col. Heiman's brigade was posted on the most elevated point on
our left wing, and on it was made the first attack on my command at about
12 m. on February 13th. The enemy's infantry, supported by artillery,
made two assaults, the second one after being re-inforced, and were both
times gallantly repulsed with the period of two hours. During this
attack and until night most of the left wing was exposed to the fire of
sharpshooters and of field artillery.
During February 14th the main attack was made with enemy's gunboats on
our water battteries, which, being on the right wing, did not effect my
command.
Between 12 and 1 a.m. on February 15th it was resolved, in council, convened
by General Floyd, to attack the enemy's strong position on his right, while
General Buckner should assault the enemy on the Wynn's Ferry road.
By this attack it was proposed to roll the enemy's right wing back on his
left, and at least to cut a way for troops to retreat and save our army
from capitulation. A rallying point, far beyond the enemy's lines
was designated, and all the plans were skillfully and minutely adjusted.
At early dawn the head of the column moved, under the orders of General
Pillow, who led them, and very soon engaged the enemy with small arms.
The left brigade, commanded by Colonel Drake,
I placed in position, forming a handsome line, and pressed it forward to
the attack. Colonel Drake's brigade,
under its very gallant, steady, and efficient commander, moved almost constantly
under my eye, and, when necessary, at my command. It moved in admirable
order, preserving in a perfect manner a regular, well connected line, almost
constantly under fire, driving the enemy slowly from hill to hill until
about 1 p.m., when we reached a position nearly opposite the center of
the left wing of our trenches. Here, observing the enemy in force
in front and no troops supporting us on our right, I sent an aide
to ask for re-enforcements, and received an order to report in person to
the commanding general. It was ordered this brigade should for a
time be displayed before the enemy. Very soon I found the enemy had
advanced and engaged this brigade. I directed Colonel Forrest (Nathan
Bedford) with a portion of his cavalry, to
give aid to Colonel Drake,
if necessary and practicible. Colonel Forrest soon returned and reported
to me that he had advised Colonel Drake
to fall back. Yet the enemy were finally driven back in gallant style
by the brigade with heavy loss to them and without the loss of single man
on our side (I've found some).
Having nearly exhausted his ammunition, Colonel Drake fell back with his
brigade into the rifle pits. Thus ended the conflict on February
15th.
The left wing remained in the trenches until between 1 and 2 a.m. on the
16th, when, having received orders from the commanding general, I drew
out the whole of my command with a view to cut our way through the enemy's
right and retreat. The left wing was duly paraded in column of regiments
by 3 a.m. After awaiting some time for orders I sent my aide to report
my command ready to move, and received a written communication from General
Buckner to the effect that the command had devolved upon him, and directing
me to await further orders. Shortly afterwards, I repaired to the
general's headquarters, and there learned that surrender of our forces
was proposed and I was directed to communicate with enemy's pickets and
to request that our forces should not be fired upon.
Casualties
of Fort Donelson through research
Present
Wounded Killed Feb. 15
Died of wounds* *Died in prison
| #82 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
#I have found 82 and have found a requisition by Major David Bryan for 80 cartridge boxes and belts, slings and waist belts and plates dated January 21, 1862 in Fort Henry.
excerpt of letter from John W. Stanford to his wife
Nancy enroute to Richmond, Virginia
Letter courtesy of Ann Lusk,
Huntsville, AL.
March 6, 1862, Abbingdon, Virginia
We was five days landing here and we have been
here 6 days but we leave here tonight or this evening. Brother James
has got themselves on in the hospital and we will leave him here until
he gets well. Him and 10 more of our boys.
Yorktown
excerpts
of letter to David Ballenger from Captain Isaac Sanders dated April 26,
1862
Schoff Collections, Clements
Library, University of Michigan
Most Worthy Friend,
Glad to hear from you, but sorry to hear you are so unwell. Hope
you will soon get able to come and be with us, for I, and all the rest,
want to see you, and to have your assistance, for now is a trying times
with us. There are a great many sick in our Company. F. T.
