The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-08
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES
 .. AND HISTORY OF ALABAMA.
THOMAS M. OWEN, Director. sEsSS%F1NASse ss Ss ee. zs eess< <SSsf<<::fG

ton of this officer, he became colonel. which position he filled to the entire sat isfaction of his regiment and superior officers, until the term of service. for which the regiment enlisted expired. In the first day of the battle of Shiloh, Colo nel Coltart, while actively engaged in the discharge of his duties. received a painful wound in the ankle, which com pelled him to leave the field. He was known to all as a most zealous and ef- ficient oficer-never faltering or waver- ing In the hour of danger and always ready to lead where he directed his men to go. He was a martinet in discipline, yet his requirements of his men were predicated upon good strong practical sense, and always promotive of the in- terest and good order of his command. His impartiality as an officer served to ficers equally as much as did his unques- tionable courage and gallantry on the field
 After his retirement from the field of Shiloh, the command of the 18th devel- oped upon Lieutenant-Colonel w. D. Chadwick. whose conduct in the first battle of Manassas, while acting captain of the immortal 4th Alabama, had won the 'fghting parson." His conduct, his fearless bearing and the skillful and prompt management of his regiment, on the field of Shiloh. added to his merited reputation as a soldier Many who par ticipated, and others who witnessed, can never forget the bold and daring charge that he led on the enemy in strong po- sition behind a large barn, which effect ed the capture of the Federal brigade of General Prentiss. Colonel w. D. Chad wick Is a Presbyterian minister. in which capacity he has off1ciated in Huntsville, Ala. for a number of years: much be-
 loved by those whose spiritual welfare has been entrusted to his watchful care and highly respected and esteemed by the entire community and all who know him: He Is a man of sterling integrity. and great moral worth. and amid all the vicisitudes, trials and temptations which
 besieged and beset a soldiers life, he never even mamentarily forgot Or lost sight of his duties as Christian. and the high and sacred position he held as a minister of the Gospel. His exemplary
 course, his consistency as a Christian, the high consideration and respect he en- tertained for his men, the zeal and en-
 ergy he evinced In supplying their wants,
 his kind and gentle ministrations to them in sickness has endeared the name of Colonel Chadwick to all who served under
 him, and invoked the blessings of God upon his head.
 Major Gwin was also wounded in the
 battle of Shiloh. arm broken. very
 limited acquaintance with this onhcer prevents me from giving a sketch of his
 character. He was quite a young man
 to be, at the early stage of the war a , field officer. but his conduct on the field convinced those who followed him that he was worthy. the position he filled The 26th regiment. after the battle or Shiloh and the death of General Glad den, was placed in the brigade of General Gardner, an efficient and able commando CT, who afterwards was made the com
 mander of Port Hudson, and was spe,
 eially distinguished for hiS able and heroic defence of that besieged point.
 The 18th Alabama regiment, by reason of regiment In the Virginia army bear ing the same number, commanded by the gallant Colonel E. A. ONeal of Florence, Ala, was changed from the 18th to the 50th Alabama. under which number IL endured the hardships of the Kentucky
 campaign under Bragg, engaged Tn the
 battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and all battles and campaigns up to the surrender of General Johnston.
 But I cannot close this imperfect and rude sketch of the 18th without noticing
 Tracy of the 18th Alabama. regiment which was constantly attached, through out the war to the same brigade lie
 succeeded Colonel Joe Wheeler !after- colonelcy of the 18th. and was subse- quently promoted to the rank of Briga- dler- General, and ordered to Mississippi:
 He fell mortally wounded at the battle Of
 skikrmish line. General Tracy was one of the youngest Generals in the Cum berland army. He was a native of Geor- gia, having moved to Huntsville, Ala, where he married a most estima ble lady.
 and became a citizen, enjoying a most lucrative practice in his profession of law He was highly beloved and esteem ed by all who knew him, and no man yielded up his life on the altar of South ern liberty with fairer and brighter hopes of political renown than opened before and invited the young and gifted Tracy General Tracy was a warm and enthu- siastic supporter of Breckinridge, in which capacity on the stump in North Alabama bc gained an enviable charac- ablest and first minds of the State wee