Gc M. L.
973.74
1771820
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY CCLLECTiON
^H
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 00824 0365
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofcompanyOOwill
HISTORY
T
Ol^
COMTANY B
4fOth A^lnbama Heoiiment
Confedernta States A^riiiy
1862 to 286*5.
1771820
R R e: F" A c e: .
'I'he following pagt's (exccpl th<)S(- from the diary
of Sergeant Jno. H. Curry) are taken without revis-
ion or correction from the diary of Captain (after-
wards Major) E'.. D. Willett of Company B, 40th Ala-
bama Regiment of Volunteers of the Confederate
States Army, who died in Carrollt<>n. Alabama, March
IG, IS'JU. It is not expecte(i or contended they will
shed any additional liglit on that momt-ntous strug-
gle, known as tbe War between the Staters, about
which so many volumes have been written, or that
they will ri^veal anything which is not ali-eady well
known. The sole purpose of this little book is to
place in a more enduring form for the IjenefiL <;f the
survivors and tlnMlescendants of those who constitu-
ted that Company and Regiment, that diary (now
well thumb worn) which faitlifully rccoids the move-
ments, engagements and causalties of (Jompany B,
and the 4Uth Ahibama Regiment, C. 8. A. Nor is it
contended that absolute veiity acci^mpanies the facts
narrated. They have the advantage, however, of
being written at the same time, yes, on the same day
the narrated facts occurred . No matter how long the
march, or how fierce the battle the author of the
diary on each day .-ecorded the doings of Company
B, and the -tuth Alabama on that day from the infor-
mation which was then conveyed to him. Voltaire
cynically wrote to a friend that '"History is a parcel
of tricks we play with the dead," but certainly this
cannot be true of events which art; conscientiotisly
recorded by one of the actors on tlie viMy day of the
actions. The valor, devotion, lieroism, determination
and self-sacrificing spirit of the Tlonfederate soldier
have sited aii imperishable lustre on his name, on the
South, and on th(! whole Nation. (Jonipany H and
the 4Uth Alabama did their full parts in contributin}^
to this result, for we see them in these pages with
decimated ranks but undaunted spirits fighting the
very last battles of the war and reporting for duty
on May 5, 1805, nearly a whole month after General
Lee's surrender. When we recall these things and
read these pages we see how great was their sense of
duty and love for Dixie, and it fills our hearts with
pride to be the descendants of such a race of men.
Such men Joseph Addison had in mind when he ex-
pressed the fine thought that —
" 'Tis uot in mortals to command success,
But we'll do uiore, iSemprouius, we'll desekvk it."
Anniston, Alabama. J. J. W.
THE PICKENS PLANTERS.
Company " B/*
40th Regiment Alabama Volmiteers, C. S. A. Col. A.
A. Coleman commanding, organized on the 13th
day of March, 18G2, at Speeds Mill in Pickens
County, Alabama.
Roll of Officious and Piuvatfs of Company "H."
Klbert D. Willett, Captain.
John T. Terry, 1st Lieutenant.
James A. Latham, 2nd Lieutenant.
James H.-Wier,. 2nd Licmtentant.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Jesse T. Hancock, 1st Sergeant.
Eli D. Vance, 2nd Sergeant.
Jno. W. Sanders, ;3rd Sergeant.
Wm. K. Shaver, 4th Sergeant.
Wm. C. Stewart, (discharged) 5th Sergeant.
Johi> R, W(K^ms, 1st Corporal.
Jas. Wiley llorton, 2nd Corporal.
Jacob n. Eaton, 3rd Corporal.
Andrew W. Largent, 4th Corporal.
PRIVATES.
Allen, James M.
Acker, Bayless G.
Acker, George W.
I5arham, William.
Belk, George W.
Burris, James H. (Discharj^ed at Demopolis.)
Black, Sam'l D .
Bush, John E.
Bush, James M.
Byars, James A.
Burns, Joseph H. (Discharged at DcMuopulis.)
Cook, Jno. P.
Carver, Wesley H.
Cockerell, James M. (Discliarged at l)(!inopolis.)
Collins, Jonathan.
Collins, Joseph.
Cameron, Joseph.
Cameron, James.
Cameron, Thomas.
Calley,-Wjn, P,
Cole, Lewis T,
Chanuell, Thos. C.
Connell, David J. (LoainMJ to Capt. SuiiiiixMvilh^
one mariTl
Daniel, Thos. P.
Easterling, Henry.
Eads, John A.
Freeman, Morgan.
Freeman, Isham A.
Fowler, John F.
Goodwin, John
.Graham, George M.
Hicks, John F.
Hicks, Dan'l N.
Hicks, Henderson.
Hicks, John II.
Howell, Anderson T.
Hall, Joseph N.
Hildreth, Sardine.
Irby, William H. (Discharged at Dcunopolis.)
Irwin, Robert.
Jonus, Robert A.
Jones, William H.
Jones, Thos. W.
Jones, VVm. G.
Jones, Henry W. M. (Loantid to (;aj)t. Smnnier-
ville one man.)
Jennings, Jolm J.
Jennings, Abner 1).
Jennings, Wm. 11.
Jones, Marcellus S. (Discbargcd at l)omo})olis.)
Kiik, Jolin. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
J-ving, Samuel G.
Lancaster, Kli J.
Lee, Thos. H.
Lancaster, Joseph.
Ledbetter, Kicdiard H.
McA Teer, Wm. R.
McDaniel, George W. (LoaiuMl to Capt. Siim-
merville.)
McGee, Jno. P., Sr.
McManis, John E.
Mu]lina,J;>fini.^F.
McDaniel, Reuben, (Discharged at Demopolis.)
Morrison, William.
McVoy, Alex D.
Pate, James B. (Discliarged at Demopolis.)
Pratt, Joseph A.
PrtUt, J no. L.
Parker, Chas. R. (Loaned to Caj)t. Summerville
one man.)
Pearson, Samucd.
Parker, James' 1<\ •
Robertson, Samuel.
Robertson, Hugh.
Reddish, James II.
liussell, John A. ^
Russell, Asbury C.
Russell, Chas. W.
Reyuolds, Thos. K.
Reynolds, James S.
Ralph, Francis W.
Staggs, John W. (Loaned to Capt. Snninierville
one man.)
Savage, Abner W.
Shockley, Thos. W.
Speed, James H. (Loaned to Capt. Sunnncrville
one man.)
Strickland, Wm. G.
Strickland, John J.
Strickland, Abel.
Strickland, Sam'l. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
Williams, Paul L
Williams, Thos. H.
Williams, Thomas.
West, James IL
Weems, James F.
Wood, Joshua.
Wood, William,
Wood, Enoch.
Walker, Francis M. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
Walker, J no. J. (Loaned to Capt. Sumiuoi ville
one man.)
Walker, Miles W. (Loaned to Capt. Summer-
ville one man.)
Vance, Wm. V.
Yates, Wm. M. (Discharged at Demopolis.)
The above Company, on the 2nd day of April,
18G2, took up the line of march from CarroUton, the
place of rendezvous, to Pickensville, at which place
on the ;5rd day of April, 18(;2, it went on board the
Steamer Warrior, to be transported to Demopolis,
Alabama, the place by the Governor appointcal for
the organization of Col. A. A. Coleman's regiment.
and on Friday, April 4th, 18G2, arrived at Demopolis,
or OatJip Coleman.
The Company remained at Demopolis until the
lOtli <lay of April, 18(i2, and while there the Com-
])any was exainined by Dr. Colj^in, Surgeon C. S. A.,
and the bounty paid to the Company by Capt. lienj.
Yancy. The Surgeon discharged the following
members of the Company: William C. Stewart,
James II. Burris, Joseph H. Burns, James M. Cock-
erell, Wm. H. Irby, Marcellus Jones, John Kirk,
Reuben McDaniel, James B. Pate, Sanmel Strick-
land, Francis M. Walker, and Wm. M. Yates; which
discliarged soldiers returned to their homes from
Deniopolis. And as above stated, by order of the
Governor, on Saturday, the 19th day of April, the
Pickens Planters started on board the Warrior to-
Mobile, Alabama, and arrived at Mobile on tlie 20th
day of the same month, on Sunday, and were
stationed in a warehouse on Royal Street.
On the 2Gth day of April, 18G2, we took up the
line of march (Saturday) for Cantonment Walter,
live miles from Mobile, down the bay on Dog River,
and arrived at said Cantonment on the same day.
The Company had but little sickness until it was
stationed at Cantonment Walter, when the measles
broke out in camps and fifty-six of th(i Company
liad the measles, and two members died, to- wit:
John F. Fowler died on the 11th day of May, 18G2,
in camps of measles, succeeded by congestion of
lungs, and his body was sent home in Pickens
County to his father. He was without family, un-
married and about seventeen years of age. Wesley
II. Carver, uninirrieJ, died also of measles, suc-
ceeded by typhoid fever, in Marine Hospital in
Mobile, and his body was also sent home. He died
on the 17th day of May, 18(12.
Thomas Williams, private in the Planters, was
taken sick with fever about the lirst of June, 1SG2,
and lini^ered on until the 14th day of June, 1HG2,
when he died. He was buried at Cantonment
Walter. The Government, on account of apprehen-
sions of an attack on Mobihi, refused to furh.)Ugh an
escort to take the body of Williams to his home. He
left a wife and four cliildren, was about lifty years
of a^^e and resided in Pickens (Jounty, Alabama, on
Bear Creek. Up to the 21st day of June, 1802, no
other deaths have occurred in the Pickens Planters.
On the IGth day of May, KS(;2, tlie 40th Regiment
of Alabama Volunteers was organized, and the fol-
lowing companies composed and now compose the
regiment, to- wit:
Capt. K. S. (iulley
'• E. 1). Willett
" W.A.C. Jones
'• A. (i. Campbell
Edward Marsh
" Thos. W. Coleman
" Hugh Suintnurville
" C. C. Crowe
Hii-am Ghant
A. M. Moore.
And on said Kith day of May at said organiza-
tion Col. A. A. Coleman was elected Colonel ot" said
Regiment, which is the Fortieth Regiment of Ala-
bajna Volunteers.
On the 2)st day of June, 18tj:i, Charles W. Rus-
sell, private in Capt. VVillett's Company, died in
hospital at Cantonment Walter of tlu) measles fol-
lowed by typhoid fever. His body was tikeu home
by John Shirley to Pickens County. He was about
twonty-six years old and h;ft a wil'u in i^ickens
County.
On the 18th day of April, 1S(>2, 1 transferred to
Capt. H. Summerville to complete his company
Co. "A" 40th Ala. Rig't
" "R" "
a " I)" " " "
" -Or" ^'
" '4P' "
»t (< T" il (.. bi
eii^ht men, David J. Counell, James F. Speod,
Charles R. Parker, Henry W. M. Jones, George W.
McDanifd, John J. Walker, Miles W. Walker and
John W. Stagi^s, on condition that he retransfor
them so soon iis he recraited that number to his
company, which he did soon after.
On the day of , 18G2, John H.
Higley was elected Lieutenant Colonel of said Regi-
ment, anil Devereux Hopkins was elected Major.
Hopkins refused to accept, and the 30th day of June
no .Major has been elected or appointed for the Reg-
iment. A contest arose between Capts. GuUey and
Jones about rank and promotion to the office of
Major.
On the 25th day of June, ISG2, the Fortieth
Regiment Alabama Volunteers with all the Confed-
erate army of Mobile was reviewed by Gen. G. T.
lieauregard, and then brigade drill commenced at
the old Race Course. The Regiments that drilled
were the 40th Alabama, 3rd and 4th Florida and
27th Mississippi, 38th and 32nd Alabama. Some-
times they were drilled by Gen. Forney and Gen.
Jones.
About the 4th of July there was a general
review of all the troops of the Mobile army to cele-
brate that day by Gen. Jno. 11. Forney. It was a
very hot day and rained a hard rain in the evening
and all tiie army got very wet.
On' the 5tli day of July, 1802, Thomas P. Daniel
and Abner W. Savage and Abner D. Jennings took
sick with typhoid fever. Savage and Jennings had
previously had tlie measles. Savage lingered for
about two weeks, and on the 2()th day of July, 1862,
in tile Hospital at Cantonment Walter, Abner W.
Savage died and was buried at Cantonment Walter
and his grave marked by a nice board at the liead of
his grave. He was unmarried and about eighteen
10
years of age, was a good soldier and very stout and
able bodied before his sickness.
Thomas P. Daniel lingered until the 21at day of
July, 1862, when he also died at Cantonment Walter
in Hospital. His case was a severe one from the
start; he grew worse from the beginning. He was
buried in a nice coffin at Cantonm(»nt Walter and a
nice headboard put at the head of his grave. He
was about thirty years old, left a wife and one child
who reside near Reform in Pickens County, Ala-
bama. He was a noble man, a patriot, one of the
best of men, loved by officers and men, robust and
stout, was never sick a day from the day he entered
the service until he took his last sickness. Notliing
seemed to benefit him. He sank rapidly and died as
stated above on the 21st day of July, 1SG2.
On the 21st day of July, 18G2, our camps were
broken up at Cantonment Walter, and the -iOth
Regiment Alabama Volunteers moved to and en-
camped at Camj) Marshall Austell, one and a half
miles from Mobile; all the sick were moved to hos-
pitals in Mobile. Abner D. Jennings was one of the
sick moved to Mobile. He got worse, and on the
27th day of July, 18G2, at the General Hospital, he
died, and was buried in the ntivv graveyard in
Mobile. His grave was marked by a board at his
head. He was about twenty-four years of age, left
a wife and one child, who reside in Pickens County,
Alabama. His father, Wm. Jennings, attundud iiim
in his last sickness until he died.
On the 23rd day of July, 18G2, all the regiments
about Mobile were sent to Chattanooga, with nearly
all the army of Tupelo, and only two regiments were
left at Mobile, the 40th (ours) and Col. Ketchum's,
ysth Regiment Alabama Vuhuiteei's. The lOtii com-
menced guard duty in Mobile, the whole regiment,
and on to August 1st doing that duty with the 38th
and some cavalry in and about Mobile.
11
On the 14th day of August, l.sd;.', Heuderson
Hicks, Wm. Morrison, Thos. W. Shocldoy, Abul
Strickland, Jas. V. Weems and Jas. D. Wit;r wero
discharged from the service on account of disease
and disability.
On the 27th day of July, 18(;2, Lieut. J. H. Wier
got leave of absence for twelve days, and returned
back to Camp Marshall Austell at the expiration of
the time.
On the 2nd day of August Lieut. J. A. Latham
got sick leave of absence for twenty days, and at
tliis writing, November 2nd, 18(52, has not returned
to his Company. lie went to his honui in Pickens
County, and had a severe attack of camp fever.
On ti\e 13th da,y of August, 1SG2, Capt. E. D.
Willett got leave of absence to go home for fifteen
days, went home, and returned to camp Marshall
Austell on the 28th day of same month.
On the 3rd day of SSeptember, 18G2, Litiut. Jno.
T. Terry got leave of absence twenty days to go to
his home, and about ten days after was attacked
with jaundice, and did not return to cani})s for stiv-
eral days after liis leave expiix-d.
To date, November 2iul, J8b2, have had no
deatiis among the ollicers of Company " Jj," and
consequently no promotions in the Company since
its organization, March 13th, 1802.
On the 0th day of August, 18i;2, Wr)i. L. Lipsey,
Benj.'T, Black, Jno. M. French and Wm. S. Taylor
enlisted and were received into the Company.
On the 18th day of August, ]8(i2, John R. Bran-
don enlisted and was received into tlie Company,
and on the 19th day of sanu* month John (I. Kobiit-
son enlisted and was received into the said Company
" B," all from Pickens County, Alabama.
On the 27th day of xVugust, 18ii2, IL F. P,. Gil-
bert, of Sumter County, was enli.sted and received
into the Company.
12
On the 10th day of September, 1802, Sergt. F. VV.
Kali)h irot tired of the service and substituted one
Pt;ter CJlark in my Company, and was himself tlis-
charged. The ofHeers and men not wanting the
said Peter in the Company, but willing to let Sergt.
Ralph (who was nearly crazy) out of the service,
took the substitute, and on the same day transferred
the said Peter Clark to Company " II," Capt. C. C.
Crowe's Company, so that Sergt. Ralph, by a substi-
tute, is serving his country in a Comi)any from
Perry County, Alabama.
On the ;31st day of October, 18(32, Jno. P. McGee,
Sr., was discharged from the service on account of
measles and bronchitis.
On the 8th day of October, 18G3, the camp at
Marshall Austell was broken up and the lOth Regi-
ment ordered to Camp Forney, on Spring Hill Rail-
road four miles from Mobile, between Government
and Dauphin Streets, and was there ordered into a
brigade composed of tlie 18Lh, 3Gth, 38th and 4()th
Regiment Alabama Volunteers, at first commanded
by Col. J. T. Holtzclaw, senior colonel for about two
weeks, when Brigadier General Cummings reported
for duty at Mobile and took command of said
brigade. It was in ollicial papers called the First
Brigade of the Army of Mobile. Col. A. A. Coleman
commanded the 4Uth, Col. R. II. Smith the oGth, Col,
J. T. Holtzclaw the 18th and Col. Ketchum the 38th
Regiments. At Camp Forney we cleared off a large
area of ground for a brigade drill ground; and for
many weeks, until the 2nd day of December, 1802,
drilled in brigade drill, battalion drill, comjmny and
skirmish drill daily when the weather would permit.
About the 23rd of November, 1802, all the regiments
of that brigade commLinced building cabins for
winter quarters, and had, up to tlie 2nd day of
December, 1802, nearly completed the cabins for
quarters.
13
Oil the 27th day of November, 18(J2, Andrew
Busli and A. J. Hollingsworth joined Company "B"
40th Re<2^iment by enlistment, arriving at tlie age of
eighteen years. They were from Pickens County,
Alabama.
On the day of November, 1802, D. S. Laven-
der and Jno. C. Pratt joined Company "B" 40th
Regiment Alabama Volunteers, having been brought
from camp of instruction at Talladega, Alabama, to
camp of 40th Regiment with one hundred other men,
who were apportioned to the several companies to
ecjualize them, and Company "B" then having over
an averages number did not get but two men, the
ones above named. Tliey were taken to Talladega,
Alabama, under what was known as the Conscript
Act.
Deckmbek 12th, 1892.
Cn the morning of the 2nd day of December,
1802, orders came to Col. Coleman 40tli Regiment to
be ready in two hours to march to Mobile to take
the evening train on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad for
Grenada, Miss., and at 2:(jO o'ch^ck the Regiment
started, leaving tents and all heavy baggage, and
marched to Mobile, about 750 ellective men, and tlu;
Quartermaster had a train of box cars ready which
the RegimtMit took with the baggagi; they could
carry and left for Meridian, Miss, in a cold rain and
no r^itions in their haversacks. At l):(K) o'clock a. m.
arrived at ]\Ieridian, changed arms and baggage
from that train to the ground and had tires kindled,
and had crackers and pickled pork issued for break-
fast, not having had anything to eat since the morn-
ing before except what the men could buy or pick
U}). The Itt'giincut i-('inairi(;d at M"ri<lian unlil ncxl
morning at 1:00 o'clock, December 4th, and left in
train, or rather two trains for Jackson, Miss., at
which place we arrived at 8:00 o'clock p. m. and
u
were t.luMiC(» onlfi'ed to Grt'iuula; but when wii
arrived at Oantou at ]2:00 o'clock ui^^ht rcccdvcd
ofdcrs to r<'tui"ii liack to .lackson as tho ti'^'ht at (Jof-
t'covillH \v;is ovci' and our aiauy had I'ctfcated hack
to (irr('ua.da. A I, \'l:(Hi o'clock t hf c;i,|-,s started back
to , Jackson and atTived tluu-e at dayiij^ht on morn-
ing of the 7th Dijconiber. 1H(V*. 'I'iwit day the* cars,
attor hrea,kfa,st, on the New Orhuins Ivaih-oad car-
ried us out two miles to a creek and tlie lOth pitched
tents tliere. At tlifi same time in the same tiehl th(^
7:tth, SOth and 81st Tennessee Kej^iments composing
Vaughan's l>rigade fuicamped. We remaincni at
Jackson until the 17tii of Decemlxu- (h)ing some
drilling and provMjst duty in Jackson. On the eva-
ning of the KJth of December orders at Jackson
were issued for the -i'lth Alabama llegiment to go to
C-olumbus, Miss, to resist an attack of the eruimy
dovvn tlie Mobile *.'t Ohio Railroad. ()n that night
tents were struck, and Company "B" remained all
night at camps, and hauling baggage to Jackson.