Welburn has come to us some weeks ago, and we were glad to see him.
David, we never got into the war until we came to Yorktown. The Yankees
are in shot of us on land and water every day and night. They throw
bombs and balls at us, some of them weighing 120 lbs. They fall into
our camp, but have not killed any that I know of.
The 26th Regiment lay under heavy bombardment for five hours, and the next
day the right wing took two or three rounds with their muskets at the Yankees.
Don't know the result. It was across a creek and we could not cross
to see what was done. We are on the right wing. I have command
of the 2nd Division, that is, our place or letter, is changed to "D".
We have new field officers. Colonel O'Neal, from Florence, Alabama,
is our Commander.
Our boys all stand it very well and are anxious for the fight to come off,
and, David, it will be the bloodiest fight that has been in the Confederate
States.
Yours in the best of love and friendship,
Captain I. H. Sanders
(p.s.
on document from Colonel O'Neal to Gen. H. Baylor, Richmond, Dated May
1, 1862)
p.s The Yankees shelled us furiously last night but hurt no one.
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Seven
Pines (May 31st - June 1st, 1862)
Excerpts
of the report by Brigadier-General G. J. Rains, Commanding (36)
Pursuant
to the instructions of Major-General Hill, on the field of battle, Brigadier-General
Rodes' brigade being actively engaged with an overpowering mass of the
enemy, with the two right regiments of my command, soon followed by the
third and part of the fourth, we penetrated the woods, to take the enemy
in rear and drive him from his batteries, now playing with fearful effect
upon our troops. We found ourselves in a swamp, but pressed on with
alacrity until we had gained the rear of the enemy. Here we halted,
directed by kind Providence, exactly at the right place, where I made a
change of front by a wheel in the thicket, and advancing found ourselves
facing the foe. Some of our men had fired on what I was afraid to
be some of our own troops, but it proved otherwise from the dead bodies
we passed, and the enemy must have been firing there upon one another.
As soon as we reached the edge of the thicket, seeing the enemy in front,
I ordered the fire. For a moment it ran along the line, not fairly
yet in position, and was then followed by a long, loud, and continued roll
of musketry for full fifteen min-
utes without cessation. I had heard
many a volley before, but never one so prolonged and continuous.
We evidently were unexpected there, were near at hand to the foe, and struck
them like an avalanche. Their shot and cannon balls came like hail
into the bushes around us, but men lay close to the ground and only rose
up on the knee to fire. The enemy were in great force before us,
at least ten to one, and increasing by reinforcement, and at their fire
about 100 of our men broke to the rear, but happening to be just there
I easily rallied them, and they fought like heroes, and more than redeemed
the act of momentary panic.
All acquitted themselves well, and when we emerged from the woods and swept
through the desolated camp of the enemy, amid their dead and wounded, their
property lying everywhere around, not one article was taken by the men,
who maintained their ranks like true soldiers and ultimately passed the
night in line of battle with out fire or light in another part of
the woods, ready to receive and check the enemy should he advance, also
taking a number of prisoners.
My brigade was again called upon the next day to resist the enemy actively
engaged out of view with another part of our army, but I presume he had
enough of the fight and carnage for once and not appear.
Our loss in the battle was more than one-seventh of the whole brigade,
and of these very few not killed or wounded, and I regret being obliged
to report Col. E. A. O'Neal, Twenty-sixth
Alabama Regiment, badly injured by a cannon
slug, which killed his adjutant (Edmond Pendleton
Major).
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Seven
Days (June 25th - July 1st, 1862)
Relevant
Excerpts of report by Brigadier-General Robert E. Rodes, July 19, 1862
(36)
Gaines Mill (Cold Harbor) June 27, 1862
I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my brigade,
composed of the Third, Fifth, Sixth, Twelfth, and Twenty-Sixth
Alabama Regiments, and Carter's Battery, making
an aggregate of about 1,460 men, from the evening of June 26th to that
of June 28 last:
In common
with the other brigades of Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill, mine took position on
the Mechanicsville turnpike on the morning of June 26. We lay there
until late in the afternoon, when we moved across the Chickahominy, taking
position in the between Mechanicsville and the Chickahominy.
