BY
DANIEL P. SMITH.
PRATTVILLE, ALA.
PUBLISHED BY THE SURVIVORS.
1885.
Burk & McFetridge,
Printers,
306-308 Chestnut St.
Phila.
The First Alabama Regiment of Infantry was organizedunder the Act of the Legislature authorizing the enlistmentof troops for twelve months. Three companies were raisedin Barbour county by Capts. Alpheus Baker, John Clark andJere. Williams; two in Pike, by Capts. Augustus Owen andDawson; one in Wilcox, by Capt. I. G. W. Steadman; onein Tallapoosa, by Capt. J. D. Meadows; one in Talladega,by Capt. L. F. Johnson; one in Lowndes, by Capt. J. D.Conyers; and one in Mobile, by Capt. Ben. Lane Posey.The companies were ordered to rendezvous at Pensacola, forthe purpose of relieving the independent companies at thattime occupying the captured forts, Barrancas and McRae, andthe navy yard. About February 10, 1861, the first companiesarrived at Pensacola, and the others rapidly followed. It wasnot until April that the regimental organization was completed,by the election and appointment of the following officers:Colonel, Henry D. Clayton; Lieutenant-colonel, I. G. W.Steadman; Major, Jere. Williams; Quartermaster, Capt. L.F. Johnson; Commissary, Capt. Henry Shorter; Adjutant,S. H. Dent; Surgeon, J. D. Caldwell, M. D.; Assistant-Surgeon,Walter Curry, M. D.
Soon after its organization, by Act of the State Legislature,but with its own consent, the regiment was mustered into theservice of the Confederate States, and was assigned to duty inFort Barrancas and the heavy batteries along the shore of thebay. Many of these batteries were thrown up by the men ofthe First Alabama, who, thus early in the war, were accustomedto the use of entrenching tools. Military instructionwas not neglected; and, while industriously wielding pickand shovel, the men were thoroughly drilled, both as heavyartillery and infantry.
A portion of the regiment was engaged in the fight on SantaRosa Island, and then the whole regiment served in the batteriesduring the bombardments of the 23d of November, 1861, andthe 1st of January, 1862. For its gallantry on these occasionsit received complimentary mention in Gen. Bragg’s orders.
At the close of twelve months’ service, the regiment wascalled upon to re-enlist for the war, and seven companiespromptly responded. Capts. Baker’s, Clark’s and Posey’scompanies were mustered out, and were replaced by Capt.Knowles’ company, from Macon county; Capt. WilliamPruitt’s, from Barbour; and Capt. J. F. Whitfield’s, fromAutauga. The regiment was reorganized by the election ofthe following officers; Colonel, I. G. W. Steadman; Lieutenant-colonel,M. B. Locke; Major, S. L. Knox; Adjutant,S. D. Steadman; Quartermaster, Capt. Duncan Carmichael;Surgeon, Dr. Schackelford (afterwards succeeded by Dr.Hamilton). The companies were commanded respectively asfollows: Co. A, Capt. J. D. Meadows; Co. B, Capt. Ramsey;Co. C, Capt. Stubbs; Co. D, Capt. R. H. Isbell; Co.E, Capt. Woods; Co. F, Capt. Williams; Co. G, Capt.Riley; Co. H, Capt. Knowles; Co. I, Capt. William Pruitt;Co. K, Capt. John F. Whitfield....