On the morning of the 17th tlu; lleginient took up
tlu; line of march for Jackson, ]^liss. to take the cars
for Columbus and arrived there at 8;00 o'clock a. m.
At 10:00 o'clock the 1st Battalion left in tht> cars
with Col. Coleman and Lieut. Col. liigley, Maj. T.
O. Stone remaining with the :^nd l->attalion. At IkOO
o'clock p. m. the ^nd Battalitui left in car\s for
C'olumbus. The sic-k of (.-ompany "'B" had increased
in number'on account of cold weather and exposure.
The sick of Company ''B" left at Jackson were
these: Jos. A. Pratt, Jo-di. Wood, Wm. V. Vance,
Joseph Lancaster and J. F. Parker.
The 40th ReginunU arrivcjd at Meridian on the
morning of ttie isth of l)e(!ember, and waited thiire
for transportation until 3:00 o'clock p. m. Tloi lu?g-
iment went in oi)en cars to Meridian in the severest
weather, and sulVered from cold ami hunger greatly.
l^
Oil the evening of the ISth the lleginient in cars left
for Columbus, and arrived at Columbus on the
morning of tlie 19th of December and remained at
the depot that day until evening and the ilegiment
marched through town to the fair grounds and
pitched tents. The Ilegiment remained at Cohunbus
until the morning of the ^7th of J3ccember. While
at CoUunbus we all had a pleasant time there. The
men and officers were better fed and could buy mor(^
than at any other place we had encamped. Many of
the wives and friends of the men in Company "B"
visited them there, being near tlnur homes, but none
of the officers or men were aUowtMl to visit iiomes.
On the evening of the 2(itli of December Mes<lames
Wiiiett, Latham and Terry came into camps to sec;
ns. We took them to hotel at Cady's and rt^mained
with tbem the night of iiGth of December. Tlie Reg-
iment having orders then from Gen. Pemberton to
go to Vicksburg, Miss., we remained that night at
hotel with our wives, Lieut. Wier supei-intfiiding
tin; moving of the baggage of the Company to the
depot that night. The train was to l(!avn at 1:00
o'clock a. m. December :;;7tli with the left battalion.
We got up at 3:00 o'clock a. m. December 27th, 1802,
and took leave of our wives at Cady's hotel and
went down to the depot. The train with 2nd Batta-
lion was ready to start, and did start in a very few
minutes in a very hard rain, it having rained very
hard all that night. The train started for Meridian
Saturday morning, December 27th, 1HG2, and arrived
at Meridian the same day in the tjvening about 4:00
o'clock. A train was in waiting to take us on to
Jackson, but on account oi confusion and negli-
gence on the part of some one it caustui us to los(i
that train at 1):00 o'clock p. m.; wu had to remain
that evening and night and until next day, Sunday,
Decembei" 2sih, 18ii2, at 1 1 .ou o'clock a.m., when we
10
took another train for Vicksbiirg. The 1st Batta-
lion by this time having come up left soon after for
Vicksburg on another train. On Monday evening
the 4()th arrived at Jackson after many delays on
the road, and the train with the 40th stood there all
that night, it raining torrents and the men without
anything to eat except what could be picked U}) here
and there when the trains stopped.
Tuesday morning, December ;30tli, lSf)'2, the 40th
Regiment left in same trains for Vicksburg, the
place where the Regiment had been ordered by Gen.
Pemberton, and arrived at 8:00 o'clock Tuesday, the
;50th day of December, 18(;2.
The sick of Company "B" 40th Alabama left at
Columbus, Miss., in hospital, were these: D. N.
Hicks, T. H. Williams, Benj. T. Black, Mark L.
Thompson, Jno. J. Strickland, Jos. A. Pratt, Jno. C.
Pratt, E. J. Lancaster, T. II. Loe, Jno. Goodwin,
and as nurse for them Jas. M. Bush. Thompson and
Lee returned to camp at Chickasaw Bayou on the
12th of January, 18(53.
At Columbus, Miss., Hugh J. Robinson deserted
and has not to the 24tli of January, 1803, returned to
the Company. Also, at the same place, Sergt.
S and Jesse T. H , without leave, ab-
sented themselves from Company from December
27th, 1802, the first until the 2nd day of January,
and the second until the 7th day of January, 1803,
when th(^ returned, and have had their trials befc)re
regimental courtmartial, but the sentences have not
yet been published. When the Regiment arrived at
Vicksburg the seige was going on and the Regiment
was ordered within two hours to take up the line of
march (Tuesday night, December 30th, 1802, 10:00
o'clock) for Chickasaw Bayou, the battle fi(dd on
Sunday and Monday previous. The Regiment was
drawn up in line of battle on one of the iiills of
17
Vicksburg, and Parson Barker took it upon himself
to make a short harangue. He spoke loudly and
warlike, but wound up by saying he was sorry he
could not go as he had positive orders not to go,
though not sick at all nor excused by Surgeon. The
time had come when to all human appearances the
40th would get into a fight on the morning of Decem-
ber 31st, 18G2, as the enemy were in large force, and
a battle or continuation of the battle was expected.
The Regiment heard the Parson through, and the
word "forward" by Col. Higley was given, and we
all marched off in fine spirits for the battle field.
The Regiment marched up the River Road that is
made along the base of the hills or mountains in
silence, as we were at many points on the road with-
in shelling distance from the enemy's batteries. No
accident happened on the way. The road was very
muddy, and lined all along with soldiers in the rifie
pits. There were rifle pits from Vicksburg up to the
place we halted, which was in the rear of a section
of Walton's Battery, in a hollow. We arrived there
about 3:00 o'clock at night and bivouaced in the
open air, having left all baggage but a blanket
behind. The Regiment lay on their arms that night,
or the balance, with orders to move at day break on
the morning of January 1st, 18G3. Morning came
and the attack was expected from the enemy.
Many o,ther Regiments came in that night, but
when day came the enemy did not renew the attack.
The 40th was held under arms all that day, which
was Thursday, January 1st, 18G3. We remained all
day supporting that battery. From our position in
plain view was the battle field of the Monday pre-
vious, where the enemy met with a severe repulse
on our works. The dead of the enemy were strewn
all over the field unburied, and some of them yet
alive. The battle field was a corn field, disputed
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 tiag 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 oif 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 2n(l, 1803, when it was
thought an attack would bo 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 Itoad marched back to its
first position, supporting the battery, having
marched sixteen miles at "'quick'" and '"donble
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 eating, 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, lie 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" wont up on a crag
or spur of the mountain, cut wood and made large
fires, and spread some blankets to keep the rain oil".
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 Lieuts. 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,
18G3, and until Sunday morning, January Ith, 18G3,
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, 18G3, the whole
Brigade went upon the hill and remained there Sun-
day night and Monday and until Tuesday morning,
January Gth, 1803, 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 tliat (;ani[j SDUie of the
Company went down to Chickasaw Bayou, near
Mrs. Lake's quarter, and fished up a barrel of
20
pi(;kle(l pork iind cnrriod it into cainj)S, and it added
greatly to the provision stock of Company " B."
Many barrels were fished up out of the Baj'ou wiiich
l)ad been thrown into the water by the retreating
Yankees.
On Wednesday evening orders were issued
orderirjg the Brigade to move camps lower down
the Mississippi towards Vicksburg to the Indian
i\Iound the battle field of Sunday, December 28th,
1S(J2, and the whole Brigade in its proper order
encamped in the corn fields between the Bayou and
the mountains, the 40tli in rear of the Indian
Mound. The field is low and black soil, very slip-
pery in wet weatlu^r, with water convenient, but
wood very inconvenient — had to be carried from the
tops of the big hills by tlie nwu. The lazy mess,
to-wit: Capt. Willett, Lieuts. Terry, Latham and
Wier hauled some very heavy one hoi'se loads off
the hills. It worried the tcavis very much, l)Ut the
Weather was cold and rainy and there was no other
chance.
January 25th, 1803.
On Wednesday, 7th January, 18G3, the 40th
Alabama camped at Indian Mound, and to this
date, January 25th, 1803, all the time have been at
the same place. No events of interest occurred.
The Ylmkee lleet and army had all left atul gone up
the Mississippi River, and during the time compara-
tive quiet prevailed. The Regiment did brigade
guard duty and drilled some. ]\Lo.st of the time was
cold and rainy weather very disaLjreeabh^ for sol-
diei'ing, and the poorest plac^e to buy anything the
Iteginit^nt had been at. Nothing to s<dl, 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
4()lh Alal)ama went on picket from the Bayou to the
mouth of tlie Yazoo, and remained until next day,
when they were relieved by other pickets.
On the 2']vd January, 1S('.3, the Yankee fleet
jiiJ^ain appeared in the Mississippi above Vicksburg,
in sight about seven miles from tiie city. On the
23rd January on the opposite side of the Mississippi
a skirmish took })lace in which the Conftiderates
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
tinu!, but to all human appearances the place cannot
be tnken. It is fortified wonderfully by Nature, and
tlH3 (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
(.'ommander-in-chief is Lieut. Gen. Pemberton and
iviaj. Gen. Stephenson second in command. Of the
sick T. 11. Lee and M. P. Thompson from Columbus
have r(;Lurned to camp. The Company "B" 40th
Alabama Kogiment now rank and file numbers
ninety-four men, not all with the command. There
ure away January 25th, 1S(53, at C(dumbus, Miss., in
hospital: D. N. Hicks, K. J. Lancaster, T. H. Wil-
liams, B. T. Black. J. A. Pratt, Jno. C. Pratt, J. J.
Striclsiand, Jno. Goodwin and Jas. M. Bush as
nurse. At Mobile on d(;tached seivice Jno. G. Rob-
inson and Jno. K. Hicks. At Citron(!lle Corporal A,
W. Largent. At home sick, J. W. llorton, Jno. L.
Pratt and Knocii Wood. Andrew Bush at Jackson
in hospital. W. J. Strickland and J. L. Kerr in hos-
pital at Vicksburg, Mi.;s. Tlu'se are all the absen-
tees from CJonipany "P'" at tliis date, JLumary 25th,
lb(.3.
22
Desckiption List of Company "B" 40th Regiment
Ala. Volunteers, March 1st, 1<S()3.
name. hank.
' P:ibert D. Willett Captain
Jno. T. Terry 1st Lieutenant
Jas. A. Latham 2n(l 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 Hihlreth 1st Corporal
Geo. W. Belk 2nd Corporal
Jacob IL Eaton 3rd Corporal "—
Andrew W. Largent 4th Corporal
Allen, James M Private
Acker, Ralus 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 Pr
Easterling, Henry Pr
Freeman, Morgan W Pr
Freeman, Isham A Pr
Freeman, Marcus M Pr
French, Jno. M Pr
Goodwin, Jno Pr
Graham, Geo. M Pr
Tlicks, Dan'l N Pr
Hicks, Jno. R Pr
Hicks, Jno. F Pr
Howell, Anderson T Pr
Hall, Jos. N Pr
Hall, Jos. C Pr
Horton, J. Wiley Pr
Jones, Thos. W Pr
Jones, Wm. J Pr
Jones, Robt. A Pr
Jones, Wm. H Pr
Jennings, Jno. J. Pr
Jennings, Wm. H Pr
King, Sam'l G Pr
Kerr, Jno. L Pr
Lancaster, Jos Pr
Lancaster, Eli J Pr
Lee, Thos. H Pr
Ledbetter, Richard B Pr
Lavender, D. Spencer Pr
Lipsey, Wm. L Pr
McAteer, Wm. R Pr
McAteer, Jackson Pr
McManus, Jno. E Pr
Mullins, Benj. F Pr
Pratt, Jos. A Pr
Pratt, Jno. L Pr
Pratt, Jno.(.^ Pr
Parker, Jas. F Pr
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
vate
24
Pearson, Sani'l Private
Peteet, J no. T Private
Reddish, Jas. H Privates
Russell, Jno. A Private
Russell, Asbury 0 Private
Reynolds, Tiios. K Private
Reynolds, Jas. S Private
Robinson, Jno. G Private
Robinson, Sam'l Private
Strickkuid, Wni. G Private
Thompson, Mark L Private
Taylor, Wm. S Private
Williams, Paul I Private
Williams. Thos. H Private
West, James II Privatii
Wood, William Private
Wood, Joshua Private
Wood, Enoch Private
Weeins, 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
Elmore, James Private
llunnicutt, 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 l*rivat(;
Davis, Jeriy Privat<;
25
Irwin, X}. W i*rivate
Phillips, Win. L I'livalc;
(In.tho orio-inal Diary thore appears after each
name a personal description of <'acii man o^ivinjj^ his
apfe, color of his ey(\s, color of hair, complexion,
size, whore horn, occupation h(!for(i enlistment,
when, where, by whom and for what period
enlisted.)
Descriptive List of (Company "ir' 4()tii Alauama
lli'idiMKNT Who Have Died in 'ihe Siou-
VICE TO MAliCH 1st, IHd;}.
NAME. RANK.
Fowler, Jno. F I'^rivate
Carver, Wesley II I'rivatc;
Williams, Thomas Private
Russell, Chas. \V Privalt^
Savage, Ahner W Privates
Daniel, Thos. P Private
Jennings, Abner D Privat(!
Ilollingsworth, A. J I'rivate
Jas. E. Yerby Private
Poteet, Jno. T Privat(;
Pratt, Jno. L Private
Kerr, Jno. L Private
Mullins, Benj. F Private
Gilbert, H. F. B Private
Bolk, Geo. W Private
McManus, Jno. E l*rivate
( C'Jill<2Z^„'lUi^ Private
Cameron, Jas. B Private
Reynolds, Jas. S Private
Weems, Jno. R Private
(In the original Diary there appears after each
name a personal description of each man, giving iiis
age, color of eyes, color of hair, complexion, size,
where born, (K-.cupation before enlistment, when,
where, by whom and for what p(!riod enlisted, and
when, where and from what cause he died.)
26
Descriptive List op Company "B" 40tii Regiment
Alabama Volunteers, Discharoed and
Transferred to March 1st, 18G3.
name. rank.
Strickland, Abel Private
Morrison, Wm . . Private
] licks, Henderson Private
Weems, Jas. F Private
Shockley, Thos. W Private
McGee, Jno. P Private
Wior, 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
Kasterling, 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 witii the
cause and place of his discharge or transfer.)
The 40th Regiment Alabama Voliinteers re-
maine(l 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, 18G3. H^
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 live 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, Ho came from home with Danl N. Hicks.
At said camps Jno. L. Kerr a young man from Sum-
ter County, Alabama, just arriving at eighteen,
came tocamps and joined the Company.
On the evening of the 17th of February, 18(53, 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, Lieut. 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 tlie 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
nigtit. Next day the weather was better, and the
Regiment next day dried their clothes and the next
<lay 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 Chickasavv
Bridge until the lUth day of March doing guard
duty, picket duty at the Lake farm and on the
Levee, also drilling in battalion company and skir-
misii drills. Lieut. Wier was detailed as enrolling
officer and got leave of obsence for thirty days, lie
started for Pickens the 2(5th day of February and
came back on the 7th of March bringing recruits for
Compan}' "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. Ilollingsworth by the march to Chickasaw Bridge
was t/iken sick and the attack was violent. He lin-
gered five or six days in great pain, and on the 2Sth
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 wt-re short, for
twenty days we had no mi^il at all, but the men
foraged in the cane brakes and pr<)cure<l an irregu-
29
.r supply of meat. The men also Ix^iij^iit meal and
ther articles to eat.
On the 18th day of March, isi;;], Lieut. J. T.
'erry y;ot sick leave of ahseuce and started home.
I(; got home and had a severe spell of sickness.
)n the 19th day of March, 1863, the -lUth Alabama
vas ordered to ITaynes Landing and marched to
.hat place on the Yazoo nine miles the same day
and pitched tents on a hill above the landing.
Remained there until Saturday night ;2Ist March
wluui 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
(juar'ter of a mile in back water waist <l(,M'p. Ai-rivenl
at Dr. Moore's farm on Deer Creek at lOiOO o'clock
a. m. Left tents and all baggage but blank(its
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 luuxvily. 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 froi,n Camp Timmons, also Lieut. Cobb,
Lieut. McGowan in command. Next day fell back
to Messinger farm, it having rained all night before.
Tucisday, 24th, advanced to eight mile post on Little
Deer Creek.
Wednesday, 25th March, advanced to Foris'
farm. Companies "B"' and "C" Lieuts, Latham and
lirunson commanding, under Capt. VVillett acting
^lajor skirmished with the rear guard of enemy
through an immense cane swam}) and marsh and on
30
through Foris' farm, pursued the Yatiks aiid cap-
tured baggage, canteens, eatables, etc. Yarbrougli
of Company "C" killed, and Elmore Company "B"
wounded. In the meantime 40th Alabama, olst and
33rd Mississippi and 22nd Mississippi and artillery
under Brig. Gen, Featherstone came up to sui)iK)rt
skirmishers. The enemy fell back, and Ooiil'cdiM-ate
forces fell back to strong position for night. Next
dayj 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, ('ol.
Iligley commanding, marched three miles to Indian
Bayou on Deer Creek to rest a few days. That litthi
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 servit-e 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 jjacked. 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; ovd April to
Thomas' farm; April 4th to Falls' farm; April 5th to
Yerger's farm: April Gth to Fish Lake; reported to
Maj. Bridges in command of battali()n of sharp-
shooters, 250. Remained there until morning of
April 7th, when it was ascertained, that Gon.
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 23 miles to Fall's by dark. Next day fell
31
back to Thomas' wher(^ four more companies of
40th canu) up and three pieces of artillery. There
we made a stand and shelled the enemy with seven
pieces of cannon, and the enemy, thouj^h in superior
forc(!, conunenced retreating. We pursued them to
Fish Lake, In the meantime the .'iOth Alabama and
other reii^imtuits were on the march to our aid, but
when tlu! enemy retreated they turned back to
Vicksbiir^^ Wo remained at Greenville two or
three days and commenced the march back to
Indian Bayou on Deer Creek. Cavalry forces hav-
ing conn; to relieve the 40th Alabama on the IBth
of April the lotli camped at Helen Johnston place,
alter 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 4Uth remained at Helen Johnston
idace two days and then moved over a mile to
Indian Bayeu, former camp and put up our tents,
the lirst time we had seen them in a month. At that
place also cam(} 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
companie's of -loth Alabama and proceed to little
Sunflower at tlu! mouth of Rolling Fork and there
take boat and proceed up Sunliower River about 100
miles, lie took three companies. Company "A"
commanded by Ciipt. 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, 18U3, orders came from
Vick?,biir-- throu[j;h Col. Fer^ruson for the 40th Ala-
bama lo march to Vicksburg 100 miles distant. On
Tuesday tlu^ otii day of May, 1803, Companies ''B,"
"C," "E," 'F," "G," "11" and "K" took up the
32
liiK! of inai-cli for the nioutli of Rolling Fork to take
boat from there for Hay tics Landing on the Yazoo
River. On liiat day arrived at Litth; ISunllower,
halving hehiiul of Company "H,' B. (1. Acker, Jona-
than ('ollins and Jas. F. Parker yick in hosjiital,
ALso Sergt. \Vm, P. (JaUey detached to buy beeves
for the army. At Indian Bayou Jno. T. Petete of
Company "B," a good sohlier, died on the 2ud (]ay
of Mays lf^';">, and was buried at tlie nt'arest churcli
on Deer Creek v/ith military honors on Sunday the
2rd of May, ]8(i;i. 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 Lamling and arrived there on the eve-
ning of the same day. The Gtli day of May previ-
ously the Regiment remained at the mouth of Rt)il-
ing Fork all day getting the baggage of the
R<'giment down to the boat. This was done on
skill's or small boats sent for that purpose. On
Friday, the .sth day of May, 1803, the Regiment
marched to Vicksburg distant fifteen miles, and
nmch wearied, camped in a hjt near the railroatl
depot. The sick of Company '"B" who could not
march were left at Haynes Landing^ to wit: Jno. C.