Next morning, following the preceding brigades of the division, we came
under heavy artillery fire at New Cold Harbor, when we were ordered to
take shelter for a time at this point. We were subjected to a heavy
fire for half hour or more, but lost only two men, Lt. Ramsey and a private
of the Fifth Alabama. I sent out two from my staff to communicate
with the major-general commanding, but in moving forward in person communicated
with him myself, and under his order moved forward in line of battle to
the support of General Garland in contemplated attack upon the enemy's
battery to the left of Old Cold Harbor. Before the attack was made,
however, the position of both Garland's brigade and mine was changed, both
brigades being wheeled on Garland's left to the rear. Then we were
ordered forward by Major-General Jackson to attack the enemy in front of
New Cold Harbor, coming into the fight on the left of his troops.
In crossing an almost impenetrable swamp to get into action great confusion
ensued, from the fact that at the same point several brigades were crossing
at the same time, and upon emerging from the swamp and striking the field
beyond three of my regiments, the Fifth, Twelfth, and Twenty-sixth,
were found on the left and behind, and the Sixth and Third Alabama on the
right of Anderson's brigade, which was in front of us.
The brigades
of Generals Anderson and Garland having in the mean time, with three of
my regiments, been brought into some sort of alignment, were ordered to
charge. The charge was intended to be general. the whole line
having a moment before paused and hesitated, nearly if not the whole of
the left of the division, as far as one in my position could see, broke
and retreated in apparent confusion. I thought the whole of the brigade
on the left of mine as well as my three regiments were involved in
it. I found, however, that the confusion before spoken of on the
left of the line had not been general; that my three first-named
regiments had continued the charge, and had successfully and almost alone
beaten back two large bodies of the enemy on the top of the hill, besides
taking a battery of the enemy directly in our front. The Fifth, which
took the battery, was sustained in this portion of the charge by the Twenty-sixth
only, the Twelfth, in some confusion, having shifted to the left late in
the evening and joined the troops which came up on the left of Hill's division.
All the regiments and regimental officers acted handsomely, but the Fifth
and Twenty-sixth
were especially distinguished for their great courage. I feel no
troops ever acted better than they did on this occasion. Men and
officers all acted nobly.
Col. C. C. Pegues, of the Fifth, wound desperately in the charge and has
since died. Upon falling he called the next officer in command to
him, Major Hobson, and told him that the Fifth has always been in the advance,
and that was his last wish that it should then go ahead and no regiment
to pass it. Major Hobson gallantly carried out his wishes, and led
the regiment on constantly ahead of all others of the division except the
Twenty-sixth,
which kept, under its brave colonel (O'Neal),
steadily with it.
Gaines Mill, Virginia(36) June 27, 1862
Regiment killed wounded total
| 3rd Alabama | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| 5th Alabama | 21 | 45 | 66 |
| 6th Alabama | 3 | 15 | 18 |
| 12th Alabama | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| 26th Alabama | 4 | 28 | 32 |
White
Oak Swamp
June 30, 1862
Excerpts
of report from Major-General D. H. Hill, command of his Division(36)
Jackson's command, my division
leading, passed Savage Station early in the morning of the 30th instant,
and followed the line of the Yankee retreat toward White Oak Creek.
We picked up about 1,000 prisoners and so many arms, that I detached the
Fourth and Fifth North Carolina Regiments to take charge of both.
At White Oak Creek we found
the bridge destroyed and the Yankee forces drawn up on the other side.
Twenty-six guns from my division and five from Whitings division opened
a sudden and unexpected fire upon the Yankee batteries and infantry.
A feeble response was attempted, but silenced in a few minutes. Munford's
cavalry and my skirmishers crossed over, but the Yankees got some guns
under cover of a wood which commanded the bridge, and the cavalry was compelled
to turn back. The skirmishers staid over all day and night.
