The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-24


 were at the same time trained in infan-
 try tactics. It was to this severe dis- ciplne that the regiment owed much or Its subsequent efficiency.
 The First Alabama was composed or tnt best material of the State; men actuated
 solely by principal and patriotism. m its ranks were such men as Cochran, Pugh and Bullock: and the esprit uu
 characterized the First Alabama Tn al. it's eventfuI career through the war. A portion of the 1st Alabama was engageo in the fight on Santa Rosa Island, durlns It's whole duty. The whole regiment par ticipated in the heavy artillery pomparo- ments of the 23rd of November, ana tne ist of January, 1862, and for It's galiantry
 on these occasions received comphmen- tary orders from General Bragg. Like all the Pensacola army, this regiment suffered very severely from measles. camp fever and all the diseases incident to raw troops in a hot latitude.
 At the end of the twelve months ser vice, the 1st Alabama, being the oldest regiment of the Confederate army, was first called upon to re-enlist for the war. It promptly responded, and seven corr panies were enlisted for the war; cap tains Clark and Bakers companies from
 Barbour County, and Captain Posey from Mobile not re-enllsting. The re-enss listed men and officers were furlougneo home to recruit, and upon their return the seven companies were full to the maximum. In the meantime, three new companies were raised for the regiment. One from Montgomery and Autauga' commanded by Captain J. F.. Wnltneio' One from Macon, Captain c. A. stanton.
 One from Barbour, Captain William
 Pruitt. The regiment was reorganizeo
 by the election of Colonel, l u. W. S.esu. a.
 Major, S l.. Knox. Appointed Quarter
 master, Captain Duncan Carmichael;
 Commissary. Captain Brand Sullins; sur
 geon. pr. shackelford; Adjutant, 5. D. Colonel Clayton had resigned for the purpose of raising the 39th Alabama, ana was afterwards promoted to Ma1or-
 Generalship. Major Jere Williams retir- ed from the army in consequence of fec ole health.
 After the fall of Fort Donelson, the
 1st Alabama was ordered to the garrison of Island Ten on the Mississippi River, reaching there on the 18th of March, 1862 one thousand strong. It partici- pated in the severe and trying siese which ended in the surrender Of the sm al force left there for the purpose oI sacrifice while the Qualifications of Fort Pillow were being strengthened. Ine conduct of this regiment was especially conspicuous, amid the general demoran, ration resulting from a badly organized army under incompetent commanders. This regiment maintained its discipline throughout, receiving complimentary or ders from the general commandins. small battalion of the regiment escaped cautl,re by wadding and swimming, when necessary, the Reelfoot Lake, whlcn lay 1 In the rear of the army, and preventea lts retreat. The mass of the regiment, apout
 800 men and oIncers' were distri9utea 9aes os prisoners of war in military prisons oL the Northwest; the men principally n Chicago and Springfield, H.; the omSers on Johnston's Island QLake Erie). They
 remained in prison for six months, enauI- , ing all the hardships ana insults ilci-
 dent to such a life.
 During this six months. the Dattanon
 of the regiment which had escaped cap
 ture, was doing efticlent nei serVies' IsheIl. %
 first in the defence of Fort Pillow, ana
 after its evacuation, in the brigade soI the lamented General Vilnplgue, Tn dne
 campaign of the summer of 1862, in North
 Mississippi. This battalion participated in the hard-fought battle of Corinth, ano
 constituted a portion of the rear guard
 of the army in the difficult retreat after that disaster.
 The 1st Alabama was released from
 prison on the first general exchange or prisoners at Vicksburg,. on the ioth oL September 1862. It rendezvoused a rev days in camp at Jackson, Miss. Here, | through the kindness of the ladies Of | Mobile, the regiment was re-clotheai no furloughs being granted men or oIncers. Without being even armed, It was at once ordered to Port Hudson, on the MississiIpl where it was joined by its | gallant little battalion. Upon summing l up here it was found that the regiment | had lost three hundred men, by the cam paign of Island Number Ten. and the resulting Imprisonment of six months; | one hundred and fifty having actuahy died in prison. . | Under the thorough recruiting system | always adopted by this regiment, It, was | soon filled up to its original standard, and It's discipline and efficiency restored 1 under the firm. but impartial, commanu | of Colonel Steedman, the thorough sol- | dier commanding it. At Port Hudson, 1 the regiment was again assigned to heavy | batteries which the men had to con | struct and mount after great lapor. com
 ing as they did Into this malarial region 1 In the fall, debilltated by imprisonment, | the men suffered greatly from malariai | fever and diarrhoea. At this time and af- rewards, Drs Hamilton of Mobile and Madding of North Alabama were sur
 geon and assistant surgeon for the ree1- 1 ment and were always favorites with It. In the memorable siege of Port Hudson, | which began on the 21th of May l66S, the
 lst Alabama especially distinguished it.
 self Those who participated in It's un- equal struggle, give to this regiment the | highest praise for the conspicuous gal
 lantry with which their tried soldiers
 repulsed the numerous assaults maoe py | the enemy upon It's lines; also for the
 accomplishing fortitude with which they
 stood the scorching rays of summer
 sun, and the pinchings Of hunger when
 exhausted. When called upon by the
 commanding General to know if they would eat mule meat rather than surren- : | der theX replied: Yes. give us dog, 1T 1 necessaryv The loss of the regiment
 during the siege was about l5O men: | killed and wounded. With the balance or | the little army, this regiment was again | surrendered. but the non-commissioned | officers and prlvates were paroied ana
 permitted to go to their homes as best | they could, through the pine wastes oi East Louisiana, South Mississippi and | West Alabama. The officers of the regl-
 ment were kept as prisoners of war. For l two months they were confined In prison l in New Orleans; thence they were sent | by sea to New York, and from there by | rail to Johnson Island, on Lake Erie. Tht l majority of these gallant officers were | never exchanged, but languished in tht
 various Northern prisons for nearly two | years, suffering all the rigors of the un' | civilized retaliatory measures so much IT | vogue during the last year of this hor' rible war.
 After a short furlough. the men of this 1, regiment and the few officers who had | escaped capture, were ordered to rem dezvous on the 18th of September, 1883, | in parole camp at Cahawba. On the | 18th of October, 1863, they were declared
 exchanged; and on the 10th of November, 1 the regiment, under command Of Major | Samuel l.. Knox, reported to General
 Joseph F. Johnston. at Meridian, Miss,
 mastering 6i0 muskets Here the regl- ment participated in the campaign against | General sherman. in his famous raid . from Vicksburg to Meridian. When the l army reached the Tombigbee River, the | 1st Alabama was ordered to the garri- | sons of Forts Powell and Gaines. where | it reported to Major General Maury on
 the 18th of March After short stay