Pratt, Jas. Collins, \V. K. Shaver and Corporal A.
W. Largent. On Saturday the 'Jth day of May the
Reginient (4()th), 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 lirigade, composed of :.'nd
Texas, 37th, 4-2nd and 40tli Alabama and 85th and
401 h Mississip[ji 1^'giments. Several of the sick and
worn out men of Conii)a,ny '"B" were left in tlu;
Vicksburg iiospital, to-wit: Lieut. J. H. Wier, Pri-
vate Jno. C Pratt, Jas. Collins, Paul L Williams
and Henry Easterling. On Sunday, 10th of May,
33
the Regiment 4()tli Alabama and Uio vvliole of
Moore's Brigade was ordered to move camp a mih^
farther back from tlie rear of Warrenton, being
exposed to fire of enemy's gunboats. On Monday
the nth of May the whole Regiment except the
absent companies were ordered on picket at the fort
at Warrenton for twenty-four liours. The Col.
(Iligley) selected 100 men after dark and relieved
the previous jjicket. 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. ITigley with the 100
men remained in the fort until dark May 12, 18G3,
under a terrific cannonade from thu enemy's gun-
boats. On Wednesday KUh May the Regimtnt
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 tield, and in the evening of same day the whole
Regiment moved camps three miles neartu- Vicks-
burg on the outer or first line of defence.
On Saturday 10th of May commenced digging
rille pits and cutting down timber in our front; on
Sunday IMay 17th, KSO;), continued digging rille pits
until 3:00 o'clock in the evening, when the 40th and
the whohi 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 RayuKjud, Jackson and
Bakers Cret^k 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 eveninj^, May 17th, 18G5,
that army or a part of the army uoder Gen. Pember-
ton retire<l hack to ilie trenches at Vicksburg, and
Gen. Johnston's forces fell back to Jackson, and on
the 17th of May, ist>3, the garrison at Vicksburg
took their [)osition in the trencht^s in order of battle.
Smith's Division on the left, Forney's Plvision 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 held 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, 18G3. 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 trt^nches 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. Tlie mortar fleet day and night was doing
its work since the investment. The Confederates
1771820
willihcld iluMi" lii'c, and a ;j;-('ii('ral assault at
1 1 ;(i() o'clock was inadr l>y llic ciiciny, but thcN-
\V(;rc repulsed at all i)oiiits with ^'i-eat slaiiglitei-.
Thi^ li^lit continued until (knk, the enemy driven
liacdv around tin; whole line. Cain in ('oni|>any
'"iv"' was killed. Thos.' (';iineron in (,\)in])anv
■'I')"" had middle jin^'er of hd't hand nearly shot
idV. Saluida}, .May "J-'lrd. lirinj^ incessant. .Alan}'
nn)vements of encany's ti'oops, hut no battle.
Sunday, ^lay <!;>r(l, soun* lirint^ but uo battle. .Moii
day, .May .■.'•■)th, usual lirin^j; until •.':(•(! o'ldocdc \>. m .
when a tiaj;' of truce appeai'ed. The lirin*;- ceased
alon;^- the whoh; liiu', and a rian^enieuls were tuaih-
to bury the enemy's dead, in)W vei\' (dVeusi\c to oUl'
nu'ii in the trenches. The tinn- allowed was fi-oni
S:U(I o'chndv a. m. to lOiOO p. m. Then occui-re<l a
nov(d scene in war. .Xflcr the |la>; of lruc<' went
out the C'onfedefates and l^'edtuals from two to
three hundred yards apart left t heir arms a ud nut
midway and (;()mnn!mred friendly c(M1 vei'sations.
talkeil abtuit boriu'. e\ciianj;<'d tobacco for canteens,
papers, etc. Kor a nnunent. (aj;;iinst orders) the\
met, miuj^led, talked ami seeme(| like fidends.
Wlien tin- lla^ disappeared both partn-s ^ot to their
places of safety and all enemies a;_;ain. Sti'ange
sit^htl 1 had a view (.)f two nnles on the line and
the sanu' ap]»eared e\erv where. i\o casualtiis iu
(.'ompany "W on tJiat (Uiy. Ser^^t-. (lilkey and .1.
I). Kc'ir were hoth strilcdc with l)alls hut slightly
injured. Tues(hiy, May slot h. furious lirin^ all day.
No casualties in ('ompany "dl."" W'ednesdaw .May
■.dth, lirinw- as usual all da\' and ni^liL Sii-;.:;!
Terry, ('ompauy "dr" was killed. hihdiamps, ( 'om
pany 'd*\"" also killed. Tni-reted <;iinl)oat "(Mucin
nati"" sunk bidore Vdcksltur^;- h>- oui' l>atti'i-ie.^.
Thursday, May .'sth, (!ompan\ 'i;" had ('>■> men in
treuciies. ileav)' tiring- all day ami niii;'ht. ^!a\
.'>■'■'•.*«
36
29th, Friday, at dawn a furious cannonading C(Mti-
monced. At 8:00 a. m, G. W. Acker by a slioll lind
liis left arm broken. Saturday, May ;!uth, heavy
lirin^ all day. Sunday, May 'Mst, furious firiuf^: with
cannon and small arms all day until daik and most
of the nij^ht. The enemy intrenchiuf? in our front.
Monday, June 1st, heavy firing all day. Tuesday,
June '^nd, heavy firing all day and night. J.acy,
{'ompany "C" killed. Wednesday, June ;5rd, heavy
firing all day. Jno. L. Pratt, Company "B," killed
.[une 4th, Thursday, acting as shari)-shooter in th(}
trenches. He was shot through the hea<l at 7:;iO
o'(Jock a. m. and died at 5:00 p. m. Shot by a minie
ball. He was twenty-nine years old, left a wife and
one child and was a brave and good soldier. Fii-
day, June 5th, heavy firing as usual. Saturday,
June Gtli, A. T. Howell, Company "ir' was shot by
minie ball in arm and shoulder in trenclies. (Irif-
filh, Company "C" killed. To this date ten killed
and thirty wounded in 4()th Alabama. Tiie troops in
in trenches have never been relieved. Heavy can-
nojiading and sharp-shooting continue all the time.
Sunday, June 7th, mortar lleet still shells the cily.
Heat very oppressive in trenches. Rations very
short, .i lb. flour and .^ lb. peas. No report of
reinforcements. The army in very good spirits
considering the sulfering. Heavy iiring all the
time. 'Monday, June isth, at daylight Company "H"
left the trenches to rest beliind the hills f(->r the day,
and returned at dark. Cother, Company "(i," killed
at dark getting in water. I^ieut. Jas. Patten, Com-
pany "K" died today of fever in hospital. Health
of Company 'B" good considering the suffering,
confinement and short rations and water. Tuesda}',
June 'Jth, firing continued all day and night. Th(;s.
Cameron, before wounded in the linger, was shot
through leg by ball from shell and was sent tt) hos-
37
]>it;il at Vii.-ksbiirj^. Wediicsflay, .1 line lotli, lieavy
lii'iiiu: all (lay and nij^lit. K.arly a lieavy rain set in
iind it rained all day and night. Tin; drainagf in
our licnclics noL being g(M)d tlu; ditches oveilin wed.
All got wet, ami r(,'inain(.;d so all day and night. It
was a disagi'eeabhj night in the ti't^ntdu's Thurs-
day, Jnne I 1th, early it (deared up ami we had a
better time though very hot in the tren(du;s. The
tiring hea\y. No signs of an assanlt, but on the
contrary the enemy intrenching in front. Hill,
(Joni])aiiy ••11"' died of wounds. Also b'reejnan.
l.'ompany ••(!."" Friday, June j-ith. tiring as incch-
sant as ev(;r. (len. l'eml»ei'ton placed a ten in(di
mortar in rear of oiir redoubt and (_;ommenci-i| shell-
ing the enemy. They conctuitrated a terribhi lire
upon it and also our redoubt. lici-eived money
today from (Japt. Lake, Assistant (J^uarter ^Master,
and C!apt. Willett paid off his ('onii)any in treuidie^
for four months, .January, b\d)ruary, .Maridi and
.\pril, isf.:;. It was very disagr(;eable as the balls
and shells of the emnny often besprinkled tlui rolls
with dirt. The rations of the men were often
.sprinkliMl with dirt. Tht^y ai'i; by four nnm coidvcil
in the rear, .i lb. bacon, peas enough, one small
<'orn cake, a few ounces of rice and sugar every
fourth da\'. The nn.'U (-an barely liv(; and are daily
lo.sing sti'eiigih. Satui'day, June liUh, unceasing
liriiigj)n nioitar and all around the lines, l^larly
iibnning.l. I!. Weems. C»mipan\' "'J-),"" ^vhile coming
from rook plaix; to tren(dies shot himself in left
hand ami se'iit to hosijital. Sunday, Jumi^ 14th, liriiiL'
was more i-ai)id and furious all day than usual. .\i\
of (!om)an}' "('" died of wounds. .VIso l*'i"eemaii,
('ompan\' •"11. "" TIuim' mcji of Cjoiiipany "11"'
deserted to the (Munny. Monday, June latli, (loin-
nan}' '"H"" r(di(*viMl fnnn trenches lor the da>'.
("ajit. Willett went to the I'.iispital and paid off the
38
sick and wounded of Company "R." Rt'tnrned to
tranches at dark. Firinsj: lu^avy all day and ni^hl.
Tuesday, June 10th, incessant fii'in}:^ all duy.
Wednesday, June 17th, firing as usual. At 7:'M)
a. ni. a conical shell entered the trench aud
exploded, one piece struck B. F. MuUins in tlin
head, ili^ was hadly wounded, taken to hos})ital
No. ;!, operated on and soon after died. He left a
wife and one child, was a {j^ood solditu-. (Jaid. ^Vil-
jott I'ling sick loft the trenches for the day. 'ru<^s
day,. June 18th, tiring as usual. Col. (Jarrett tioth
•Maliauia killed on l?th in trenches. Heavy skir-
niislmii;- on tlie right and enemy n^pulsed at It. I'd
o'( l..ek p. 111. Friday, June IDth, hea,vy liring. At
i; i)o a. m. .)no. I,og;in Keri' was shot in tlu^ head in
tri-iiches l>y minie hall entering near right ear ami
coming out nt^ai" left ear. He dit^l instantly . lie
resided with his father in Sumter County, Alahanui,
was eiglittuMi >'ears of age, w^as a good l»oy, an olte-
dleiit and faithful soldier. Satui'day, June -.^oth,
trennindous cannonading along the lines and firing
(d" small arms. Capt. Willett returned to tremdies
in hatl health. Paul 1. Williams, company "IT'
sharp shooting was shot hy minie hall hreaking one
<d' hones of left arm near widst. He was sent to
hospital. At H-.OO o'clock a. m. Henry F. .) .
Cilheji, Comj)any "B" of hrass hand while acting
with tlw! litter corps hearing off Lieut. Yaiu'y
Wounded, was struck in the head hy a sludl and
instantly kilhul. Sunday, June 'J 1st, ISd:;, severe
liiing all day and night. Monday. June "J'Jnd, Com-
pany -'ir' i-(di«!ve(l to rest out td' tin; ti-en(dies Ixdiind
the hills. Firing as usual. Rations I'tMJuced to j'our
ounces ll()ur, four ounces rice flour, one, (juarter
pound hacon, four ounces peas, a little sugar and
rice ev(;ry fifth day .and a fifth of a plug of tohacco
every fourth day. No vegetahles, mejil, flour oi-
;{9
anytliiii^ to buy at any ])iice. Notliing except the
rations issued alike to t)itii'.ers and men. A (•liick<.'ii
$;{.()() to $(1.00, tlour !ir5.(J0 ))er pountl, meal 850. oo j»ci-
bushel, molasses $12.00 per j^ailon, beef 6v.oo ])ei-
l)ound, milk $L.00 per (]uart, vinegar SS.t'O pt-i- gal-
lon, dinner of beef and bread -So. 00; but at this date
articles at those pi'ices hav(j all been consumed, and
tin; soldiers bai"ely live on the I'ations. iiut nulilc
men, they still endure it and defend these ti'encdics
waiting for ( ien. Jolmston to come to their i-escuc.
They think lie is not fai* otf, and it will gladden the
In.^arts of a brave garrison to hear the hoonjing of
his artillery towards Jackson and Big JJUudc. Tliey
must hohl the tjenches oi' Vickslturg is gon^-. 'Tui-s-
day,June X*;Jrd, firing as usual. Wtulnesday , .lunc
;Mth, less cannonading to-day. 'i'hursday, diiix'
isJAtii, heavy liring all day. Uations reduced \,> one
ounce of Hour. Friday, .lune ;iGlh, bring lita\ y
today. Thirty-ninth day of .vc/f/c. Filing on llie
lines does not cease da\' nor night with cannon,
mortar ileet and small arms. To date in toih Ala
bama 55 killed and wounded, of tin; nnml>er '.'■>
killetl. The garrison cannot be overcome, hut a
want of rations may com[)( 1 a surreiuh.'r. (Jen.
J(jhnston is anxiously looked for. Sa,tnrdav, .luiio
■•.rth, continued firing. At (>:(•() a.m. iJoriioial (i. \\ .
i'Jelk, Oo."l5.'' went down to i^rigadt; llosjutal to \i:,ii
his sick fidend, J. K. McAlanus, and while tliere a
])iece of iinndar shell struck him (weighing I.".
jtonnds) in the back severely wounding him II i;
died next morning at tJ:0o a. m. liread ndiu'cl to
four onces of liour -it makes (»ne biscuil. Siinil:i\.
.)un(! 'JSlh, C/orporal (I. W . I5elk died at <i "o a to.
lie was a color corporal, one (d the hraxest mni
and best stddiers in tin; army, was liked hy his olli
cers and all the men of his company. Ife resided in
Pickens County, Alabama, and left a wife and two
-iu
<'liil(li-eii by a former wifti. Jlis deatli is much
i.«'}^i-('tteil. lU'hind the re(h)uht, ( Vtmjiany •' IT' ^iiii-
ports, a nine incli Dahlj^reen is moiintetl. tii'inj^ ;it
the enemy. 'I'hey r(!i)ly, whitdi snhjects (;()m})aiiy
"li" to a heavy Ure all tlui time. Monday. June
'.".dh, ]S(;;5, firinj^ as usual. Tiicsda}-, .hint; :;otli,
lieavy firing all around the lines. Wednesday, .Inly
1st, [bi'i'.'i, no casualties in ('ompany "IT' today. .M .
\V. Freeman, Company "H" stru<dv' hy a spent hall,
not seriously injured. Tlie enemy mined and blew
iil» a redoubt on oui- left, ll(^rl»ert's i ha^ade, killin;^'
and wounding iu ;3rd Louisiana forty men . Thui-s-
day, July .'nd. heavy liring. July :!r(h 1^'iiday, flag
of truce at ]U:()() o'clock and cessaJ ion of liosi ilit ies
all arouml the lines. Tt^rms of capitulation of
\ icksburg (jiarrison Ixdng arraii,i;t'd lietwem (Jen-
(-rals (jlrant and Pembcrton. The rations aro
exhausted, no deliverance has come and that gai-
lison has to sun-ender. The tcims are agreed uiton
and on the mori'ow the surrender will tako place;
July 4tli, isG;!, Saturday, the Ai'my of \i(dvsburg
cai»itulated, the officers retaining theii- side aians
and private prop«^rty. The surrender took plare at
K':UO a. m., and we marclied out of the tren(dios and
the enemy took possession of them. Hy the terms
the garrison was to be jxnolcd. Sunday, July r)th,
ai-my^ waiting for paroles. Monday, July (dh, still
waitin*^ to be paroled and washing clothes andg(d-
ting Yankee rations. The enem}' treated the garri-
son kindly. Tuesday, July 7th, \Vedt\es(lay, July
^;th, Thursday, July !»th, Friday, July Kdh. and
Saturday, July llth waiting foi- ])aroles to be pre-
pared by the enemy, and <»n the llth of July, 1 so'K
the whole army was put tlirough the enemy's lines;
and marched that day to IJig Black, twelves miles
from Vicksburg. Sunday, July j-.'tli, gai'rison took
the line of Uiurch for Brandon and marched that
41
(lay to Pearl River, Monday, July 13th, marched to
Brandon. The army marched in no order. At Bran-
don the commands came up, and orders were issued
to march to Enterprise, Mississippi. The men of the
several commands at Brandon dispersed, and the
men took the ditrerent roads homeward. The offi-
cers left Brandon, Tuesday, July 14th; of Company
"B," Lieuts. AVier and Latl am and Capt. Willett
and Corporal ilildreth and that day marched to Dr.
(!onnor's. Wednesday, July 15th and Thursday,
July 10th, Friday, July 17th, Saturday, July isih
and Sunday, July 19th, was taken up in makiu": the
march to Enterprise. At Enterprise Gen. l*einberton
issued an order furloughing the army for thirty
days, and to report at Demopolis, Alabama, on 2;5rd
day of August. Capt. Willett and Lieut. Eatiiam
!sent their horses and mules home by llildretii. He
started on morning of ^uth of July, and on '.'Ist of
July, Moiulay, the three officers of Company "H,"
Lieuts. Wier and Latham and Capt. Willett starU'd
by daylight in cars for Macon, Mississippi; got there
at 10:0U a. m. and hired a hack and started for home,
and arrived at CarroUton at 9:00 o'clock p. m., July
^'Ist. 18(];5. Capt. Willett and Lieut. Wier were in
feeble health, but we got home once more after an
absence of a year and after much sulfeiiiig and
exposure. In the meantime the men of Company
'•15' loth Alabama were all getting home, some by
rail and some walked all the way. Some few were
hd't sick on the way, but all reached home but Hugh
J. Kolnnson wlio was left in hospital at Brandou
and must have died as he has never been heard from.
Jtio. E. McManus, Private Company "B" 10th Ala-
bama Kegiment, died at Vicksburg, July Kith, isr.:i.
We left in the hands of the enemy our sick and
wounded, towil- A. T. Howell, P. L Willinms, i\.
W. Acker \V. J. Jones, Thos. Cameron and Jno K.
4V
WtM'ins wounded, W. D. Sniitii and .Josh. Wood
si(d^, and JI. Kastt^ding nurse, in liospital. All of
whom woro afterwards sent to ATohile, Alabama,
and all rea(die(l home but one. dno. \i. Weunns ^ot
within four miles of home and died about loth of
August, IsiiM. May 17th, I8(i;;, the day Vicksburg
vviis invested , I no. C Pratt and Jos. ('ollins, J'l-ivates
(Company 'vl>'" -loth Alabama, havinj^^ Ixnui sent to
(!amp Timinons were captui-ed and as j)risoners of
war Were sent to l'\)rt Delaware wdiere they both
died, the dates of their death not known. Then'
were several men of (Jompany ••!')'" hd't on heer
(Ji-e(dv' sirk who wei'e not capturecl, towit: 1!. (i.
.\cker, .las. K. I'arkerand Sei-gt. \V. 1'. ('alley, who
aflii\va,rds with (Jompaniiis "A,'' '•])"" ami '']"
joiueil Johnston's army. Sei'gt. \V. I'. (!alle\"
(lota(died to gather up beeves on l)eer ('i-(!«dc died at
('apt. Willis" farm July 1st. isc,:;, oj' congestion.
.\i ker and l?arker returned to their comnuind aft(u--
\vards. (.'ompaiiy "l!" and the ollicers under said
order ri'turned home to speml a month, e.xcept the
si( k and wounded hd't Ixdiind, and to re(U'uit tludi-
almost broken constitutions. The tim(; was pleas-
antly spent with loved ones at home. The season
was a bountiful one, fruit of all kinds and [;-ardens
of i-arest vey;idable. It was a happy time for the
s(ddier to g(!t su(di rest at sueh a time amon^ Uncd
i/iK's after su(di an arduous campaign as the .Alissis-
si|ipi ca'inpaign had })rove(l. ( )n the --i'.U-il day of
August the ollicers and men of ('ompany ''IT" were
oriliTcd to report at hemopolis, .\labama, at /^o/'o/c
camjis. ()n the Jlst da} of August ('apt. Wdlltdt.