We attempted no further crossing that day. The hospitals and a large
number of sick and wounded at White Oak Creek fell into our hands.
Major-Generals Longstreet and A. P. Hill attacked the Yankees in flank
at Frazier's Farm (Glendale), some 2 miles distant in advance of us that
day, and a corresponding vigorous attack by Major-General Huger on their
rear must have resulted most disastrously to them. The obstacles
he met, which prevented his advance, may have been of a character not to
be overcome. I do not know and cannot judge of them. The bridge
being repaired, Jackson's command crossed over, Brigadier-General Whiting's
division leading, and effected a junction with General Lee near a church
a few miles from Malvern Hill. Whiting's Division was turned off
the road to the left at the foot of this hill and mine to the right.
We had to advance across an open field and ford a creek before getting
under cover of the woods. We were in full view while effecting these
objects, and suffered heavily from the Yankee artillery.
Malvern
Hill, Virginia
July 1, 1862
Excerpts
of report from Col. John B. Gordon, 6th Alabama,
commanding Rodes' Brigade(36)
On
the evening of 28th ultimo the command of the brigade was turned over to
me by Brigadier-General Rodes, his physical prostration forcing him to
retire.
At 3 a.m. Monday, June
30, the brigade was put in motion, crossing the Chickahominy at Grapevine
Bridge, and halted during the afternoon an night on the Williamsburg road
near White Oak Creek. Here one regiment (the Twelfth Alabama) was
sent across the creek as picket, and was next day ordered back to Richmond
in charge of prisoners.
Continuing the pursuit
of the enemy, on July 1, we were halted near Malvern Hill. As ordered
by Major-General hill, I formed the brigade in line of battle on the right
of the division, and threw out a portion of the Third Alabama as skirmishers
covering the right flank. Remaining in this position for two hours,
I received an order to move immediately forward. Ordering the Third
Alabama to call in it's skirmishers, and by a rapid forward movement to
join the brigade, I moved on. The enemy's batteries were distant
about 1 mile and the ground intervening exceedingly rough. Passing
across an open meadow and up a precipitous hill through dense woods, one
of the regiments of General Anderson's brigade (Colonel Tew) reported to
me as having lost it's brigade. Forming it upon the left of this
brigade, I moved forward, halting when near the open field in which the
enemy had stationed his batteries. I here sent forward Capt. H. A.
Whiting, assistant adjutant-general, to ascertain the respective positions
of the Confederate and Federal batteries. Upon his report I half-wheeled
the brigade to the left, and moving forward placed it under cover of a
low hill, in sight of the enemy's batteries, to await orders, with the
Twenty-sixth Alabama on the right and the fifth Alabama next on the right,
both immediately in rear of the position occupied by our batteries.
The Twenty-sixth Alabama
and the right wing of the Fifth were suffering from the enemy's artillery
fire directed at our batteries. I therefore at once moved these portions
of the brigade by the left flank in rear of the Third Alabama, which I
had previously brought into line. This was my position when Major-General
Hill gave me the order to charge the batteries in our front, distant 700
or 800 yards across an open field. I ordered Capt. H. A. Whiting
to bring the Twenty-sixth Alabama
and the right wing of the Fifth Alabama as rapidly as possible into line.
The whole ground in front of the Twenty-sixth,
Fifth, and Third Alabama Regiments was swept by the fire of the artillery,
which had, in rapid succession, silenced two Confederate batteries in our
front. As there was no artillery to attract the enemy's attention,
his batteries from the beginning, and his infantry finally, poured a most
destructive fire upon my ranks.
Never was the courage of
troops more severely tried and heroically exhibited than in this charge.
They moved on under this terrible fire, breaking and driving off the first
line of infantry, until within a little over 200 yards of the batteries.
Here the canister and musketry mowed down my already thinned ranks so rapidly
that it became impossible to advance without support, and had it been possible
to reach the batteries, I have high authority to back my own judgment that
it would have been at the sacrifice of the entire command. I therefore
ordered the men to lie down and open fire, and immediately sent back to
notify Major-General Hill of my position and to ask him to send up support.
