COMPANY K
FIRST ALABAMA REGIMENT,
OR
THREE YEARS IN THE CONFEDERATE SERVICE
BY
DANIEL P. SMITH.
PRATTVILLE, ALA.
PUBLISHED BY THE SURVIVORS.
1885.
BURK & MCFETRIDGE,
Printers,
306-308 Chestnut St.
Phila.
INTRODUCTORY.
The First Alabama Regiment of Infantry was organized under the Act of
the Legislature authorizing the enlistment of troops for twelve months.
Three companies were raised in Barbour county by Capts. Alpheus Baker,
John Clark and Jere. Williams; two in Pike, by Capts. Augustus Owen and
Dawson; one in Wilcox, by Capt. I. G. W. Steadman; one in Tallapoosa, by
Capt. J. D. Meadows; one in Talladega, by Capt. L. F. Johnson; one in
Lowndes, by Capt. J. D. Conyers; and one in Mobile, by Capt. Ben. Lane
Posey. The companies were ordered to rendezvous at Pensacola, for the
purpose of relieving the independent companies at that time occupying the
captured forts, Barrancas and McRae, and the navy yard. About February
10, 1861, the first companies arrived at Pensacola, and the others
rapidly followed. It was not until April that the regimental organization
was completed, by the election and appointment of the following officers:
Colonel, Henry D. Clayton; Lieutenant-colonel, I. G. W. Steadman; Major,
Jere. Williams; Quartermaster, Capt. L. F. Johnson; Commissary, Capt.
Henry Shorter; Adjutant, S. H. Dent; Surgeon, J. D. Caldwell, M. D.;
Assistant-Surgeon, Walter Curry, M. D.
Soon after its organization, by Act of the State Legislature, but with
its own consent, the regiment was mustered into the service of the
Confederate States, and was assigned to duty in Fort Barrancas and the
heavy batteries along the shore of the bay. Many of these batteries were
thrown up by the men of the First Alabama, who, thus early in the war,
were accustomed to the use of entrenching tools. Military instruction was
not neglected; and, while industriously wielding pick and shovel, the men
were thoroughly drilled, both as heavy artillery and infantry.
A portion of the regiment was engaged in the fight on Santa Rosa
Island, and then the whole regiment served in the batteries during the
bombardments of the 23d of November, 1861, and the 1st of January, 1862.
For its gallantry on these occasions it received complimentary mention in
Gen. Bragg’s orders.
At the close of twelve months’ service, the regiment was called upon to
re-enlist for the war, and seven companies promptly responded. Capts.
Baker’s, Clark’s and Posey’s companies were mustered out, and were
replaced by Capt. Knowles’ company, from Macon county; Capt. William
Pruitt’s, from Barbour; and Capt. J. F. Whitfield’s, from Autauga. The
regiment was reorganized by the election of the following officers;
Colonel, I. G. W. Steadman; Lieutenant-colonel, M. B. Locke; Major, S. L.
Knox; Adjutant, S. D. Steadman; Quartermaster, Capt. Duncan Carmichael;
Surgeon, Dr. Schackelford (afterwards succeeded by Dr. Hamilton). The
companies were commanded respectively as follows: Co. A, Capt. J. D.
Meadows; Co. B, Capt. Ramsey; Co. C, Capt. Stubbs; Co. D, Capt. R. H.
Isbell; Co. E, Capt. Woods; Co. F, Capt. Williams; Co. G, Capt. Riley;
Co. H, Capt. Knowles; Co. I, Capt. William Pruitt; Co. K, Capt. John F.
Whitfield.
In the following pages will be found a sketch of the services of Co. K,
of Autauga county. Although the author makes no higher pretence than to
be a company historian, yet he has embodied in the story all the facts
connected with the history of the other companies, and of the regiment as
a whole, that were in his possession. From the day that Co. K joined the
regiment, in March, 1862, until the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,
it shared in all the toils, privations and dangers of the gallant
“First,” and its history is indissolubly blended with it. Therefore, with
the kindest feelings, the writer dedicates this little work, not only to
the members of Co. K, but to all his comrades in the
FIRST ALABAMA.
CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION OF THE JOHN GILL SHORTER ARTILLERY—CHANGE OF
DESTINATION—AT ISLAND 10—ROLL OF COMPANY K—MYSTERIES OF THE
CUISINE—A SHAMEFUL WASTE.
In February, 1862, John F. Whitfield, Esq., obtained the authority
to recruit one of the three companies necessary to complete the
reorganization of the First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A., serving at that
time as heavy artillery at Pensacola, Fla. Meeting with Merrill E. Pratt,
Esq., of Prattville, he proposed to that gentleman to raise one-half
the company, he himself expecting to bring thirty or forty men into the
field. Mr. Pratt was thinking, at this time, of joining another regiment
with a small squad of men, who desired to be with him in the army, but,
seeing now a wider field for usefulness, he accepted the proposal. In
a few days, through his personal influence and popularity, he enrolled
the names of nearly fifty volunteers, including some of the best men
in Autauga county, and, had he not been restricted by the terms of his
agreement with Capt. Whitfield, he could, without difficulty, have
recruited a full company. On the 7th of March, Lieut. Pratt and his
men proceeded to Montgomery, and, on the following day, were mustered
into the service of the Confederacy, styling themselves, in honor of
the Governor of the State, the “John Gill Shorter Artillery.” John F.
Whitfield was elected Captain; M. E. Pratt, First Lieutenant; Dixon S.
Hall, Second Lieutenant, Jr.; and Charles E. Tuttle, Orderly Sergeant.