Lii'Uts. Latlian and W'iei- left home foi- Demopolis.
with Corporals l<^a,ton, liildreth, ri-i\a.tes llussell
and Uusstdl, (Jrahain, JJush, .1. A. I*j-alt, 'W W . ,Jon<s
and l». S. J^avender and arrived ihrre on the >' U h
day of August, went to parole vaiuj). iiuL few olli-
cei's and nwn liad roportful, and llu^ (Uilisted men of
(y()nil)any '-IT' all returned home. The ollicers
remained until Septemlx^r 1st, jsi;;;, and weie all
detailed to ^o to their homes for fiftt'en days, oi- to
the i)iaces where theii- commands were raised, and
a.sseml)l(! the men and i-eturn with them to jJaroW?
camps. Lieuts. jjatham and Wier and Capt. Wiilelt
with said ordei's returned home, arrived thei-e the
■Hh of Sei)tember, ISii;!. and used (!vei-y dilio-ence an(J
persuasion to got t.lu; men to return to pai'ole camps,
hut few were induced to return. ()n the i;!th (d' Sep-
teml)ei', isi;:;, said ollicers returned to l)emo])olis,
Alahama, stai-ted the l.ith September and went to
Macon, .Mississippi, next day to .Meridian and IDth
to Demopolis, Alahanui. hut few of the command
ret uriu'd at that time, some few, ])erhaps as man v as
ten. We i-emailU'd IIkuc until jSlh of Sei)t('mher
when ('apt. Willett was detailed from Oomjiany "!!'"
to return to ]*i(d-:ens and compel l,he return of his
command, the same haviuf^ lie<ui e.\(diaii<;-fMl the i;;th
(d' Sej)temher, IM',;;. ('apt. W illet t, went home on (u-
about the -.'SI, h (d Septcmher. USti.;, on tjiat Inisiness.
1 n the meant ime nearly all his company helieviu"-
they were ex(dian^-cd had started to I )em()])olis. He
ord<'red ami .-.cut ojf those remaininj^^ except some
sick and woutide<l. ('apt. Willett returned to Denioj)-
olis the l(t(,|| ol October, is;:;, aiid by that time the
(U)mmaml Company '-W was nearly all at l)emopo-
lis. THe Kt;t4-iment had by this time nearly all C(une
to c-anips. Tents, cook'iujj;- utensils, axes and camji
r'([uipa^e was very scarce, but we made out lo u^rl
along, ;^-ot rations siitljcieiit and in the meaiilijue
w<'i'e armed with old muskets ver\' common. The
lieginu'iit diille,! several days al heniopolis and
were revitrwrd b} (ieil. .Moore, (ieU. Hardee, (Jen.
Johnstiui and I'lc-ident 1 )a \ is. The ti-oops at 1 Hino})-
olis were Cuckerclls -Misyuuri iiriyade, Mooie's iJri-
-U
^ade a)i(l Pcttiis' Brigade of Alaljainians. ()ii 'rinii's
clay x".»rli day of October, l.SG-'!. Moore's r>rij^adt> took
tlie cin's at l)('inopolis for C'liickainauga. Pettiis"
1 5riga.de from same [ilact; luid left before; for ('iiieka-
maiiga. Tbe Jbigade arrived at Selma, Alabama,
tbe saiiK^ day in tbe evening, and femained in ctot-
t(ni slnuls tbat nigbt near tbe arti^siun wcdl. It
)-aim'd all nigbt. Next day, October .lolb, ISii;',.
j'^riday, at 1 1 ;0o o'cdock a. m. tbe Ai>i\\ and l:.*nd Ala-
bama look tbe b(mt R. lb Tam^y foi- ^fontgomery,
Alabama, travided all tbat day and nigbt fcdiowing
on tlie boat in a bard and cold rain, Oompany "B"'"
being on tbe hurricane diMdc. .lust at da\ ligbt, Sat-
urday morning, ( )ctober ;jlst, IsiLl^lIu: boat lamb*d
at Montgomery, Alabanni.and lot b and |-jnd Alabama
Kegimonts were; marclmd to h'air (J round. Alxnit.
.>^ajin' tinuj .'Jltb Alabama iu'ginn'Ut canu' on boat,
JelV Davis. Tbat day was taken u]) di-ying blankets
and baggage ami getting and cooking ratacnis for
tb.- trip. ('apt. Wiliett called on ,ludg(! Olitberall
and lodged witb bim tbat nigbt at bis i-('si(b^nc(\
Mrs. (Mitlu'rall prepai"ed a nice liincb for bis baver-
sacdv, ami before day next nmiaiing Judge (Jlitberall
sent Cai)t. Willelt in bis buggy to tim camp of loth
Alabanui near (b'j)ot. At '.' :0(i o'clocd^, Novembei- Ist.,
lsi;;i, tbe train was i-eady to rnn us t(» WAist
J'oint. .\ll went on nu'rrily and tbe train
ariived tbat evening at. dark- at WA-st Point.
.\'oveml)er "^'nd, ," ;U0 a. m. left in train for Atlanta,
(bM)rgia, ami arrived tbere tbat nigbt at dark.
Novembei' ord, Isti;;, renuiimMl at Atlanta mvar City
llall drawing ami cooking rations foi- tin; niiircb
fai'tber on. Xovcnnber Itb, is*'.;;, left Atlanta, in
tiain for (Jbicdcamauga, at i :(o o'clock and arrived
(bcre befoi"e da}ligbt November r)lb. ISC.;;, it bring
cold a.ml rainy. At 1 1 :0U o'clock a. m. took up the
line of marcli frc>in the station to tbe fi'ont on Look-
45
out ^Mountain. Marclicd all day and part of \\\v
iiiglit ill rain and niiid, thru hivotiaced in an old
\\i'\{\ ill tlu' valley of ( 'liattanoopja that nii^^ht with-
out wood or water and it rainintr all nij^ht. Xo\ tiii-
hoi' iitli, I si;;;, arrived at camp at the hase of the
.Mountain and i)rej)ared for- temporary camp.
f><'inained tluM't^ Ttli, stli and Dtii of Noveinher
doiuL^ pieki>t duty on (Jhattanoo<^a ('I'ecdv with
\V'a.lk(;r"s Division. ()n loth Company " IV liad an
idection for ::3nd .1 unior Lieutenant to till the vacancy
ocicasionc'l hy resignation of laeut. 'I'erry. 1st
Stu'gt. K. I). \'ance was el(^ctt?d. ()n same day the
4(ith and -Ihid Alahama mar(die<l to w<'st side of
Lookout Mountain and remained tlu're iu i-es<M-vt'
loth. 1 1 t,h and l.'th of Novemher. Lac'h (J(»mpany
left a detail at camp to cook and carry rations to
ci)iiipany (»n niduntain distant three miles. Tht.'
weathei- was very cold ami fidsty, hut we made
large firths, slei»t ou the gi'ound and kei)t comforla-
hle wiih (Uir hlankeis hivouacing on the mountain.
Ahout this lime ;)^tii .\lahaina joined us. (ien.
-Mo<ue ma.de his head(iuarters at tin.' (!raveii House.
« )n Kriday, ]:!th .Xovemher, went on picdcet, whoU;
Kegiment, on Lookout Creek at •.':()(! o"(dock j). m.,
and returned on llth at same tiim; hack to the
r<'serv(!. Nothing of note occurrcul on picket. Tlu're
was no tiring ainong pickets, tlu^ forces piidvcted on
eatdi hai^k u\' Look(Uit (h-eek. llth Xovemhci-
remained on the Mountain. Sunday, l-Mli Xovem-
l»ei-, 4()th Alahama went (^n picket on Lookout Cic( k
and (,'hattanooga, Creek. (Jaim^ off picket ^Mondav
evening. Kith, 'i'uesday, iUh Novemher, ]S(;:;. fiftv
men from P'th Alahama were detailed for j>i(dvet.
\V'<'dnesday, ISih, one hundred and lifty men were
detailed for picket and fatigue. 'Vht". 4ut}i, 4Vnd and
;)7th Ahihama Kegiments movt^d camps to eui^^t of
Craven House three hundred yards.
40
Thursday, November IDtli, isoi), Capt . Willett
with seventy-five men was sent on picket/ th(' l^i-i-
<^a(le })icket under command of Maj. Shiyton :!7th
Alabama. The picket line of .AlOore's I'.ri^ade
extended from Pea Vine Oreek cast of Loolvout-
Mountain, thcnc(i down that creek to ( 'hatlam>o^a
(!i-('ek, tlience down it, to ])oii>t whc^-o railroad
l)rid^^(i of M. cV, (J. II. \l. crosses the creek, thence
(h)\vn railroad to tiie point whei-(! it leaves the Ten-
iiesset; Itivei', thtmce down Tennessee Kiver to nioiit li
iif Lookout Creek, thence n\) that, creek to the tiirii-
pik«i hridg'e (l)urnt acrrtss Lookout ( hcek ). Also on
same day a heavy tietail was ordered to diu;- rille
pits. Aflei- twt^nty-four houi's of picket duly ("apt.
W'ilJett retui-ned to (tann), nothiuji;' of inteit-st hap-
pi'uin;;-. Li'iday, November ".'Oth, was i-elicxed from
picket at .■!:()! I o'chxdc p.m. ('apt. W'illel t and iaeiils.
Latham and \\'i(M- (Micampe<l under a \>\'j; roek and
made a tir(^ place of ro<d-;s and fenced around willi
same and were vtM'y well protecte(| from wind and
rain. Saturday, Novemht^r Vlst, Isc,;;, it rained all
day ami part (d" the ni^lit befoi'e. The I'.ri^adi' had
not a tent. ;ind fiieut. .las. A. Latham was pio-
moted to 1st Lieut. ()omi)any •'!'>'' vice Lieut. ,1. T.
T«M'ry resij^ned, to take rank fi'om ( )etol»ei- iJih, isii.i.
Lieut. ,L II. \Vier was promoteil to '>\n\ Senior Lieu-
tenant-. Sunda}', November ".'■Jnd, I Sil.l, ( 'apt.. W'lllelt
was by ordei- (d' (xen. Hi'ajj;'^- detaileil a neinher of a
( Jeneral Courtmai'tial for Cheatham's l)i\i>ion. liar
dee's ('oips A. T. Th<! Court was as follows:
]sf: .Maj. J, ('. (J(n'don. 1st ( '(»ufedei-al(' (IcorM-i;)
Regiment.
;.'nd: ('apt. .1. (,'. Kendrick. .!,' th .Mahama lo^^imi-nt.
;;i-d: (Japt. E. 1). Willett, toth Alabama lu'uimenl.
4th: (.'apt. S. S. (iiallaiil, t'.'nd .Alabama Le*.;imeiil.
5th: CJapt. 11. J. P»owen. IMth .Mississippi Kei^'-i nient.
6th: Capt. il. i>. Grilliu, ;i9th iMississippi liegiment.
47
:tli: C'apt. C. M. Pe|)])er, 2rtli Mississippi lve<rini(Mit..
8tli: ('apt. I'. W. WilliatusoM, :^'.iLli Mississippi Ut';^-
i incut , .1 . A.
Tlid llir(u' last ikuiumI were relii^ved and (it-ii.
llardct^ made a fuitiier detail, towit:
(';ipl. ('. li. Tlioiiipson, Itith 'I'eniiessee Kcj^imciiL.
\y . B. i'etty. Sth Tennessee Kt-ginient.
,1. C'obbs, 'loih Alabama lieginient, J. A.
'I'lir Court Wiis oi'dered to convene on the ::i';rd
(d" Ndvriiibcr, iSi")."), within tin; lines of Choatlia ni's
division. MoiidaN', November :;'."ird, ISti;}, the iistial
jind^ft and fati;;u<' took ])1ac(;. On tlu- i-i^^lit of .Mis-
siduaiN' liid^c a, heavy skirmish took place. The
eiieiiiv were i-e]uilsed with eonsiderahh; loss. ()iir
loss was not so heav\\ This day Lieut. W'ier-, ('oiu-
pan\' ■■!)" was detailed foi" picket.
'I'liisda ij, Sofoiihcr '-liUi , isn;i, this is a day Inn;^
to bf remembered, it was 1'oj.^gy and lainy and the
w li(de of Lookout Mountain was envcdop<'(l in dense
j"(i^ an«l mist. A battle was ex[)ected, but the
oppo^in;.:; armies could not se(i the movennuits of
tlicothtr. h'arl}' the (!ourt Martial was adjourned
and oidered b}' Cien. ,Ja(dvSou commandiu}^ ('heat-
ham's l)i\'isi()n to their commands at lt;0(i a. m. I
found Moore's Ihiiji^ade in line of battle. The only
other Ihi^ath; on the Mountain was Walthall's Uri-
^■•ade. The liMMudies imd been made so that Wal-
thall's Hri^aile occupied the line from the peak of
Lookout Mountain to tht^ Craven House and .Mooic'.-^
itrij^ade from his ri»^^ht to C'hattanoo^a Creek.
.\b(»nt N:()() o'cloidv' a. m. tin; enemy drove in Wal-
thall's pi(dvets and from the left commeucc<I ]][,■
as;^ault. Walthall went l)(!yond his woidcs to i-ecci\c
the enemy and fought back and up t he ]\loun lai n .
They passed his h-fl Hank in ^reat fcu'ce an<l ca[)
lure<l two thirds (d' his L.rii^ade. Mis I loojis wert^
48
whipped and in ^thmI coiifusioii Ijid'ore lu*. jrot back
to tiu! phute iixrd to liylit. Tliey could not he rallied
III the Cfuveii House, (lew. Mooi'e liad his J>i-ij^ail(^
ill })ositi()u to tlu! )ijj;liL of the L'laven ]i(Uist.' and
rejiulsed th(i foe liandsoiuely in front, hut there
hein^ no support tc» Wallhall's J5ii;;a(le tlu) enemy
in })ursuinj.( them passed the hdl Ihiuk of ^loures
l>i"iij^ad(i and w«Me soon inhladin^i^ our dittdi. 'The
Ui'igade fell hack a short distance, then a char;^*;
was ordered and the cMKuny driven be}'ond our
trenclu's. It was soon jierceived tiuit tlie enemy
drivins^ WalthalTs IJiijj^ade weie j)assiny; our ](d't
Hank. (len. .Mooi-e then ordered his iJi'igade to fall
hack on next I'idgt' some thi-ee liundi'ed yai'ds and
wait reinforcenuuits on the line o\' WaltlialTs JJri-
,i;ade. (ien. I'ettus (uuiu' U}* and formed on the linii
of .Moore's Urii^adi; ami the tij^ht continued until
11:0(1 o'clock at nij^ht. In the nuumtime i'ettus'
Uri^^adt; was i-(dievt;(i by (Jlaytou's Hriyade. The
ui^ht was extremely cold, and Moort/s Hrij^ade huilt
a, rock fence exp(!ctin^ an assault early lU'Xl morn-
iny^. when at r^:<)() o'clock nij.fht the whole foi'ce
o\i Lookout ^lountain was oi"<lei"ed to quietly witli-
(ll■a\\^ comm(!ncin^ on tiie Itd't. Moore's l)ri;^ade.
was last leavin«4- the Mountain. The picket foi"ce of
IMoore's iJrii^ade on I^ookout (Jreek under Maj. .Sla\ -
ton of ;!ith Alahanui were uearly all cajjlured. Of
('ompivny"K" ioth Alahanui Ke^^iment the follow-
inj.^ were cai)Lure(i on picket, towit: "^'ml Sr. Lieut.
,las. II. \Vi('r, (;oi|)orals A. W . Lar^^enl and Jno. A.
ltuss(dl. Privates J no. .1 . Strickland, Jas. H. Keildish,
Thos. Iv. lieym)lds, Sam'l K.ddnson, \Vm. L. Philips
and W'm. 1). Smith. AK>ore"s Piigade with the otlu'r
forces on the .Mountain nuirclied all nij^ht and until
next mornin;j;' at sunrise, wlieii it was halted to ie>t
one hour. Then we took the line of nuii'cdi for Mis-
sionarv Rid^e and went to the ri^^lit of the arjiiy.
49
ITardcM^s (torps was on tlie rij^lit in {\\v. followiii;^
order: ( 'K.'l)iirn(;'s Division lii-,st.,Slt'i)li(,'iis()ii"s Division
S('(-t)n(l, Walker's Division third and ( 'iirat liani^
Division (of \vlii(di ^loorc's IJri^adi- juado a jiait)
tli«i fourth, llindnuin's, IStewart"s, Hrtudv'iniidjj;c's
and lUu'kner's Divisit)ns were on tht' loft and left
center. Ahout I I ;()() o"ck)ck a. m. ^vt• to(dv' onr jtosi-
tions, and aftei'\vui"ds the l)att]e of .Missionar}
Uid^e- eonnneneed on the rij^ht. This was Noveni-
hcr "-.'■)lh, ISO:;. As a, reserve we were jnoved
t'artlier to the I'i^iit alioiit noon. ()iir arms were
suceessfnl on th(; rij^liL and we wair niovetl hacd-c
to onr first position to await th<' assault of the
enemy who were ecnnin;^' in j^reat lOree. {)[[r artill-
ery ponred so deadly a fire that tin; (Uiemy inovrd to
tht! left still farther ahont a, mile, and on ihf hft
and hd"t center madt! an assanlt. ()ur Irft without
mnidi ii;j;litin*^ l^roke and tiie tMiemy gained the
rid;^*', and then towards the ri^ht eommcnecd an
intiladiiiK lii"'" ^""' '^ 'ire in front. The line w;t,-,
hrokeii to .Moore's ]'>rij.ra(h'. (Jen. .Moor<; with Huh
A lahaina ehan^'ed front to rear, and wiih l^'ml and
oith Akihama Ke,u;iments faeeil to the fi-ont awailcd
the assault, 1/iit his nrij^iule ludd theii- ground uniil
nearly dark when a retreat was ordered <d iho
whole ri^ht across (Jhickaman;;a ('reek. .Moore's
I5ri<;ade held their [losition until all the arlille]-\- on
the righ^ j^ot oil" safely. -^The wliojo ri;^ht icticatcd
in order; the left in ^reat disorder. Iosin<;- most (d' ils
artillery. The etieni}' were In-avily r* piilsod (ui the
n^-ht. We capturod seven lla;.^s a n<l foil r hu nd red
})|-isoners. Tin; loss to our army on ;!Jth and v'.")lh of
Novemljer was t hrce thousand j>risoners. '{'he loili
Akihama liad six killeil and forty woumlcd. ('ajils.
(3olenuin and Crimson were sovercdy wounded. ,j .
A. 'I'urnipseed and (Ma} ton, ('omiiany "(i" of i'lck-
<'ns (.'ounty were killed, J. M. iJush and A. A. r.\ars
50
C'om|i;iiiy "ir' were sli^Hillv won iidcd . ( )n tiio
liii^lit, (iC •.'.'(ill (if XovciiiImt lilt' wiidlc ariiiN'. \\;i-<ins,
;i rl illfP}' ;iii(l liicii, except those cjiiituied jilid Lilled,
crossed ( dii(d<uni;nii^a Creek. ( 'leltii rue's Division
was made tlie rear <4iiard(d' the aiin\'. 'I'lie ariii\'
nia,r(died until l-l-jn) o"(do( l< ih;tl iii-ht ami hivon-
a-ced foi- two jiours, and continued the reti-eal,
towaiMJs l)alton. (ieori^ia. 'Die ('(n|/s of (ien. Lon;^--
slreet the ist(d' No\emher wit h lln(dvm'i-\s |)i\isnni
had Iteen sent to KuoxviMe. ']\n ness<'e, to altacdc
Unruside. That mo\e vei-y mntdi Aveak'ened the
army of (Jen. Hra^.L;-. and then lii> line on M issionarv
lvid<^"<! was seven miles loriL;-. and he had m> resei'ves
aTttn" making" the necessar\ ili.'^|)ositi()ns of the
troo))s h(i then ha<l. liut the let't^ hroke without
makiiif^ the ti^ht tiny could have made. 'l"he\- wei'e
hy some means panic slriidvcn at the y;feat f(n-c.e
assanltin^ theni. it was unfort iinat (i tlnit thev
could see all the movements of tin; enemy in the
valley Ixdow. Anyhcnv tin' li^htinj^- was not severe
enollj.;h for the j'osjtion the Confederates Indd.