A brigade was sent forward, but failed to reach my line. The troops
sent up from another division on the right had already fallen back, and
refused to rally under the efforts made by Captain Whiting, assistant adjutant-general,
and myself. Nearly one-half of the brigade had been killed or wounded,
leaving me about 600 men able to load and fire. With the enemy's
batteries and heavy lines of infantry concentrating their fire on my ranks
it was folly, without immediate and steady support, to hold the brigade
longer in this position. I therefore ordered it to fall back.
There were many exhibitions
of individual heroism, but, I must call special attention to gallant conduct
of Col. E. A. O'Neal, of the Twenty-sixth
Alabama----------
J. B. Gordon
Colonel, Commanding Rodes' Brigade
Battle of Malvern Hill(36) July 1, 1862
Regiment killed wounded total
| 3rd Alabama | 37 | 163 | 200 |
| 5th Alabama | 26 | 61 | 87 |
| 6th Alabama | 15 | 29 | 44 |
| 12th Alabama | --- | --- | ---- |
| 26th Alabama * | 13 | 73 | 86 |
218
at Malvern Hill
+ 9
casualties at White Oak Swamp
+32
casualties at Gaines Mill
259
estimated strength before Seven Days
127
casualties of 26th Alabama in Seven Days according to report from Medical
Director
49%
casualties in Regiment from Seven Days Campaign
Seven
Days a summary
Excerpts of report from Major-General
D. H. Hill, command of Division (36)
The actual loss in battle
was, in my opinion, greater on our side that on that of the Yankees, though
most person's differ with me. The advantage in position, range, caliber,
and number of guns was with them. The prestige of victory and the
enthusiasm inspired by it were with us. Their masses, too, were so
compact that shot, shell, and ball could hardly fail to accomplish a noble
work.
My division was employed
during the week after the battle in gathering up arms and accoutrements,
burying our own and the Yankee dead, and removing the wounded of both armies.
We then returned to our old camp near Richmond, with much cause for gratitude
to the Author of all good for raising the siege of that city and crowning
our arms with glorious success.
The following list of killed
and wounded will show that we lost 4,000 out of a little less than 10,000
taken into the field.
Excerpts
of letter from John W. Stanford, Co. H. to his wife Nancy dated July 13,
1862
letter courtesy of Ann Lusk, Huntsville,
AL.
I will try and tell you
the some of the times in the recent battle. Thy commenst on Friday
about until Tuesday. We drove them before us like hogs. They
fell back 30 miles until they come to their gunboats. We taken all
their guns and provisions, wagons and horses and clothing and all they
had besides 10,000 prisoners. They have fell back to Yorktown.
They can't stand the Ala boys a charging their batterys. With a shout
our brigade had taken all their large batterys. Our brigade was 5
Ala Regiments. There was the 6th Ala, 12 Ala, 5 Ala, 3 Ala and the
26 Ala commanded by General Rhodes. They went into the fight with
828 men and came out with 418 besides all the rest killed and wounded.
Our Regiment is all killed and wounded but 110. It is cut to pieces.
There is nobody killed that you know but James Armstrong (thanks
to this letter I now know what happened to this man)
and I don't think that there will be anymore fighting here soon.
Private Stanford contacted
measles in Tuscumbia but actually didn't come down with them until he arrived
in Virginia. While recovering from them he contracted typhoid and
was hospitalized from when he arrived in Virginia up till this letter.
His brother James died in Chimbarazo Hospital on May 10, 1862. John
died in Staunton, Virginia of pnuemonia on December 29, 1862 and is buried
in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton.
Battle
of Boonesborough (South Mountain) September
14, 1862
Relevant
excerpts from report of Brigadier-General Robert E. Rodes(36)
I have the honor herewith to report the operations of this brigade during
the actions of September 14th in Maryland.