The second lieutenancy was left vacant, to be filled by the squad
of men Capt. Whitfield still expected to secure. For the failure of
these men to report, Capt. Whitfield was in no manner responsible, he
acting throughout in good faith. No officer had more the confidence and
affection of his men than Capt. Whitfield, and this esteem he retained
from first to last.
While in Montgomery, enameled cloth knapsacks and haversacks, and cedar
canteens, were issued to the men, but they provided their own uniforms,
no two of which were alike.
When enrolled the men expected to go to Pensacola, but upon arriving in
Montgomery, it was learned that the regiment had left that place for
New Madrid, Mo., a fortified post on the Mississippi River. As this
change in destination, from a warm to a cold climate, and from garrison
to field duty, necessitated a change in clothing, leave of absence for
two days was given the members of the company to return home and make
needed preparations. There was a general cutting down in the amount of
_impedimenta_, though most of the men loaded themselves with twice the
amount that could be carried on a march.
On the morning of March 10th, the company reassembled in Montgomery, and,
under the command of Lieut. Hall, started for Memphis. Monday night they
camped at Atlanta, not being able to proceed farther on account of the
crowded trains. It was not till Wednesday noon that the company reached
Memphis. The regiment was just leaving the city by the boat, and could
not wait for the company to join; Lieut. Hall, however, reported, and
received orders to proceed by the steamer “Republic,” which left the next
day at 5 P. M. Thursday night the boat reached Fort Pillow, where it was
learned that New Madrid had been evacuated, and that the First Alabama
had been ordered to Island No. 10. Friday evening the “Republic” arrived
at Tiptonville, and the men disembarked; but, the boat being detained,
they slept on board that night. Saturday they again landed, and marched
across from Tiptonville to Island No. 10, a distance of six miles. The
regiment was found encamped without tents in a newly-cleared field, and
the company, thus early in its service, began roughing it. It was not
till the 18th that they received any tents; they then were moved into a
wood, some three-quarters of a mile from the river. On the 25th the camp
was again moved, and tents pitched in regulation order in an open field
in the rear of Batteries Nos. 5 and 6; a camp guard was detailed, and the
military routine of guard-mounting, drill and dress-parade began.
Capt. Whitfield and Lieut. Pratt arrived on the 18th, receiving a hearty
welcome. There now being no hope of the other squad reporting, it was
decided that Lieut. Pratt should return home and recruit the company to
its full strength.
Lieut. Dixon S. Hall was promoted to the second lieutenancy, and Orderly
Sergt. C. E. Tuttle, who had ably performed his duties and looked after
the comfort of the men, was made junior second lieutenant. The following
is the roll of the company, as it stood at that time:—
_Captain_, John F. Whitfield.
_First Lieutenant_, Merrill E. Pratt.
_Second Lieutenant_, Dixon S. Hall.
_Second Lieutenant, Jr._, Charles E. Tuttle.
_Orderly Sergeant_, Norman Cameron.
_Second Sergeant_, A. J. Thompson.
_Third Sergeant_, J. C. Rodgers.
_Fourth Sergeant_, A. J. Merritt.
_Fifth Sergeant_, E. T. Sears.
_First Corporal_, John Williamson.
_Second Corporal_, W. L. Ellis.
_Third Corporal_, J. M. Royals.
_Fourth Corporal_, W. H. Hutchinson.
_Privates._
N. K. Adams,
E. L. Averheart,
O. M. Blaylock,
G. R. Bledsoe,
A. P. Brown,
C. W. Brown,
E. F. Brown,
J. W. Cook,
W. A. Dennis,
J. H. Durden,
W. Farmer,
Wm. H. Fay,
John Frank, Jr.,
J. A. Fergerson,
John Griffin,
M. M. Hancock,
Elijah Hearn,
G. W. Hearn,
J. C. Hearn,
J. W. Hearndon,
J. G. Holston,
Joseph Hurd,
J. W. Killough,
J. M. May,
C. J. Moncrief,
W. L. Moncrief,
J. D. Rice,
J. L. Robinson,
Junius Robinson,
T. J. Roe,
C. H. Royals,
G. H. Royals,
Daniel P. Smith,
J. F. Smith,
Mac. A. Smith,
J. G. Tarleton,
J. S. Tunnell,
Joseph Tunnell,
Fletcher Wilkins.
Total, 4 commissioned officers, 9 non-commissioned officers and 39
privates.
W. H. Hutchinson was soon after detailed as a member of the drum corps,
and O. M. Blaylock was appointed corporal in his stead. Joseph Hurd was
detailed at the same time as fifer. All the above were present for duty,
except Private Griffin, who received a furlough when he enlisted, and
reported to Capt. Isbell after the surrender of the Island. Muskets were
not issued to Co. K for two weeks after their arrival, but details for
fatigue and guard duty were made after a few days. When Capt. Rucker’s
company was relieved at Battery No. 1, on the third or fourth day of the
siege, a detail of sixty men from the First Alabama was ordered there,
with daily relief. Co. K furnished four or five men of this detail.
The men were quickly initiated into the mysteries of the _cuisine_, and
from the first day some were quite good cooks, while others made most
amusing blunders. A camp-kettle, half full of rice, was a source of
much worry to an amateur who attempted to boil it—there were not enough
utensils in the company to hold South Carolina’s favorite dish as it
swelled in the pot. Commissary stores were plentiful, and there was a
shameful waste. Fresh beef was hauled off and buried by the wagon load;
barrels of corned beef remained untouched in the camp; while rice, flour,
molasses and sugar were issued in larger quantities than could possibly
be eaten. These were the last days of the “Flush times of the First
Alabama.”
On the 30th of March, Lieut. Pratt and Corp. Ellis left for Alabama to
enlist recruits. About the same time Privates M. A. Smith and J. L.
Robinson were honorably discharged on account of physical disability, and
left for their homes.