Novemhei' :.'(ith. jsc,;;, th(^ retreat (d' the army con-
tinued, and reached at ni^ht a place to hivouac one
mihi south of Kin^-^^cdd, (ieor^ia. lleie the army
slept for tlie nit^ht, it hein^- the lii-st sleep av i-est the
Itith Alahama had heen ahle to take since the >!;Jr(l
of .\'oV(Mnl)er. The troops were nnndi \vearied for
want of i"est. The wa^on trains kept up, Imt on
account of the hadm-ss ol" the roaijs iwxd the .scurc lo
the ( Hia.rtermaslers man \' articles of l)a,i;'^aji^e wer(!
thi'own away on the retri'at. No\t-nil)er "■.'ith, Isc,:;,
the army continued its march to l)alton and arrixcd
t here a lion t sunset . ( )n this da \ a sescrc hat t le was
fou<^ht hetween (ien. ( 'lei i n i le 's lii\i.-i(ni, the i^ear
5j;aiard of oui' army, ami the pinrniin;; enemy near
liini;-old. (ien. (Mehurne re|iulhed lln' ene)n\ with
hea\'\' loss, taking four hundicd prismn'rs and lour
51
stands of coloi-s. After this rcpiilso tli«' cikmiiv
iiiaili' no rm-tlior pursuit but fell hack !(» Mi-.^ioiuiry
Kidgt! ami I'hatl aiioo^-a. The ( 'oiif'-lcTal-' Army
(iucauipcd arouuil l)allon on the M'-.:hl of ■.',"lh of
Novciiihci-, C'iuMt ham's ])i\isiou on \\\v Ih/snoa road,
without tents, axes and rations. ?,!(;J was issued
ami also heef. 'riio hread was ('oo|.i,'d in the a.^hes
or (Ml hoaids and the heet roasted I y hiis. Tiu'
weathei- was \yry eold and havin;^ iK.) ax^sand a-
eold rain lallint;' made it ver} se\'(.'re. 'i'li- s.ddiei's
had the cold Wel t';roUnd to sleep on and ::!ept hut
lltth'. It was too ctild to sletp Undr r lUie hi;; nk<.'t .
The contusion eonse(|Ucnl U})on il.i' i\-tr^:ii [lassed
and Mi'dt'r was restored, and the whoh- arn.\ ^ett!ed
down (piietl}' ai'tiund I )alt»>n at phu't s e<^nv.nient to
Wood a nd walm-.
XdVcniher -.'sth, "iDth and '■Un\i il.e arh.\- hivou-
aeed aruund haliiui; the trains all arrived ;it the
M".ei-al Jhi^adi- - a nd ra lions cm' hee i .uid i;M,,l WiH;
issu^'d. (Ai.pt. Willeltaanl LiiMii. h 1 1 IiaUi' -. i ..i ;4;;;"ai^'e
came sal't'ly jniioi- t hoi r a.xe ;in>l M'i.i, >'vj,:.I; i 'i -',' nU^i-
sils, touts, etc. i »:i liic ni;j,lil </|' I ii . :h ^A' Xi<\(,'ni-
hor K. J. h,. d. T. !■:., .1. .1. i;. ;.od J. {]., pnsates
('onipany ""i!"" I'Uii Alahama Ih ;■ n.ei.L, ..'c.sr //cr/
i'lom cam|) of loiji Alahama liei-iui' at.
Deceuiher Isi. 1 S(;:i Capl. Wilidt sr,.; a l(de'-
;j,a'aphir <l i-jial o!i lo his wife -Mrs. ('. .'.1. W ;!ieL with
tlie i-(S1vIl (»!' liii' hatlh'S (>( LomLiMiI .MuU^.l.iiu and
,M issionai'N' Uid.',c and the ca^ual[i^./■ ii. (Jompany
"li ". It was --cnt to t'ojumltus .M i.>.si.j.^-i ppi . No
mai l.> hi'in;.;- a.i \ I I ('pen In I t;i li oil. he .-.ent a iolti r
to lier lo lie mai h'd at At hint a iiy < 'o|. H i^^K _\ "s J osh.
Also sent her a h'ttor ot' date Xowuihi.:- .'Mi !)>'
sonic Olio to he mailed at .\tlaiila. DeccJiirier ".'lid
and ;;i(l remained at the .•^ame l)i\oiiae on iho i id;^"e.
<'ii iho -'u'd tho ( oMieral ('(lUiiiiiariial for ('hcal-
haiu".s J >i vision, oi' \vhi(di ('apt. W ilht 1- \va s a mem-
52
her, reorganized at Mr, Keys, near the tank soiitli
of Dalton on railroad. December Itli, olli, tith anil
7th the -iOtli Alabama witii the Divit^ion icmained
at the same place g(itting wood and nui Icing them-
selves as comfortable as possible. L)n the Gth of
December Sergeant (Jilkey gtjt a furloiigii for forty
days by reason of having furnished a recruit under
(ieneral Order 187. His leave exjjires on the 1 Ith
day of January, 18Gt. Tuesday, December 8lh, 1803,
the -totli Alabama with Cheatham's Division moved
camp two miles east of the railroad and three miles
soutli of Dalton in a large forest and had cam])s
regular laid oif for brigades, regiments and comi>a-
nies, and all commenced building Witilei- (juarlers,
to wit: cabins or huts. l>ut axes being scarce, the
work progressed slowly. I\Ioore's Ihigade since it
left Demopolis, Alabama, was armed with old mus-
kets. They were taken in and new Austrian rifles
issued to the whole Bi'igade, so that now the Bri-
gade is well armed again. \Vm. llarham and J ere
Davis returned from hos})ital. The Uourtmaitial
was moved to Antioch Church within the lines of
the Division. Thursday, December tuh, ]8():), ]{. A.
Jones and J. W, 1 barton returned to camjjs from
home where they had been sick. December lOth,
llth, I'^th, J;)th, 14th and 15th nothing unusual took
place. The Company "B" continued building Win-
ter (juarters. Serg(;ant llilreth ol)taiiied on loth a
furlough f6r forty days l)y reason of iuiving fur-
nished a recruit. His leave will expire on tlui X! Jth
day of January, lS(i4. December Kith, ITth, LSth
and I'Jth the weather very cold. Tiiti building of
cabins goes on. l^rivate If. Easterling obtained
a furlough on ItJth for forty days by reason of
having furnished a recruit. His leav(! exi)ires 0)1
27th day of January, 18i;4. K. ¥. Hunnicutt was
furloughed from Newnan Hos})ital for thirty days
from l5ecember.;)rd, 181;;!, to go home.
53
December :20tli, 21st, ^Jind, "i'ovd, 24tli and 2otli
the weather extremely cohl. Company "]>'\linished
their cabins and took the premium, to wit: one gal-
lon of brandy for the best set of cabins in the Itey^i-
ment. The Commissary also issued oiie gallon of
whisky to the Company for Christmas "dram".
Christmas was a day of little pleasure to the Army
of Tennessee in North Georgia. Nothing to buy,
rations— beef and meal, and extremely cold weather;
we had nothing of what usually makes Christmas
pleasant. Away from home, family and friends
and good cheer — it had the name, that was all, to
the soldiery. This is the second Christmas we have
spent away from loved ones and sweet iiome.
December 2Gth, 2:tii, 2Sth, 2;)th, :;()lh and Mist
nothing doing in the way of army movements. The
weather still continues to get colder and the earth
to freeze deeper. Company "IV in their cabins
much protected from the cold. Rations very short,
beef and meal, poor beef and not enough bread. No
drilling. But little doing besides getting wood and
trying to keep warm. Capt. Willett still continues
on the General Courtmartial.
Jan'Uakv 1st. 1S04.
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston vice Gen. Bragg took
command of the Army of Tennessee. By (ient?ral
Order 227 a system of furloughs is aelo}»ted, to wit:
one enlisted nuiii for ever\- thirty men and a leave
of absence for one oilicer where there are three in
the Company for duty. ITndt-r this order Company
"B" was entitled to two furloughs and a leave of
absence for one officer. Lots were cast by the men
to decide wjio should go, and W". L. Lipsex and Bow-
man Elmore were tin- lu<-ky ones. They left for
home on this day. Their leave will expire on the,
20th of January, lS(i4. ih^n two others will go home.
Julius Shirley rQturn«*d this day from hosjiilal,
54
('.ii/l. Willott sent letter to his wife by Lip-* \ . Tlu;
il . is iiiteiisuly cold. On the ^Mst (,»r I ) ■cfmhcr,
I'".;. (y()nij)any "IV was mustered i\>\- -i\ months
\><v iiy (!()!. (Jreen of oith Ahxbama. The pay oi'
;l!v>-!e '.viu) did not report at Deinopolis. A 'ah;im;i. on
i!i>- ■'.ird of August, 18Gu, was dediiclcd u.Mlil Ihcy
.! i.l report.
.January ;ind, 18G-1, continueil eolth ?,'.) army
(;i/\ enuaits. Army doing Ijut little except getting
■..ood. (lourtmartial continues. Tiie four (h^^ertt-l•s
oT ( 'omjiany '"B," towit: L., E., E. and E., wire caj)-
[tifed in Cherokee County, Ala., an<l hioii-ht l>ack.
i'harges and speciiications wei'c prefeiicd, ;ind they
^^>|•e, tried by the Corps Court and .senit need, the
.tiiee l<].'s to be marked with lettei" 1) on leli lii[) and
\. I ar barrel shirt. L. to have his head h.-il >li;i\ed,
• ear bari'el shirt ten days and marched ilii(iiii;h the
: tirade with music and a guai'd at cliiri;:!- hiiyoiiet.
. .' much foi' deserting the servicel J aimaiy -a d, iMil,
. ' I V cold. January -Jth, 5th, Gth, 7ih, '^lii. '.'th and
lOlh, JS51, still in cabins and extremely cMd. Inir-
i ig these days the Company was paid foi . ia juontles
t" Ihicember Dlst, 18(j;], commutatiuii J -r cKtlhing
J! 'l |i;;id.
January IJth, 18i)l, Lieut. Latham ohljined a
I'.ive of absence for thirty days to visit his liome.
:lis leave will expii'e on the '.»tii day e'l" l''ebruai'y
i). S. Lavcndar re'turned to camps liom hojne
wlu re he had been sick. January I'.'lh, i;;ili, 14lh
.iiid l,*th, cold weathei' still continues. No aiany
)\iovements. Comjjany "IV and loth -\l;ib;ima still
'.'.. '.'.inter ([uartei's.
January IGth, Kth and IbUi, no ;irni\ move-
neiiis. 'ITie cold weatiier still c<.)nlinue ;, l.ia not so
• \ere; on i7th and JSth rain succeeded l>\ simw.
liio e;irth \evy muddy. Col. T. (). SIod,' |i;i\(^ on
55
nielli ol' isth for home on twenty da}s l<';ivc (.1
ahsciicc. ('.-.'pt. VVillott sent by him hUtcf h) In.-
wil'c. ^■J^. WAinovc yiek with measles, sent on U-.:.
to liosiulai.
January IDLh, ISO!, Tues(hiy, cohl weatlier.
Snow j'l'il in cousiderabh; qnantititjs. Wm. Wool > .
(-onipaa) '•!'.■' sent olV siek to lu^ijpital. John '1 .
!<'., ( 'oni[»:; I) y "]>"' died today. His sickness v.;..
mcasN s. lit' was ninlor sentonc(! of court marli.i
for doscii iou to be lirainled by markinj^ on It.d't, hi;-
Willi l<'U<r ••]).'" He died before the sentence \va ,
exccuhii. 1 1(5 resided in JMckens County, Alabainci,
anti loll a, wiic aaid one cliild. An unfortunato iiuu.l
Jaiiuar.v -.''Mii, isoi. no army movements. The e< ! 1
weatlier a hales; now we have heavy frosts a.
sunshine. January '-.'Ist, AV. 1^. Lipsev r.lurm.,
frotn lionn'— came to time. Bowman l*V.iiu.i-e, ih
other jnaii fnrloughed nnder Order 2-17, did n u
retinal, b<j that furlou^hing has ceased in C'oniiia.-
-'W until lie returns. Cold frosty weather C(niliiju. ^,
with snns'u ine.
l)Ks('i;iPi i\ ic List of Company B, 40tii
Uj-x.imknt, January 1st, I8(;i.
Nami; Rank.
Albert ]). ,Willett Captain
■ .las. A. Latham 1st Lieutenant
• J as. II. Wier ;ind Lieutenant
Lli D. \'ance 3nd Lieutenant
'rand\ II. Thomas 1st Ser<^eant
J no. W. Sanders 2nd Sergeant
\V. .M . <lilkey ord Ser*;eant
S. Ilihlreth 4th Serjroant
J . 11. lOalon 5th Sergeant
A. W. Lai-gent 1st Corporal
J. A. Kussell x;nd Corporal
A I. A I '.A a
o(J
Jos. Lancaster 3rd Corporal
J. A. Pratt 4tli Corporal
Allen, J. M Private
Acker, B. C Private
xVcker, C W Private
luirnham, W Private
Black, S. D Private
iilack, B. T Private
Bush, J. E Private
Bush, J. M Private
Bush, J. A Pri vat(;
Byars, J, A Private
lirandon, J . R Private
('ook, J . P Private
Collins, Joiinathan Private
Cameron, J, ]) Private
Cole, L. T Private
Cameron, Tiios i*rivate
Cvhannell, 'W A Private
Curry, J. H Private
Davis, Jere Private
Easterling, H Private
Keds, J. A Private
Klmore, C. S Private
Elmore, A Private
Elmore, W. R Private
l^^more, .J as Pi-ivate
Elmore, M . T Private
Elmore, J. J Private
Elmore, Bowman Private
Elmore, Jacob Private
Freeman, M. W Private
Freeman, ]. A Private
Freeman, M. M Private
French, J. M Private
(ioodwin, Jno Private:
(Jraham, G. M Private
57
Hicks, D. N Private
Hicks, J. R Private
Hicks, J. F Private
Howell, A. T Private
Hall, J. N Private
Hall, J. C Private
Horton, J. W Private
Huimicutt, R. F Private
Irwin, (}. W Private
Jones, T. W Private
Jones, W. J Private
Jones, R. A Private
Jones, W. H Private
Jennings, J.J Private
Johnson, J. W Private
King, S. (J Private
Kerr, J. D Private
Lancaster, E.J Private
Lee, T. H Private
Ledbetter, R. P> Private
Lavender, 1). !S Private
Lipsey, W. L Private
Mc Ateer, W. P> Private
McAteer, F. J l^ri vate
Parker, J. F Private
Pearson, Sani'l l*rivate
Phillips, W.L Private
Pveddish, J. H Private
Russell, A. C I'rivate
Reynolds, T. K Private
Pobinson, J . (J Pi'ivate
Uobinson, Sanil Private
Strickland, W. (1 Private
Strickland, J. J Private
ShalTer, W. K Private
Smith, W. 1) Private
Shirley, Julius. . Privatti
Shepherd, H Private
o8
'rh(>iii])S()ii, M . L . . .
Tavlui-, W. S
\anc(s W. \' . . . .
Williams, \\ ]
Williams, T. II .. .
West, J. 11
WOoil, W' m
^\^)^)(l, Joshua
( 'aliK'i'OU, -Moses A
Jon:,, Abi-am J) . .
Jotics, Aiiili(-us A
:\!ilclioll, (Je... W' ,
1 ami'Te, l.'Miris. W .
Juiios. .Marrr! i us S
i;iii';j:iss, i:(-i)i,
J;loel:er, A. i; . . . .
iiicL rnan, I'cioi-. . . .
Cluward, A. W
'livato
*i-ivate
'rivatc
'i'i\alo
'ri vale
Ml vale
^ri vale
•"I'ivciLc
Mi vale
'i i\ att^
'rivale
'fi \;i le
'ri va h'
'ri \ a t e
'|-i\-al(^
*ri vaLe
'ri\ ale
lii Lho ori;,';:nal (liar\' there ai>|)eai-s afl.T t
uaiiif :; [ivi'SO'ii-.i (h-se I'i |)1 ieii of each mail ;^'i\'illL(
a,,i.(e, .-..l^.l- oi i.Vcs, eulor of hair, eoiti j>le\ loii, s
W'llfM- l;wri,. or'Upat ion llcfore eill l^l llH'lll, \v I
wheie. Ly V, !:-mi and for wlial jM'riod eiilisled.
Mch
: his
<i/.e,
leil.
Di;s(i;i 111 vi: Lisi oi' C^)Ml•.\^■^ l;, lOTii Ai.ak
lii;oi.\:i.'..\ 1 W'ifo ll.wK nii'ii) IN iiii': tSKU\ ici';
\ M \
.\
i A N K
i;elk, (1. V; (^)r|)oral
( 'allf V, W' . 1' Ser<4-eaiit
('ar\er, Wesley H
( '.ii.ieroii . J :is. I >
( 'ollins, Joseph
1 ':i uiol, 'LMios. r
l''o w |i. r. J iio. 1''
( ;iii). ■ L iieiir\ T. r. ,
JlolliiiLC.-Worlh, A. J
'rivate
'iivat(^
*i-i\ ate
hi vate
h-i \'ate
'i i \ a 1 e
h'i vate
59
Jeiininj^s, A. 1) Private
Kerr, Jno. L I'ri viitc
Mull ins, 15, F Private
iMcManus, .1. K Private
Pi-att, Jno. L Private
l^ratt, Jno. (' Pri\aie
Petete, J. '1^ ]*rivate
Russell, C!. \V Privat.i
Iveynolds, ,) . S Private
Ko bin so 11, ] I. J Pri\ ale
Savaj^^e, A. \V Prisatc
Williams, Tlios Private
Weenis. ,1. U Pri\ate
Verby, ,1 . I'j l'ri\ ate
lOlniore, Jno. T I'livaie
llunniciUt, \l. W Piivate
Pearson, Sam' 1 Private
Par ham. Win I'l i vali'
Irwin, (oMt. W I 'ri\ ate
lOlinore, ('. S Pri\ ate
bialon, Jacob 11 . ."itli Sci ;4-eaiiL
Vance, Wni. \' Privatt^
A'ance, Eli 1) v'nd Pieuieiiant
Phillips, Wm. Tj Privati!
lOlmore, Jaeob Private
Jloi'ton, J. \V Pri\aLe
Morrow, J). W . Private
Davis, Jei-e Private
]>ush, A.J Private
L.^ek, M. T Private
Patham, ,Jas. A (-aptain
Elmore, Bowman Piivate
Sh.irley, Julius Piivat<'
Preeman, AP M Pii\ate
in the ori^^inal diai'y tie re ajtpears after e;
na nie a personal (leserii)t-i()n ol' lacli man who il
in the service, givinj^' his aye, color nt eyes, color
icli
ir,|
60
hair, complexion, size, where born, occupation
before enlistment, when, wheie, by whom and for
what period enlisted, and wluni, wlitif and from
what cause he died.
Frida}', January -^Jind, isGl, no army move-
ments. Frosty nights and sunny days. ( !apt. Wil-
lett still on the General Oourtnuii-tiai. .lanuary -^'".rd
and ::3-ith no movements. Weather (siinny wiih cold
nights. Sergt. S. Hildreth returned iiom liome and
brought a general supply of provisions for llie com-
pany. January '2bth, 2Gth and •^!Tth no ino', > nicnis of
note. January 2Sth jMooi-e's Brigade u;is oidered
five miles south of camp on railroad al>ovi- Tillon to
work the road. Remained there eleven thiys. Jan-
uary "^Sth, :i!ith, oOtli, ;>lst, February Jst, ind, ;;rd,
4th, 5th, <ith and 7th. F. 1). AViliett is in c<immand
of 40th Alabama. Cols. Stone and MaJ. (iiilly on
leave of absence and Col. lligley in command oi
Brigade. Febi-uary rth, isoi, the Brijj^ade came
back to their old camjts. February SiW and nth
nothing trans])ired of. note. All this juonlli the
weatlier fine. On the 9th Lieut Latham i( turned
from home on leave and brought considcrahio pro-
visions for the officers mess and the conipan) . I^'ehru-
ary 10th and llth nothing of interest api)eared. Ftd)-
ruary Lith, lS<i4, Capt. Willett got leave ol absence
for thirty days and started home with J. II. Curi-y
for twenty days. On same day Moore's brigade
was ordered to join IStewart's Division Hoods Corps
in place of StrahTs Brigade transfeiiiMl to Cheat-
ham's Division Hardee's Coi-ps. The two I'.rigades
changed camps or cabins the siime dny. The
exchange was made to get the 'I • iiiii- oi-uis to
their old division commander. Stewart "s i)i\ ision
was then, or now composed of Clayton's, (iihson's,
Stovall's and Moore's im)w Baker's) lln-ades, (ien.