On the morning of the 14th my brigade relieved Anderson's about half a
mile west of Boonesborough. Toward noon it was ordered to follow
Ripley's brigade to the top of the South Mountain. Overtaking Ripley's
brigade on the mountain, it was halted, and immediately reported to Major
General Hill. After looking over the field of battle, I was ordered
by Major General Hill to take position on the ridge immediately to the
left of the gap through which the main road runs (Frosttown Gorge, Turner's
gap). Remaining there three quarters of an hour, part of the time
under artillery fire, and throwing our scouts and skirmishers to the left
and front, I was then ordered to occupy another bare hill about three quarters
of a mile still farther to the left. The whole brigade was moved
to that hill, crossing, in doing so, a deep gorge which separated the hills.
This movement left a wide interval between the right of my brigade, which
in it's last position rested in the gorge, and the balance of the division,
which being reported to General Hill, together with the fact that no troops
supported the battery on the first mentioned ridge, by his order I sent
back one of my regiments (the Twelfth Alabama) to support the battery.
By this time the enemy's line of battle was pretty well developed and in
full view. It became evident that he intended to attack with a line
covering both ridges and the gorge before mentioned, and extending some
half a mile to my left. I had, immediately after my arrival on the
extreme left, discovered that the the hill there was accessible to artillery,
and that a good road, passing by the left of said hill from the enemy's
line, continued immediately in my rear and entered the main road about
half a mile west of the gap. Under these circumstances, I sent for
artillery, and determined upon the only plan by which the enemy could be
prevented from immediately obtaining possession of said road, and thus
marching entirely in our rear without difficulty, and that was to extend
my line as far as I could to the left, to let the right rest in the gorge,
still, and to send to my superiors for reinforcements to continue the line
from my right to the gap on the main road, an interval of three-quarters
of mile at least. Having thrown out skirmishers along the whole front
and to the left, they very soon became engaged with the enemy's skirmishers.
This
was about 3 p. m. and it was perfectly evident then that my force of about
1,200 muskets was opposed to one which outflanked mine on either side by
at least half a mile. I thought the enemy's force opposed to my brigade
was least a division. In a short time the firing became steady along
the whole line, the enemy advancing very slowly. The danger of his
possessing the top of the left hill, and thus being in my rear, became
so imminent that I had to cause my left regiment (6th Alabama) to move
further left. By this time the enemy, though gallantly met by all
four of the regiments with me, had penetrated between them, and had begun
to swing their extreme right around toward my rear, making for the head
of the gorge, up the bottom and sides of which the whole force, except
the Sixth Alabama, had to retreat, if at all.
The Twenty-sixth Alabama,
which had been placed on my right, was by this time completely demoralized;
it's Colonel (O'Neal) was wounded, and the men mingled in utter confusion
with some South Carolina stragglers on the summit of the hill, who stated
that their brigade had been compelled to give way, and had retired.
Notwithstanding this, if true, left my rear entirely exposed to give again
(I had not time or means to examine the worth of their statements).The
Twenty-sixth was isolated with no friendly troops on either flank within
sight of each other. The Twenty-sixth was the far right Regiment
with the 5th Alabama out of sight to their left. The Twenty-sixth
was fighting portions of the 12th, 13th and 7th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiments.
The 12th head-on, the 13th on the left flank while also engaging the 5th
Alabama's right flank, and the 7th came in a little later and hit their
unprotected right flank. According to Lt. James Silas Odom of Company
K, there were only 3 left in his company at the end of the battle.
This would take into account also that most of the company at that time
were just getting exchanged from their capture at Fort Donelson.
My loss up to this time had been heavy in all the regiments except the
Twelfth Alabama. The enemy by this time were nearly on top
of the highest peak, and were pushing on, when Gordon's Regiment , unexpectedly
to them, opened fire on their front and checked them. The last stand
was so disastrous to the enemy that it attracted the attention of the stragglers,
even many of whom Colonel Battle and I had been endeavoring to organize,
and who were just then on the flank of that portion of the enemy engaged
with Gordon, and for a few minutes they kept up a brisk enfilading fire
upon the enemy. Finding his fire turning from Gordon upon them, and
that another body of Federal troops were advancing upon them they speedily
fell back. It was now so dark that it was difficult to distinguish
objects at short musket range, and both parties ceased firing. Directing
Colonel Gordon to move his regiment to his right and to the rear, so as
to cover the gap, I endeavored to gather up stragglers form the other regiments.
Colonel Battle still held together a handful of his men. These, together
with the remnants of the Twelfth, Fifth, and Twenty-sixth Alabama Regiments,
were assembled at the gap, and were speedily placed alongside of Gordon's
regiment, which by this time had arrived in the road ascending the mountain
from the gap forming a line on the edge of the woods parallel to and about
200 yards from the main road. This position we held till 11 o'clock
at night, when we were ordered to take the Sharpsburg road and to stop
at Keedysville, which we did. We had rested about an hour, when I
was ordered to proceed to Sharpsburg with all the force under my command--Colquitt's
brigade and mine--to drive out a cavalry force reported to be there.
In this engagement my loss was as follows:
excerpts of report of Major General D. H. Hill (36)
Should the truth ever be known, the battle of South Mountain, as far as my division was concerned, will be regarded as one of the most remarkable and creditable of the war. The division had marched all the way from Richmond, and the straggling had been enormous in consequence of heavy marches, deficient commissariat, want of shoes, and insufficient officers. Owing to these combined causes, the division numbered less than 5,000 men the morning of September 14, and had five roads to guard, extending over a space of as many miles. This small force successfully resisted, without support, for eight hours, the whole Yankee army, and when its supports were beaten, still held the roads, so that our retreat was effected without the loss of a gun, wagon, or an ambulance. Rodes' brigade immortalized itself-----.
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) (36)
On the 15th, after resting
on the heights south of Sharpsburg long enough to get a scanty meal and
to gather stragglers, we moved back through that place to the advanced
position in the center of the line of battle before the town. Here,
subsisting on green corn mainly and under an occasional artillery fire,
we lay until the morning of the 17th, when began the engagement of September
17. The fight opened early, on the left, but my brigade was not engaged
until late in the forenoon. About 9 o'clock I was ordered to move
to the left and front to assist Ripley, Colquitt, and McRae, who had already
engaged the enemy, and I had hardly begun the movement before it was evident
that the two latter had met with a reverse and that the best service I
could render them on the field generally would be to form a line in rear
of them and endeavor to rally them before attacking or being attacked.
Major-General Hill held the same view, for at this moment I received an
order from him to halt and form a battle line in the hollow of an old and
narrow road just beyond the orchard, and with my left about 150 yards from
and east of the Hagerstown Road. In a short time a small portion
of Colquitt's brigade formed on my left, and I assumed the command of it.
This brought my left to the Hagerstown Road. General Anderson's brigade,
occupying the same road, had closed up on my right.
A short time after my brigade
assumed it's new position, and while the men were busy improving their
position by piling rails along their front, the enemy deployed in our front
in three beautiful lines, all vastly outstretching ours, and commenced
to advance steadily. Unfortunately, no artillery opposed them in
their advance. Carter's battery had been sent to take position in
rear, by me, when I abandoned my first position, because he was left without
support, and because my own position had not then been fully determined.
Three pieces, which occupied a fine position immediately on my front, abandoned
it immediately after the enemy's skirmishers opened on them. The
enemy came to the crest of the hill overlooking my position, and for five
minutes bravely stood telling fire, however. In this position, receiving
an order from General Longstreet to do so, I endeavored to charge them
with my brigade and that portion of Colquitt's which was on my immediate
left. (After researching this battle,
I've come to
the conclusion that the 26th was positioned the furthest left and attached
to Colquitt's right). The charge failed,
mainly because the Sixth Alabama Regiment, not hearing the command, did
not move forward with the others, and because Colquitt's men did not advance
far enough. That part of the brigade which moved forward found themselves
in an exposed po