Moore about this time having resigned. L'>y the
Gl
exchange the 40th Alabama and whoU' Hri^adc diil
not get near so good cabins as the}- had IndOri;.
Alpheus Baker, Jr., of AUibama, is now ilii^^adici-
General of Moore's old Brigade. ()ui- llrigadc con-
tinued in their winter (juai-ttMs from i^'fUiiiaiv r.Mb,
1KC4, to l^\d)ruary ".'^rd, liSiU, wluui the (Mk^mv ina(h>
an attack on onr lines near IJocdc}' Kacc Moun-
tain Gap where the raih-oad hnids through tlic
Kidge, and at Crows' Gap. The cngagt-nniit was
not a general one. The fighting and skirmishing
continued for three days, '-^;5i'(l, '■>\i\\ Vi\\(\ •.*.Mh oi'
February. The heaviest fighting was dont; by
Stewart's Division. Also Bates' aud Sie]»henson's
were engaged. The enemy made the assaults
and were handsomely repulsed and (lii\-eu liack to
ii-inggold. Their loss in killed and wounded was
not shoi't of 1,000 and loo j)risoncrs. ()ur loss was
about 50 killed ami 200 wouiuled. ()iii army then
went into Winter ((uarters again, and picketing,
drilling; fatigue and fortifying generally was the
duty perfornu'd by our Division. During the l»ahnu-(;
of March and Fel)ruary, and to this date. Apiil Ith.
IS*i4, fui'loughing the Army of Tenuesst- on ic-eulist-
ing one to every ten men continued, until the oth of
April, lSti4, when that order 14 was revok*^! ami
General Order '■i't7 continued which giN es a furlough
to every twenty-five men ])reseut for duty. Lieut.
K. D. Vayce received a leavt; of absence for twenty-
five <lays and left for honn^ on the -iot h of iMarcli.
18(;4, To this date, April 7th. 18ill, some twenty-oni!
have been furloughed since the 1st of December.
1863. The health and spirits of Company •' I;" and the
Army of Tennessee is good. \'ery little .>~i(dcness
and the rations better and the watei- good. Then-
are seventy-one men and ofhcers in ('om|iany -'IT'
present for duty except one ])resent sielc, hut not
dangerous. The i^ieut. J. II. AVi(M- aiul eight men
captured at Lookout Mountain ai'e still i)ri.soueis.
At hoiuo aro tlu; followitiu- of ('()ini)any "\'>": Tlios.
(Jaincroii, (i. \V. Acker, \\\ .) . Jones wounded at
\'icksi)Uro-. Also J. M. Allen disal.led hy a fall.
Also Wni. Wood ami Tx-iij. T. Ifki<d-v on sick fui'-
lou^li. \V. II. Jones is al home for foiJ\' days on a
recruit, llowidl, ilall, W. It. l';lnioi-e, J. 1<\ Hicks
and JOlniore are now on furloui;li for twt.^iiiy days
undei- re-enlistment fc»rtlie war. 1). X. llicdvs was
apjiointod (Jh'iJv of llie ('irciiil ('oui't of Pickens
('ounty, Alabama, and his ])a])eis forwarded to
llichniond for dischar^M-. This wasahoiitihe l-Mli
of .March when he was ajipointed. A|)i-il ith, hSiU, a
hij^ sham battle Vvith Ilai'dee's ('oips toidc place
toda.}', Thursda}'. lu'iday, -\[>ril 8th, istil, a, j^enei'al
I'c^st day f(H- the army. IJy proclamation a da}' of
fasting;- and prayer; and a cold I'ainy and windy da}-.
iN^> army movements near Dalton, (iooi-i^ia,, belwecji
arm}' <d" Tennessee and federal army. Saturda}'.
April 'Jlh, iSr,!, 1. A. Ki-eenum, J. A. I'ratt and W.
1\. Shaver left on furlough, lii'sl, for forty days on
recruit, ami two last on (n'der :J".'? for twenty days.
.^oo men i'unn Uakcr's liri^ade ilftaile<l to work on
batteries and lU'doubts toda}'. Sunday, Ajn-il 10th,
lSi;-l, bri(j^ad(^ inspection and re\ iew !>}■ MaJ, (Jen. A.
P. Stewart. A cloudy ami C(dil day. Monday, April
11th, Ism, l'>i'i^-a(b:! drill by (Jen. Paker a. m. and p.
ju., company drill a.ml dress parade. Tlie jncket
details fi'om llri^^ade continue the Pith I iirnishin*^'
the d(;tail every thii-d day. This is a beatitifnl and
s()ringlike day. The total ])resent of Company "W"
is <)'.» enlisted men ami 'Z otlicers, and oiil}' one (Ui tin-
sicdc list. Tlu! water and I'atious t;'ooil ami still in
oni- \\'int«-r (|iKnlers. April I'Th, i:;th. Nth, I.Mh,
Kith, Jith. ISth. l!)th, •-i(ilh,;ilst,;J-.'nd. '.^ird, '.Mth, -.'ath.
'.Mith, --Tth: \\sth, --."Jth and :;i)th still m Winter (pmr-
ters. liealth g'(»o(l. Drilling anil j-L\iuws daily. All
63
things gcttiii}^ I'cady for the cc)niiii}:^ canipaixii.
Col. Stone takes sick with ])nciiiuoiiia. b'ur-
lou;^liiiitr ceases. May 1st, :.'iul, :ir<l and Uli enemy
threatening' and hostilitios about to conunencc.
May -itli Col. T. O.Stone died. Lioiit. \Vood\var<l
took his l)()(ly home. P. I. ^\'illiams, C'omi)any "']'>"'
went witli iiim. A ttack expo(:t(;d . ^Vat;■ons loaded
and read}' to move. May (ith, ISiil, went to trenches.
Waited an attack ail tla}'. Kcturned at nii^lit to
camp to cook rations, Keepinj^ the train loa<li'd.
.May rth enemy drove in cavalry. Took Tunnel J I ill.
Setwart's Division advanced to hurnt hridg-(; to sup-
port cavali"y till all passed. Ketuiaied to trenches.
1 n eveninj^ advanced and took posscssitui ol' raiij^c
of hills in fi-ont. 1 ■-.*:()() o'clocd-; night I'ell luud: to ohi
jiositit)!!. .May sth. Suiuhiy, iimaincd at Vidiks.
Six (Companies 15, !•], (J, D, 1 and A under ('.ip'^.
\\'illett sent to skiiinish. ilad severe skirmish.
I'Ndl hark from liald Uill. Iteinaiued until l-i:0()
()"(dotdc night, lietariuul to vv'(^rks except A and
1 in redouhls and 1'^ on jnck(;t. IJallle (iX}»ecied
next morning. Heavy lighting on right and
left. May '.dh, Monday, rcdieved Ijy iJaLes' l)ivis
ion. .Marcdied to ejst side of railroa,d. JieUiained
that da}'. 'I'uesday. .May hUh. in line all day.
Heavy lighting on mountain. aUh Alabama and
C!omi»any A .'iM h Alabama engaged enemy. i*aiemy
repulsed. Ma}' lUli, I'v'iid and '■>'i[\i ^Ual)ama in re-
doubts, 4uthand.">i in trenches. !May I "ith, '.riiursda} ,
at ;;:0i) a. m. joih and oitli I'elieved ;i;ih and r.'nd on
mountain. lA'euing caiemy nuide heavy assault to
take heights. Ilepulsed. W'm. i>a.rham and ( o'o.
W. Irwin mortall}' wounded in thighs. Win. ii.
.Jennings sevcrdv' in arm, all o\' (!oinpaiiy •I!'".
( )thei's slightly wiiuutUd in C'ompau}- ■•11". ('apt.
Vj. Marsh (Jomiiany ^'K" kilhMl. Mau}' oihers in
lo'giment k'illcdand woiimhil. Ma\ iolli. l''rida\,
G4
rcdiriud to works, i-ul'u'ved by Stovall's Brigade. At
li):itii |) .m. Stcsvart's and P>at(!'s Divisions full back
two miles above Resaca. Arrived inoniiti^ of ]4tli.
1 11 line Hear railroad. May Utli, ISaturday, heavy
hatlK' foii;4lil all <la,y. Stevvai-t"s Division not en-
-;a^e(l until evening. IMade a charge one and a half
miles. Drovt^ the enemy. Capt. Willett in charge
of skirmi>li lines. ]klay 15Lh, Sunday, heavy figlit-
ing on left and right all day. Stewart's Division
made a (•liarge. Baker's l^rigade lost heavily, in
morning Lieut. Latham wounded in thigii, }l. K,
11 mniieut killed. L. T. Cole severely wounded and
lelt in hands oi' enemy, J. A. Byars and Jas. Elmore
severely wounded. Many others in Company '"B"
slighll V wountled. It was a terrible assault. Sun-
day night the whole army fell back towards King-
ston on the Cassville road. Stewart's Division the
real- guard. May IGth, ^londay, fell farther back
on same road to near Calhoun. Bivouaced until
moining. May 1 i tli, 'J'uesday, retreated to Adairs-
ville. Ariivt'd at noon. Formed line of battle.
Lear guard had a, severe skirmish. At 1->::U0 niglit
began reticat to Cassville. May istii, Wednesday,
fell back to Cas.sville, arrived at noon. B>ivouaced.
Drew rations. Slei)t that night. Army massed
about ("assville and Kingston. May IKth, Thursday,
at (Uissville, reti-eat seems to ewd. Army in posi-
tion. Tlie great battle expected, l^attle order issued
at Uesaca. On 1 lib ami loth Confederate loss .'J, 000.
Federal loss -.'o.oci). Company "B" 6-t men and tiiree
others; now 11 men and ">! oilicers. Lipsey, Locke.
Williams, Lavender, C^owaril, Lee, Brandon, Collins,
and (iraham at hospital before light. 40th Alabama
,,11 iMli ; killed, M woundcnl, six missing. C. S. El-
more r( luriied from hospital and W. IL McAteer.
(ireat j»repa rat ions for battle at night. Being
Hanked at Lome compelled furth«'r retreat. It com-
65
menccd at niidiii^lit. May 20th, Friday, army foil
back t(» I'vtowah IvivcM', crossed and burnt railroad
biidui'. Stewart's Division at 1):U(» a. ni. lietreat
slow thus tar and dogged. Army ready to fight all
the time. I'aumy avoid battle and move around
Hanks. Army bivouaced on ridges on east side of
Ktowali. All [government property brought off.
]\Iay J 1st. Saturvlay, early a. m. Stewart's Division
moN'ed one and one half miles east to bivouac.
llOod's Corps during retreat moved east of railroad.
l{emaine<l all day. Drew rations. Wrote letter to
wife and one to brother. Tiiis is my birthday. May
■.'"v'ml and JMrd remained at same bivouac resting.
]\la\' "-J nil, Tuesday, Hood's Corps marched from
l^towah se\en miles towards Dallas and bivouaced.
i laidee's (Jorps befor*; us. Kained at night. Near
line of I'.artow and Dallas Counties. ^lay 25th,
Wednesday, marched to left of army at New Hope
Church, h'ought a great battle that day, commenc-
iiio- at l:"ii p. )u. Stewart's Division mostly and
liotl\- (111 a.;;ed. Haker's and Clayton's and Stovall's
llrigjidc^ 111 fiont line. Gibson's and Hindman's
Divisions in r.si rve. hi Company "IV Sam'l Pear-
son killed; \V. 11. .lones wouutled. Many killed and
wounded in the hUh. The enemy charged us all the
evening, but were; as often repulsed. Both armies
close togi'lluT. Uattle expected on the morrow.
May ■.M.ih. Thuisday, heavy skirmishing early.
Hood i-einlorced bv Tolk's Corps. Little artillery
used in l.;> inral engagement, liain 24tli and 2.".th,
,1. ,1. .b niiin-s, M. M. Kreeman ami J. A. Eads sent
t.) hospiial. 1*. 1. Williams reports to Dr. Colgin.
Skirmi^hin.i:; heavy all day at close range. May •-.'Hh,
l''rida>. hta\\' skirmishing. Datteries ei'ected on
both sides and eniienching. ]\lany killed and woun-
ded in niig.id''. Capt. Willett chief of i)icket. liieul.
Nance at hospital. Lieut. Sanders Company 'K'' in
66
roitiiiKMid of ('niiii>;iiiy "l'.". Ilav(; not slopt iiii
Ihuir in llir('(! (hiys. Am ii'.in.'sl o\i-r}»o\V('ic.l wiili
:,|,(i,. llavf (lii/."il tlirco times since 1 commencf d
tiiisnotf. Now 11:00 a.m. 1 n cv.'nin.i; lu^n y li- hi -
in'^- on Stewart's line. Loss in ;i;ili and f»itli Al.i-
I'.ima heavy hy sin llm^- works. Koni' in 40lh Alaha-
iii;i killi'd and lit'teeii wunmhMl. In nij^hL I'eiieved
l.\ I'olk's ( 'oi-ps. Hood's Corps }>nt()n nuircdi. 'IMiis
di V (dehiirne had ^reat success on our immediah;
r!i;hl. .May -.'Stii marched all day and came at ni.-hl
hiudv to same place and bivouaccd. In reserve. ()n
ni^ht <d' -..'^th slei>t all ni.^ht. Ueceved letter from
wilV by C'hannell. Lients. Nance and 'idiomp^cm
;^ent to hosjiital. Channelland 15. '1'. lilack i-t;turned
from hospital and home. I'^ii^htinj; in I'rout all the
lune. 1 leaviest on ( 'leburne. Sent letter t(^ wife to
mail al Atlanta. Marched May --.".tth foui- mih;s east
towards .\(dc worth, lodiesed ca\alry. bhitrentdn d
|;.sld iiillail ni^ht. C^omi'any "15"' flankers day
of a,rri\ al there. ( iot some- sleep that ni,i;ht. Kain.
Ma\- ;ioih. iMil, all day behind works. Cajds. (iiay
.ind M ilclndl I -'nd .\labama wounded. (%>!. J.anier
r.'nd Alaliama w ounded at New 1 lope on :j; th. I'.lany
ca^nallies in r.ri-.ole. Sent letter to wife by Uark^'i-.
Siiarpshool inj;- continues. At .'i:(tii a. m. redie\ed i)y
rlaVum's r.ii-adc. .\biy :il st. Tuesday, to rear in two
1 1 m .-1. lo I I'Nt a da \ . A i noon moved to right te) relic\ e
ca\'ali N and riitren<die<l. Soon a.bamloned. .Aloved
back to same [)osiuon at .kUiI]). m. June 1st, l.si5l,
We lnt;;;day, had a ni.'j^lit.s rest. K-sted all day. At
(111 k moved t»> front line. To'lieved ('la3ton. June
-.'ad, 'l'hursda\ . lu'a vy >.hai[)shooti n;^- all day and
iii_.hl. Kain i n <• veniiii;. Ua i n every day sinct^ May
■.'II II .Maii\ hea\ V r;iiiis. ?klaih(l letter lo wile.
Mah>'n se\ eiely Vvoiiiided. X o charges. Jun(3 ih'd,
I'ai.la \-. Ilea v\- rain. Muddy tren(dies. ('(Uitinued
shar[ishootin--. U. I^lniort- and J. J. Jennings re-
67
turiied from hospital. McCarty (Jonipany "K" killed.
Enemy massing on rig'lit towards railroad.
Rain all day and night. 40th, ;;*nd and "•sth Alaba-
ma left in trenches as picket while army at night
march to right, dune r)th, tSundny, at 1 :uo o'cdock a.i
m. Jjoft trenches in rain, mud and dark. Never
had so disagreeable and fatigueing march. Never
halted till noon. Orcatly exhausted. It is knowji
as the }}in(l(ln inarch, llain had fallen three days and
the roads were nearly imi)assable. Uested luilance
»d' day on l.usi Mountain. Washed uuid olT clothes.
Drew a whiskey ration. Sh^pt that night it having
(dt^ared ofT. dlibson aiul IStovall in line. Baker and
('la.\ Ion in resiM've. June nth, Alomlay, rested unlil
evening. IJain. In reserve. Sent letter to wife,.
Some skirmishing. J une Ith, 'ru<\sday, in reser\e.
(\)rporal Ijancaster and IJilly Taylor sent to hos]>ital.
A g(Mn'ral (juiet in military alfairs, ]vain in evening.
.luneSlh, Wediu'sday. At suniise Hood's ('orps
marched east towards railroad. At noon hivouactMl.
l^^at dinner -1 J miles mutli west of -Marietta, and one
mile west of railroad. Went to fi-ont iwid Imilt
works. I^'inished them that night. .June '.Uh. Thurs-
day, worked on tiMMiches until leton, then moved to
east side of railroad to new position. There that
night. June loth, Friday, iecei\ed hdter from wife
of :2nd. hhitrenching anil skirmishing. < 'n '.tth
Sergeant (iilkey returned from home, sick. Brought
nre i)aii" of sIkx'S. Ta\'lor and Ijancester retunuid
from hospital. ( jilkey sent to hosi)ital. Still I'ainy
and wet. Companic^s D. A, B,(J and K tinder CJa)>t.
Willett, !.')Umenon skirmish line. Uain all day.
Skirmishing and cannonading on the line. None on
our lin(; to sunset. Skirmishing and entreuidiing.
Bemained all night. June, 11th, isoi, picket relieveil
at 8:00 a. m. Stewart's J,)ivision marched to ex-
treme right two miles, (iihson's ciud Stovalls
as
in line. Baker and Clayton in reserve. Stovall and
Gil)son entrenched. Rain all day. (!avalry on
right. Skirmish to front. Hardee on left, Polk in
center, Hood on right. June 12th, Sunday, still at
same bivouac. Rain all day and night. Brigade or-
dered to trenches there just before night. Rain all
night. Rain all day and night. June 13th, Monday,
still in line. Rain all day. Cool and windy. Col-
lins and Sheppard returned from hospital. Sergeants
Eaton and Mitchell sent to hospital. Some skir-
mishing. June 14th, Tuesday, very cool in morning.
Cannonading on line near railroad. Sent letter to
wife. Sunshine once more. Sergeant Thomas sent
to hospital, Noon 40th Alabama sent on picket
H miles to front. Three companies sent in advance.
The others threw up works. At *J:00 p. m. all Regi-
ment sent on picket duty except Company "B." En-
trenched picket line. Relieved 37th Alabama. They
had two killed, three wounded, and seven captured.
June 15th, 18G4, Wednesday, Company ''B" in re-
serve to 9:00 a, m. Four wounded, Lieut. Collier se-
verely in arm. All day enemy massed" troops in
front. At 2:00 p. m. assaulted picket line with line
of skirmishers and two lines of battle. 40th had or-
ders to hold position at all hazards, and were H
miles from support. The iight was severe. Redoubts
taken. 40th lost 14G men and nine officers. Capts.
Moore and Gantt, Lieuts, Hicks, Sanders, Bing-
ham, Guin, Ward, Moore and Shaver, all of
Companies K, H, I and K on picket, and most
of A, G and 1) were captured. IMost of Com-
panies C and K escaped. Company "B" in re-
serve under orders. Company "'IV held position.
Enemy's line came within st;venty-five yards in
open tield and commenced a murderous tire upon
them. Col. Higley ordered retreat and fell back
through open field under galling tire. W. V. Vance
69
Company "1^" was shot in thigh. tSoon after siiot
in body and killed. Abram 1). Jones shot in left
arm. It was broken. He was brought oil" the field
and had arm amputated. A'ance left on field ^u
hands of enemy. One in Company "l" who
had tools killed. Tom Williams, John Goodwin and
others slightly wounded. We were under a severe
concentrated fire of a whole line until we passed
through the open field ;)00 yards. Lost half of Regi-
ment. Have no account of them. At the redoubts
it was a hand to hand fight. Company '"H" fell
back one mile to IMvision at right. Division fell
back one half mile farther and bivouaced. June l(3th
Thursday, Division moved farther back to right an<l
entrenched. No fighting all day of 10th. June 17th,
Friday, Clayton and Baker in line. Gibson and Sto-
vall in reserve. Barham and Irwin wounded at
Rocky Face on 1:2th May, at Fmpire Hospital in
Atlanta. Died, the first on ^."ird of May and the lat-
ter of --ioth of May, 18(U. W.H.Jones wounded at
New Hope. Furloughed from Montgomery sixty
days from June 0th. Lieut. ]jatham got leave (►f
absence from iMontgomery for thirty days from
June 1st, IHOt. Sent letter to wife. Also one to
Terry. J. F. Hicks returned from home. Brought
me i)air shoes and letter frojn wife and Col. Stone of
date June 10th. Also one from Lieut. Lath-
am. Under marching orders all night. June 18th,
Saturday, Hood's Cor])s marched all night to left to
support Polk and Hardee. It rained very hard until
2;()U p. m. and till night. At sunset Hood's Corps
was ordered back to right. Marched till midnight
in mud and rain on east side of Kennesaw mo\in-
tain. It was a terrible day. liain and mud. The
Corps all day in reserve. l>aker\s Brigade su])-
ported Cocktirell's. Stewart's Division supported
French's Division. No gentM-al battle but fierce
skirmishing. .Many killed and wounded. The rain
70
pr<ivente(l a general battle. The men suffered nuicli.
Late ill evening marched to right. At midnight
lull ted one mile northeast of Marietta and bivoiiaeed.
Ituin all night. Lay on palings und<;r wet blankets.
Knbber cloth to cover. Rested till daylight. < )n j
left heavy skirmishing all day. Many killed and
wounded. June 19th, lSG-1, Sunday, at S:0(i a. m. at
same bivouac. Whiskey issued. Dark, rainy and
cloudy. No prospect of better weather. B. 1^'lmore,
A. Klmore, M. S. Jones and T. H. Williams sent to
hospital. Rained hard all day. In a terrible rain
marched to left two miles on east side of Kennesaw
mountain. Halted and fronted and Division marciud
ill line of battle to summit of mountain, then to the
left and bivouaced as reserve. Mountain rugged and
bushes wet. Bivouaced on side of mountain. Had
mess of H-ish potatoes for supper. June2i)th, ]\londay,
remained all day on mountain supporting C!anty':»
Brigade or Division. Brandon and M. A. Cameron
returned from hospital. Also B. T. lUack. Ivaiii
today. June '-ilst, Tuesday, rain. At same bivouac
sup})orting Canty's Division on Kennesaw. Remained
all night. Rain in morning. At S:U() a. m. Stew-
art's Division, Hindman's and Stephenson's Divis-
ions put on march for left. Marched through ^Ma-
riettain rain west of railroad. Took Powder Springs
road. Four miles southwest of town halted to rest.
The Corps marched to extreme left of army to pre-
vent cavalVy raid on railroad. Being a reserve Di-
vision we do much marching. The sun shines once?
more. Rations of coffee and sugar issued. Compa-
nies B and C under Capt. Willett sent as Brigado
picket. June x^^iid, Wednesday, on picket with Com-
{)anies B and C. Division on I\lariutta and I'owder
Springs road four miles southwest of Marietta and
one mile west of railroad. Sun shines today, i^ipsey
and B. Klmore return from hospital. Wrote letter
71
to wife. Are four miles from our line of battle to-
wards Dallas. Picket relieved at 4:00 p. m., and Di-
vision marched two miles farther down Powder
Sjtiings road towards enemy. AVcuit to support
Stephenson and llindman who wiere heavily engaged
with enemy. The fight was severe. ]\Iany were
killed and wounded. Shelling severe. ]^>aker and
Clayton fourth line, Stovall and Gibson third line,
supports to Stephenson, engaged. Hivouaced that
night on line. Early next morning retired a few
hundred yards and entrenched third line. Our army
made the attack. J)rove the enemy. Loss on botli
sides severe. Our loss 1,000 killed and wounded.
We held the battle field. June :v';5rd, Thursday, in
trenches till noon, then moved to left two miles to
fortify on Sand Hills. Gibson and Stovall in trenches,
leaker and Clayton in reserve. Made works on left
Hank. No rain today and warm. Hard lighting on
Hardee's and Loring's fronts on right. Kesult not
known. Sharpshooting all day and night. At
bivouac on sandhills. There has been rain daily for
a month. The supply of water on thiscamimigii hns
boon abundant. It has at all the bivouacs been
abundant and of good quality, Juno ^*4th, isii4,
Friday, tine morning. At same bivouac. Jleavy
skirmishing on right of Division. A. Elmore re-
turnod from hospital. Thirty-nine men and two
ollicers in Company "P" present for duty, lieceivcd
letter from wife today of date JGth. Sent letter to
wife. J une •■.'5th, Saturday, in trenches on left ol
(iibson. Works made very strong with ulxtllis.
CJlear and warm. Sharpshooting along whole lim>
and iieavy cannonading. Jnne^jilth, IhtU, Sunday,
in trenches. No sbarpsliuoling on our I'l-oiit, lieavy
on right. VVarni. June 'iTth, JMonday. In saints
position. Attack expected. Still ^(Mr and cool.-r.
Sent letter to wife. Saw Jerome Slout, VV . J. Stout
and Lieut. Shaiinoii. Early in day fighting- on right.
A general battle, (^n right battle, 'severe. Enemy re-
pulsed witii great loss. They charged Cheatham's
and Cleburne's divisions with great force. W. II. Jen-
nings furloughed for sixty days to go home from June
•2\, 18G4. June:<;8, Tuesday, attack expected in front.
Heavy cannonading and sharpshooting along tlie
lines. Weather warm. At noon firing ceased. At
'^:(n) p. m. -iOth Alabama on picket to cover Brigade
in redoubts, enemy in front, (.orporal Lancaster
and F. J. McAteer sent to hospital. June 29th,
Wednesday, but little sharpshooting, more quiet on
lines. Relieved by -i'-^nd Alabama and returned to
trenches. The conmiissary begins tlie issue of vege-
tables, the supply scant. June Moth, 18tU, Thursday,
rain. Quiet on lines. Wrote a letter to wife.
Hharpshooting on right. July 1st, 1804, Friday, in
same position. Heavy sharpshooting, mostly on
right. i\rajor General Stewart made a Lieutenant
(ieneral, and took command of Polk's Corps. Gen.
I'olk was killed on Lost Mountain. Loring next in
rank took command of Corps until successor ap-
pointed. By request of Gen. Johnston Gen. Slfvvart
remained a few days with his old Division, it being
on the extreme left of the army and a responsible
position. Hood on left, Hardee in center and Stewart
on right. July x'nd, 1804, Saturday, at daylight
beavy fifing with small arms and cannon on th«
rigiit. Heavy assault made, continues till two hours
by sun. Some shelling, but no sharpshooting in our
front. N'ery warm. As yet do not know who will
be our ]\lajor General. 40th Alabama went on picket
at 4:00 p. m., relieved :;;th Ahibama. July 3rd, lS(i4,
Sunday, at 1 :00 a. m. the Division picket left their
line, tlie whole army having been ])Ut on the mnrcli
to fall back five mile.s n(;ar (Jhatiahouciiee ri\('i\
The retreat was conducted in excellent order, and at
7;U0 a. m. the army was in its uyw position. Stew-
73
art's Corps on right, Hardee in center and the left,
which is one and one half miles from the railroad
west. 40th Alabama sent again on the skirmish
line. Capt. Willett and Col. Higley for Division
Chiefs, llelieved at 5:00 p. m, by 4^nd Alabama.
Enemy advancing. The hottest day of the season.
July -tth, 18G4, Frida]|, in works. Attack expected.
Sharpshooting along our lines. Still extending our
lines to left. Enemy moving on left. Jas. Lancaster
and W. R. McAteer returned from liospital. Stephen-
son's and Stewart's pickets partly driven in. July
5th, 18G4, Tuesday, at 1:00 a.m. retreated farther
towards river. Stewart's Division at cavalry works
two miles from river. At noon marched to extreme
left on river. Baker, Stovall and Gibson relieved
Georgia state troops, in strong position. July (ith,
Wednesday, still in works. Skirmishing on picket
lines. Clayton in reserve. 40th went on picket.
Capt. Willett chief of Brigade, Col. Higley chief of
Division picket. July 7th, Thursday, heavy sharp-
shooting on our lines. At sunset on Stewart's line all
our batteries opened on enemy. They replied for one
half hour. It was grand and furious. Relieved at
dark and returned to works. l-Teceived two letters
from wife of date 27th and 30th June. July !Sth,
Friday, more than usual quiet today. Hi same po-
sition. July :3th, Saturday, little tiring. Lieut.
Gen. Stewart took command of Polk's Corps. On
8th, Brig. Gen. Clayton, made Major General, took
command of Stewart's old Division. At 10:00 o'clock
at night retreated to east side of Chattahoochee
river, three miles nearer Atlanta, crossing on pon-
toons. All crossed safely. July 10th, Sunday, ot
bivouac four miles above Atlanta at !t:00 a. m. All
day at same place. July 11th, 18(J4, Monday, at sam<i
bivouac. G»mpany "1^"' drew four months pay on
'.•th. Some skirmishing on I'iver. At IOmhj u. m.
the Division moved west one mile on another road
74
leading to Atlanta. J. Goodwin and W. li. McAteer
and B. Elmore sent to liospital. July \2\\\, Tuesday,
on picket. No tirin<^ in our front. Ixeceived letter
from Lieut. Latham date 4t}i. Picket relieved at
i 1 :00 a. m. Kain in evening. July 13tli, AV'cdnesday
([uiet today. At same bivouac. Sent letter to wife.
July 14th, ]8ii4, Thursday, at4^2:0<» midnight Brigade
sent on picket to river four mih's. Keli-ved
Manigault's Brigade. 37th and 54th in redoubts.
4()th and 4:ind in reserve. Quiet today. Some shell-
ing and sharpshooting. July 15th, isii4, Kriday, at
•i:(>() a. m. 4()th and 42inl relieved ;)7th an<l 5^th on
picket. Cai)t. Willett Division Oflicer of the day.
Two ofiicers and two men in ;57th and 54th killed and
two woundtid yesterday on picket. Li reserve.
Shelling by enemy . Parker in Company "C"' killed
lo(l;iy. July HJth, lS(i4, Saturday, at :.*;()<) o'clock
a. jn. Brigade relievcnl by (Jibson's Brigade and
moS(;d hack Lo old i)ositi{)n. July ]7th, Sunday, rain
(luring night. Keceived letter from wife of 7th.
Seal lt.ii.i- lo wife. Division moved to right two
miles and bi\wuaced. Knemy quitting our left. July
ISih, .Aloiulay, sent letter to wife. At same bivouac
DIM' mile West of railroad. Jveceived letter fiom
JMotlui' of (late June IDth. CJen. Joseph E. Johnston
relit \ed of I lie ciiinmainl of the army of Tennessee.
Lieui. (Jen. JIoimI niidea full (jJeneral and took com-
mand of t Ue a im \ . By thi.'^act the army Avas uut-
/■((;/(■(/. A II olihr. ex|)'Mieiiced and successful com-
ma ml '-r i-i|ie ■, III |(»r (.lie iJ Hi lied at this ci'iticaJ jieriod
in sv) inn^Mi t;i III ;i ea in jia igii. It came like a thunder-
holt to lln.^ ai in \ . mi iiii \ (m el' i|. so undeserved. At
:);oo p. jii. mail n.d 1 wo miles east of i"ailroad and
bivoiiaceLl. July lin li. Tuesday , at sunrise marched
mile and went inio position. Hood's (^orps now
commanded by Clu/atham on I'ight, liardee in o-nter.
Gibson and Stovali in reserve, Baker and lloltzclaw
75
inline. Col. lloltzchiw succeeded ( ien. (Mayton as
I->i'ij4^adier (Jeneral, Skirmishing on the lines. July
;20th, JSi;4, Wednesday, at same place in line. Made
strong works. A^ery warm. At ll:(iti a. m. movefl
to riglit two miles to meet the enemy. Clayton and
llindman Nvere to our right. Skirmishing with
euemy. Tiiey retired. Then threw up works in
great hurry. Some of picket killed. Some shelling.
Stewart's Corps had hard hattlo on Peacjitree Creek
on left, loss heavy, but drove t^ie enemy. July -^Mst,
J st'iJ, Thursday, })ickets skirmish lines close together.
SiiMi-pshooting at short range. At ]0:()(,» a. ni. Mood's
old (!orps comnumded hy Cheatham in front line or-
<lered to charge enemy's works supported by Hardee.
The orders were given and everything I'eady for the
order to lea}) the works and make the assault. We
waittMl two hours in great suspense when the order
was counU^irnumded, which relieved our J'eelin</.s not
a little, li was a desperate charge and would have
resulted in . I general battle. At■^!;U() p. m. in same
})osition. Heavy skirmishing all along the lin*-. At
;»:(!(» J), m. fell hac;k to works around Atlanta. 4()tli
left aspicketdtleftat l<):(>t> p. m. July 2-.'nd, 18ti4, Fri-
day, encuny aivaiu'ing in forc(; rapidly. Shai'pshool-
ing antl cannoi.ading commences heavily by S:0<t a. m.
A gi'eat l)attle ''ought today by Hood and Sherman,
("ommeucing on our right. Attack brought on by
rsvhelon. ' C(d, ( ireen IJI t^ Alabama killed. IJaker's
Brigade engaged. Col. Higley commanding. Cap-
tured -i,()00 prisoufu's, '.*() ca)inons and small arms.
^oth Alabama under Col. /inken acted as skir-
misliers under Maj.drully who returned to liegiment
a few days befor<^ ( )ui- loss severe, l)Ut gained a
gi'eat victory. .July ".IJrd, Saturday, heavx cannonad-
ing and shar})shootiag all day. No battle. July
?i4th, Sunday, usual tirng. No battle to notjn. Capt.
Willett Division Ullicerof the day. No battle today.
76
July 25th, Monday, heavy skirmisliiiij^ all day. At
iii^lit 40th Alabama went on picket. Capt. VVillett
remained at trenches. July .'(Jth, Tuesday, heavy
skirmishing^ and sharpshooting all day. At 8:00
p. m. 40th came off picket. I^.rigade took i)osition in
works in rear of lirst line. July •.'7th, Wednesday,
heavy cannonading <.uirly. Enemy charged at noon.
At 4:00 p. m. division on the march. It was ascer-
tained the enemy had al)an<loned our right front.
Lieut, (len. Stephen I). Lt^.e took command of Hood's
old Corps. IMarch to the left commenced at ::3:00
p. m. and Corps bivouaced to left in suburbs of At-
lanta. July X'Sth, 18G4, Thursday, marched to left of
army. Stewart's andliee's Corps engaged. Fought
the great battle of :i8th July, isc-j. Clayton's, Hind-
man's, Loring's, Walthall's and French's J'ivisions
hotly engaged. Our forces charged the enemy's
work's, were repulsed; fell back a few hui:dred yards
in order and made a stand; the enemy did not pursue.
Each army held to its former position. In Company
"B" 40th Alabama Lieut. E. D. Vance mortally
wounded. Lieut. P. Baker acting wi;h Companies
"B"and"G" wounded in leg; afterwards amputated.
W. (i. Strickland private Company ''B'' severely
wounded in face. J. P. Cox severely wounded in
leg; John Goodwin Company "B" severely in side;
Foster and many others slightly wounded. It was a
terrible charge. Confederate loss heavy. (Uiptain
Wills commanding 4;2nd killed. Capt. J. C. Ken-
drick commanding :i7th severely wounded. Enemy's
loss heavy, but not ki\i)wn. liivouaced on battle
field. Late at night fell back to entrenchments one
mile. July:vMith, b^'riday, Lee'i Corps put on march
to the left, moved two miles a^id enli't-nched. (Com-
panies Band C under Capt. TViilelt l>iigade picket.
Itelievetl at -]:iiO p. m. Sentietter to wif(! by citizen
of Alabama. Also one day uufore by Lieut. Askew's
boy. Little firing on line today. Quiet on picket
line. July ;50th, 18(i4, Saturday, Clayton's Division
moved to left one mile and entrenched. Sent letter
to wife to nuiil at Dudley ville, Alabama. No firing
today. July 31st, Sunday, a ([uiet morning; fair and
warm. At 1 :(>() p. m. moved to the right one mile.
Very heavy rain in evening. J,uOO raiders captured
towards Newnan, Georgia, and their artillery, l^at-
tle expected. Our troops massed on Sand T(iwn
road. Bought two ducks today.
August }st, ^^)^, Monday, at same position on Sand
Town road. Cloudy. Sent letter to wife by I^ieut.
Knighton's boy. At 8:00 p. m. moved one half mile
east. August '-ind, Tuesday, at ?:0()a. in. moved one
mile east on line. Quiet. Soit letter to wife. Re-
ceived letters from wife of 11th and ISth July. Au-
gust .'Jrd, Wednes<lay, tieavy lain. Skirmishing com-
menced again in front. At noon (Uipt. Willett sent
to Herrings "Mill with 50 picked men and thi-ee )>icked
ollicers to relieve cavalry. Arrived there and posted
part of men, when enemy advanced in force. The
50 men skii'mished witii enemy two hours on
line perpendicular to Baker's and lloltzclaw's line
of picket redoubts from Bakei's right to Holt'/claw,s
left over half a mile. The skirmish was at close
range. We had greatly the advantage in position,
tliey in numbers. We killed nuiny of the enemy on
the I'me. Sergeant Katon distinguished himself for
cool and gallant conduct, as did n<'ar]y all the skir-
mishers. We fell back slowly and as soon as we un-
covered Baker's and lloltzclaw's picket lines in re-
doubts the enemy made a forward movement with
skirmishers and .iifaiilr} lines and assaulted
the picket I'edoubts of tlies(; t wt) Hiigadt's and car-
ried their woi'ks and cai)lnred loo nu-n on that line
t)f Baker's Brigade, :.' 1 of -loMi Alahanui. Of Com-
pany "B," B. G. Acker, J. D. Camerun_, 1. A. Free-
' ' >'-■ '
78
man, M. M. Freeman, J. M. French, Anderson El-
more; of Company '0," Thos. Galley, Thos. Dilliard
and W. K. Crai^; Lient. ffartsfield Company "C"
captured, of the oO men under Capt. Willett one
killed, Thedford, and one wounded, Shaver. Heavy
tightin<? along the whole line. Enemy gained hut
little advantage. Took a few picket redouhts. At
11:00 p. m. Capt. Willett relieved. August 4tli, 1R04,
Thinsday, firing continues. Received letter from
wife of r.'Ath July by G. W. Acker. Heavy fighting
on i>icket line and furious cannonading. Enemy
mnde night attack on picket line— no advantage
gained. August 5th, Friday, brisk firing early on
picket line. Severe fight on (iibson's picket litie.
Their woiks carried and 100 men captured. Can-
nonading all day. There is too great a stress ]»ut on
picket fighting. They are strong lines, but so far
away from support that the enemy can cany them
by attacking in great force, which they do and our
picket lines are sacrificed and no good a(;complish<'d.
August titli, Saturday, in same position. Firing
continues. Lines close together. Corporal Stej)hens
Company "C" severely wounded in shoubh-r on
picket. Several charges on picket lines. All le-
pulsed. Knemy charges Bates" r>ivision on left and
weie handsumely repulsed. Captured ;;0o prisoners
and tilt ir wounded, which were many, and tluMr
small arms and baggage. Kain. August 7tli, ],sti4,
Sunday, sliai i)shooting and cannonading continues.
Chaige after charge on picket line. Finally forced
in alo/ig the Division front. Lines close togeiliei-.
Our forces then recharged enemy and reto^.k n\(»st
of the r(Mh-)iibts. After night ('apt. Willett was sent
with oo men lo reinforce the assaulting foicp of
Baker's Brigade to make a night attack and take
the remaining ledoubls. Cpon consultation with
Divisiou aud Brigade Commanders it was aban-
79
doned as too hazardous, and afte^r ludding the 50 men
in front of works exposed to a severe tire until '^'lOO
a. ni., ord<^rs came to establish a picket line; with
those lirst sent out to assault the works; 100 men
under ("apt. I'ennington and the oo men under ('apt.
Willett estahlished the line, and (ien. liaker ordered
in (Japt. W'illett as Capt. Pennington had been do-
tailed as chief of the line, and the assault contem-
plate<l was not made. August sth, l,S(i4, Moiulaj,
early rapid liring (Commenced, (yontinued all day
and night. About 9;00 a. m., J. C. Hall, Company
"K"' was wcauded in the shoulder not severe— at
the works. About ]•.':()(» noon 5th Sergeant .Jacob II.
Katon (Jompany "Jj" on skirmish line was shot dead,
tlu; ball entering his brain above left eyt; midway
between left eye and where hair grew. It was a
fatal shot. His body was brought out and his mehs-
mates (iilkey. Curry, Lipsey and others buried him.
He was nearly twenty-one years old, unmarried, a
very |)romising young man, by profession a prniler,
aiul was a noble, generous boy. His country had no
braver defender. Harris, we hate to give thee uj).
He was decently buried near iien. (Mayton's head-
(juarters on a public road near a residence. TIk*
lines are so close many are struck by sharpshooters
from both sides. August !tth, lS(i4, 'J'uesday, in
same position. Firing continues. Main. .Sent hit-
ter to wife. Also one to Terry for ^h-s. Katon. Fir-
ing all day. We remain close behind our woi'ks and
nuike the enemy do the same. August lUth, Wed-
nesday, liring continues with small arms and canon.
August nth, Tiiursday, cannonading and sharp-
shooting continues all day. Capt. Willett ciiief of
Hrigade I'icket. W. J I. Joues returned from home.
.J.J. Elmore furloughed from hospital from August
'hu\ to October -Uu], sixty days. At dark 40th moved
to rear line to entrench and bivouac. August l-.'th,
80
Friday, fit^rcf and coiitiiuKMl sliai'psliootin;^. Au-
gust l.'Jtli, Saturday, (luirt in morninfr. Cliarj^^e
aj^ainisl StovalTs line of pickets in evening:. I^ine
taken. Sent letter to wife August 14tli. Sunday,
in treiudies, Sliaritsliootinji: and cannonading con-
tinues all day. August loth, .Momlay, fair. Usual
firing. In same position. Smt letter to brother.
Cloudy. No charges today. August HJth, Tuesday,
usual tiring, llc^ceived letter from Lieut. Latham of
August 1st. 140 men of -loth Alabama on i)icket,
Lieut. Monette chief. August l^th, isiit, Wednes-
day, fair. SI'.7iri)shooting continues. Ai'tillery little
less severe, lu-ceived letter from Lieut. Ijatham of
August 8th, IbGl.
The army lines are in semicircle around nortii
and west sides of Atlanta from l^'each Tree Creek
on right to Last Point on left, and lines daily being
extended to left by enemy. Our forces as they
reach to left confront them. The lines are weak-
ened for that purpose in many places. The men in
main works are a yard apart, but the line is made
very strong and almost unassailable by dhalti.s in
front of the main works. It is now a ([uestion which
army can aut reach to the left. In this month
sevei'al \'ankee raids have come to grief, the most
formidable of which was Stoneman's. 3,UU(.) raiders
have been cai)tured this month, and their artillery
and baj^gage and horses, and the others driven olT.
Before capture and defeat they destroyed a good
deal of property, and cut the Atlanta and Macon
Railroaii and other roads. The Macon road was
soon repaired. Stoneman was captured. August ISth,
18(j-l, Thursday, heavy skiimishing in front of Divis-
ion today. Charge by enemy in evening repulsed.
Heavy tlghting on right and left, results not known.
The enemy shell Atlanta day and night. August
19th, Friday, fair. Skirmishing on line. At 1:00
«1
j». m. heavy ligliting on right and left. August
20Lh, ISfit, Saturday, rain last night. Skirniisliing
early. Rain in evening. 40th Alahanui for picket,
Capt. Willett chief. Raid in rear repulsed to-day.
August "-2 1st, Sunday, rainy and (doudy. Heavy
sharpshooting and cannonading continues, liain in
evening. Relieved at dark by ;57th Alabama. Heavy
rain. August 2;;nd, jMonday, Rrigad(^ moved to
right ;;()() yards. Stovall sent to left of Division.
Skirmishing all day. August iJord, IS'J-t, Tuesday,
beautiful day. Shar})shooting and cannonading con-
tinues. Raid in rear repulsed, (len. Wheeler with
cavalry forcg gone to^rear of enemy. Saw Sam'l G,
King. Got my baggage for lirst time during cam-
paign. It was brought by Sergeant Sanders with
Gen. l:>aker's baggage. Overhauled it and got ])air
of pants. Needed them. Old ones worn out. Left
my baggage in care of King. August 2 1th, 18<i4,
Wednesday, cannonading and sharpshooting before
light. Continued all day. Detail of 151) men of
40th on j)icket. At 0;OO p. m. Brigade ordered to
move. Thought to be on a secret expedition. Com-
mand marched at [>:■){) p. m. Picket relieved.
Marched to depot at Atlanta and bivouaced. August
•■.'5th, 1S(J4, Thursday, in two trains at<J;00 a m. licft
on road to Macon with sealed orders. Maj. Kinlock
Falconer A. A. G. of Gen. Hood intimated to me
that W(i might go to Mobih;. Airixed at ^lacon.
Most of the command thought we were sent to repel
a raid. Left in two ti'ains for Uohimbus, (.Tcorgia,
at ■2:(io p, m. MaiU; tlie run to within twenty-three
miles of Columl)us before night. Bivouaced on
trains. August •-.'tith, 1SG4, Friday, at 7:00 a. m. on
HauK^ train started for CJolumbus. Aii'ived there at
10:00 a. m. Met Lieut. Latham from home I'eturn-
ing to command, deceived letter from wife. 0. S.
Elmore was taki^n very sick on train. W'e left him
82
in hospital in ('olmnhus. !'>. Klinoie was tlu-rti in lios-
j»it}il. At '-.'lOo ]). in. started on trains for Oju-lika,
Alaliania. Arrived tlu-re, at liMXi a. ni. I'.ri^adw
l>i vouacfd. Had to remain until next moi'nin^ for
completion of break on railro.ul ma<le liv raid (d'
liosscau. August •-I7\\i. lS(il. jlrigade hd't on two
trains for Montgomery, the first that had run
through since railroad was torn up. J. eft al '.i.nO
a. m., arrived in ^lontgomery at •J:()U [k ju., mailed
h'tter to wife. Capt. WiUett witii dompany '1)"'
h'ft in i)assenger train at xJiiio p. m. for I'olla rd.
liahmee of Brigade remaining for otlier trains.
Arrived at Uolhird at -^iDO a. m. August JStli. Siin-
ihiy. Left at 2:;50 foVfeiisas, arrive<l there at ::iti)
a. m. Took boat Senator for Mobile, arrived at
Mobile at '.i:U() a. ni. P>ivouaced in streu't. The 4(itli
A labanui left Mobile -^'nd December, isii:^. Iletweeii
thes(^ two dates nearly two years of war had made
great (dianges. Left with m»U effective men, and
now returned with about KM) effective men. Maj.
(ien. Gardner ordered the command back to Tensas,
'i'ook •J:<t() (('clock boat and returned. P)rigade or-
dered back to Carpenter's Station. Uain in evening.
Took 5:()() o'chx'k train and arrived at bivouac at
t;.U<» p.m. !\Iucb rain and very minhly. Augus^t
■."Jth, JS(i4, Monday, at same bivouac in piney wocjds,
Sent letter to wife from Mobile yesterday. < )ur
coming to Mobile from Army of Tennessee was very
unexpected to us, though delighted with thecdiange.
August oOth, Tuesday, early ordered to Blakely. At
IS.nu a. m. took cars for 'i'ensas, then boat to IJlakely
and arrived there at 1U:U(J a. m. At G:()0 p.m. oinlered
to Spanish fort. Marched to Sibley's ^lills l)y S:(>0
p. m. and bivouaced. ;i7lh and l^'ud to go into camp.
o4th ordered to Pollard. Aui,'ust ;51st, Wednesday,
at (iioO a. m. 4Uth put on march for Spanish Fort.
Arrived there at 4:(HI p. m. and bivouaced. liainy.
83
September 1st, lS(i4, Thursday, established camp at
Spanish Fort. Companies B, D, C and A sent to
Montrose to picket. "F" detailed guard on boat
Mary Stone. September 3nd, Friday, picketing- on
bay at same place. Companies "B" and "D" did
not go to Montrose. o7tii and 42nd Alabama ar-
rived at Fort. Large number of slaves at work
there on defenses, and Alabama Reserves also on
duty there. September 3rd, Saturday, picketing on
bay. Received official notice from Surgeon Craw-
ford, Fair Ground Hospital No. 2 at Vineville near
Macon, Georgia, that 2nd Junior Lieutenant Eli D.
Vance wounded on 2Sth July, 18(!4, died of his
wounds on 23r(l\lay of zVugust, 1804. He was un-
marritTii, 28 years old, a good and brave officer and
soldier. He left a widowed mother and sisters in
Pickens County. Alabama, in indigent circum-
tances. Enemy's fleet in sight in line off obstruc-
tions but making no demonstrations. September
4th, Sunday, usual quiet. Brig. Gon. Baker sick.
Col. Highley absent. Capt. Willet in command of
Brigade until Maj. Gully returned from Holly-
wood. Companies "B"' and "D." put on march to
Hollywood on account of gun boat laying close olf
Short's Wharf. Arrived there six miles at 3:00 a. m.
September 5th, Monday on the alert. Gun boat still
off Short's Wharf. Left in evening. September Oth,
Tuesday, all quiet. Boat came at night and left at
sunrise. Company "F" came down and went into
camp near Montrose. Siqitember 7th, Wednesda}^
usual (juiet. Gun boat pickets off Short's Wharf at
night. Se])lember Sth, Thui-sday, (piiet. (inn
boat come to wharf at night. S(q)tember Hth
and lOlh (juiet. l)oing usiuil picket. "A" and "H"
at village, " i>" and "C*"' at Hollywood and "F" at
Montrose. September llth, SiunUiy, picket estab-
lished on road in rear. Ileceivcd letter i'rom wife of
84
7th. September 12th and 13th, Capt. Willett still in
C(unman(l of -10th Alabama. September 14th and 15th,
Wednesday and Thursday, quiet. September IGth
and 17th, usual quiet. Caught many flounders. The
command catch many fish. September 18th, 19th
and 20th, quiet. Received letter from wife date 15th.
In command of Regiment. Maj. Gully commands
Brigade. September 21st and 22nd. Wednesday and
Thursday, quiet. Heavy rains. September 23rd
and 2-4th, quiet. On 22nd day of September Sergeant
T. B. Thomas elected Junior Second Lieutenant Com-
pany "B" 40th Alabama Infantry. September 25th,
2Gth, 27th, 28th, 2!)th and 30th, doing picket duty on
bay. Much rain. Went to Mobile on pass. W. L.
Lipsey received notice of transfer to 7th Alabama
Cavalry Company "D" vice A. W. Coward, to take
effect from October 1st, 18G4. Capt. Willett sent up
application for leave of absence, October 1st, 18G4,
Saturday, doing picket on eastern shore, Capt,
Lake volunteer aid of Gen, Liddell tho Inspector of
Pickett Line, ('apt. Branson Chief of Picket.
October 2nd, 18G4, ii-ave of absence to Capt. Willett
for twenty days granted. Left this day for Blakely
to go home. Arrived liiere at 0:00 p. m., October
3rd, 18G4, Monday. Started home on h ave, arrived
there October 5th at 12:00 noon. Found my family
well. October Giii, 7th, 8th, 0th, loth, 11th, 12th,
13th, 14th, 15th, IGth, 17th, 18th and 19th on leave at
home. Spent the time pleasantly. Had while there
three chills. Broke them. October 20th, Thursday,
started back for command. Before Capt. Willett
left camps received commission as Major of 40th
Alabama. Bought horse at home and started back
with him on 20tli in company with Wm. Wood.
Brought wagon to Macon with box of provisions for
self and clothing for Company "B" and self. Had
no trouble on way with horse and arrived at Holly-
85
wood again October 22nd at noon six hours before
leave expired. During absence everything went
quietly on. Many of the command became sick with
cliills and two died of congestion, Sims Company
"C" and Brown Company "F." Capt. Latham pro-
moted from 1st Lieutenant to captaincy of Company
"B" 40th Alabama October 4th, 18G4, to take rank
from May 5th, 18G4. Capt. Willett is now no longer
Captain of Company "B" 40th Alabama. He has in
the preceding pages given I;* short account of that
Company and 40th Alabama since it entered thu ser-
vice March 13th, 1862, and in retiring from the com-
mand of the Company also ceases to make notes of
the action of the Company.
Hollywood, E. D. WILLETT.
Eastern Shore, Major 4()th Alabama.
Alabama.
The foregoing pages were written by Captain E.
D. Willett, but 'as stated by him just above, after
ho was promoted Major of tiie 40t,ii Alabama, he
retired from the .'command of Company B as Cap-
tain, and ceased to make notes of tiie actions of
that Company, as First Lieutenant James A.
Latham, was promoted to the Captaincy of Com-
pany B and on him devolved the duty.of continu-
ing the narrative of that Company's movements
and casualties. Capt. Latham, however, was killed
at the battle of Bentonville, N, C and to show the
further movements and actions of Company B and
the 40th Alabama, recourse has been had to the
diary of Rev. Juo H. Curry, now deceased, who was
First Sergeant of Company B'^and'who also kept a
diary. Sergeant Curry in his diary sa\s:
"December 19, 18G4, Regiment remained here
"(near Mobile) for about a month longer and was
86
"then ordeied to take steamer for Montgomery.
"I joined command at Montgomery. January 7,
"1805, Regiment took cars at Montgomery at 7 a.
"m. and arrived at Augusta, Ga., at 4 p. m. on
"tlie Stli. We marched across the Savannah river
"and camped ahout three miles from Hamburg, on
"the South Carolina side. January 9, 1805, at 7 a. m.
"began the march across the country to Chester, S.
''C, arriving there on the IGth. This march was
"through a piney woods sectio^. The weather was
"cold and disagreeable. We made large fires, mostly
"pine wood, and much of it very rich, and when we
"reached Chester we were smoked so black that we
"looked more liktl Mexicans than white men. We
"fared well as to good and wholesome food. No
"State ever treated soldiers better than did South
"Carolina. The people along the line of our march
"were especially kind to us. Our march was through
"a section of the country that had never been touched
"before by the tramp of an army, hence they were in
"a better condition to treat us well than those sec-
"tions through which the army liad passed. Febru-
"ary lU, 1805, we took the cars at 8 a. m. for Raleigh,
"N. C, and after some delays and a perilous trip,
"readied there at noon next day. We laid over here
"for six hours, during which time some of our boys
"discovered that there was some whiskey on the
"platforni besiiles a considerable amount of meat^
"m(;ul, salt, etc. Tiiere wore guards stationed at
"dilferent places on the platform, and it was noticed
"the guards were sitting on the whiskey kegs, so it
"was decided by our boys to make an effort to ascer-
"tain and if possible to get a taste of the contents of
"those kegs. By some means some of the boys pro-
"cured an auger, crawled under the platform and
"bored holes thi-ough the platform lloor and into the
"kegs, and with buckets soon emptied a keg or two,
St
V
*'and that two while the guard sat serenely on his
"keg ! It was not long however until the boys who
"were in the secret had their tongues loosed, and in
"other ways disclosed the fact that they had found
"something stronger than water to drink. But soon
"the order came for us to leave Raleigh, and the
"boys in liquor were dumped into the cars and were
"soon asleep. After various delays we arrived at
"Charlotte on the 23d of February. February 24.
"18G5, at 8 a. m. we began the march to Smithfield,
"reaching a camp in about two days. March 18,
"ISGo, marched into the vicinity of Bentonville and
"formed lines preparatory to battle. March 10, 18Go,
"battle of Bentonville was fought in which Coufed-
"erates were victorious. A considerable portion of
"the day our men were wading in water knee deep,
"Capt. James A Latham, of Company B was killed
"and his body left on ground occupied by the Feder-
"als. Our lines changed position during the battle
"leaving his body behind. David Morrow, Wiley
"Horton, Thos. Cameron and Sardine Hildretii, all
"of Company B were wounded. David Morrow died
"in an ambulance while being carried to field hospi-
"tal. Wiley Horton had his leg amputated and died
"in hospital at Charlotte. Sergeant Curry was sick
"with chill on day before the battle and was not
"able to keep in line. Capt. Latham gave him per-
"mission to march out of ranks at will, in other words
"travel as best he could. He could not keep up with
"his command as he had to rest at intervals during
"the day. When he came up with the army on the
"morning of tiie 19th, he found that his regiment
"was some distance from where he approached the
"line. Being weak and not knowing whore his com-
"mand was located, he joined a Company belonging
"to the 51st Virginia and fought with them during
"the day. At night, the battle over, Curry asked
;.-■!'
"the Commander of this Company to discharge him
"that he miglit go in search of his own command.
"The moon shone brightly, and traveling up the line
"in a westerly direction among the wounded, dead
"and dying, he at last came upon the ground that
"had been occupied by his Company during the en-
"gagement. He first found the dead body of Clar-
"ence II, Ellerbe, Adjutant of the 40th Alabama,
"whicii he canic near stepping upon as he stei)ped
"over a log. He could hear the groans of wounded
"men on every side, and going from one to another,
"came at last upon David Morrow and Wiley Ilor-
"ton, of Company B who were lying in a few feet
"of each other in a low place, thickly set with un-
"derbrush. Morrow shot in the body, Horton in the
"leg. As they had fought in the water they were
"wet to their hips and very cold. Their sufferings
"were intense. Curry built a fire, dried their clothes
"and administered to them during the night. During
"this battle our flag with forty men was cut oif from
"our regiment, got behind Federal lines, and the men
"had to make their way to Releigh and return by rail.
"The flag bearer tore the flag f rom ^tlie staff, took
"down his pants, tied it round his leg and brought
"it out all O. K. except the staff . Several days af-
"ter the battle they came into camp with it flying
"on a staff cut for the occasion. Such a sensation
"was neyer produced in our command before — men
"shouted, cried, kissed it, hugged it, etc., etc.
"Soon after this battle General Joseph E. John-
"ston began the work of re- organization and consol-
"idation of the Army. The 19th and lOth Alabama
"Regiments were consolidated. Colonel M. L. Wood
"becoming Colonel, Col. E. S. Gulley Lieutenant-
"Colonel, and Major E. 1). Willett becoming Major,
"by appointment of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Com-
"pauies B and K were united and became Company
89
*'H, Capt. S. H. Sprott commander; Sergoant J. H.
"Curry, the Orderly Serjjeant, was in command of
"this Company for a time, then Lieutenant Monette
"wasphiced in command, and after the re-organiza-
"tion, Capt. Sprott. Not long after this we were or-
"dered to the Yadkin river to guard a ford. Lee, of
•'Virginia, had already surrendered, and great de-
"moralization was manifest, especially among those
"so near to their homes as the Carolinians. Not long
"afterwards we were ordered to Salishury to drive
"out the Federal Cavalry that had captured and
"burned the town. Here we remained doing picket
"duty until the day of our surrender, May 5, 18G5.
"Thepapers wereallarranged for our capitulation and
"we were to march liome in regular order, but after
"the tirst day or two, every man was his own com-
"mander and went his own way."
Here Sergeant Curry's diary ends.
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