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Re: 5th AL Battalion at Petersburg
In Response To: 5th AL Battalion at Petersburg ()

Hi Jim
I really dont know much about the ANV But Rensently I had the Chance to go to Gettysburg and Petersburg.. I didnt have enough time to cover the grounds like I wanted to.. At Petersburg I got to go to Pamplin Historical Park but got ther right at closeing time.. the little bit that i did see.. was amazing and calls for a return trip.. to answer your question...

I looked through the OR and as great a tool is it jumps around a bit and leaves gaps in the info...the 5th Alabama

from August 4 To December 31, 1863 was in Archer's Brigade.

Archer's Brigade
Brig. Gen. H. H. WALKER
5th Alabama Battalion Maj. A. S. Van de Graaff.
13th Alabama, Col. B. D. Fry.
1st Tennessee (Provisional Army), Col. Peter Turney.
7th Tennessee, CoL John A. Fite.
14th Tennessee, Col. William McComb

From AUGUST 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1864
the 5th was Unattached

From JANUARY 1, 1865, TO MARCH 15, 1865
Lieut. Gen. AMBROSE P. HILL.
HEADQUARTERS.
5th Alabama Battalion, Capt. Wade Ritter

From MARCH 29-APRIL 9, 1865 they are listed
THIRD ARMY CORPS
Lieut. Gen. AMBROSE P. HILL
PROVOST GUARD.

5th Alabama Battalion, Capt. Wade Ritter

I havent found anything on were the 5th Alabama Battalion was between January 1, 1864 and July 30, 1864

But here are a few union accounts of they were with Heths Division this may help in pinpoint the location they were at...

DEEP BOTTOM, July 30, 1864.
Major-general BIRNEY:

A deserter has just been brought in from Archer's brigade. Heth's division, Hill's corps, who says that all of Hill's corps, but one brigade, and part of Longstreet's corps were over here this morning at daylight. They were ordered to pack up and be ready to march at a moment's notice, and troops have been moving to the left since that time. Some of their rumors are that they are going up the Valley, and most think they are returning to Petersburg, there being a rumor in camp that [we] were to attack to-night. My lookout reports several regiments of troops moving to my left. All is quiet here.

R. S. FOSTER,
Brigadier-General.

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CUMBERLAND, July 28, 1864--6 p.m.
Capt. T. MELVIN,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Harper's Ferry:
Your telegram just received. All quiet yet. The iron-clads went as far east to-day as Back Creek, the bridge of which was destroyed yesterday. The enemy are reported by my scouts as being encamped in quite large force near Hedgesville, on the Martinsburg road. This may be true, as a force of 1,000 infantry destroyed Back Creek bridge. One of the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania came in to-day; was wounded at New Market in Sigel's fight, and has been in hospital there until last Friday; made his escape. He says no re-enforcements have passed down the Valley, but the rebels said A. P. Hill had gone down on the east side of the Blue Ridge, but it was not generally believed. The rebels are cutting and thrashing the wheat, pressing all the teams in the country, and hauling it off south. The people are in great distress, fearing starvation. I believe they are making this stand in order to secure the crops in the Valley. Why does General Wright not move on them? I advised you of the safety of Colonel Curtis.
B. F. KELLEY,
Brigadier-General.

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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XL/1 [S# 80]
JUNE 13-JULY 31, 1864.--The Richmond (Virginia) Campaign.
No. 295.--Diary of the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia

July 30.--In the morning the enemy is discovered to have abandoned the Long Bridge road and retired to the other side of the river, leaving a force at Deep Bottom, on the right of our line. Heth's division is sent back to Rice's Turnout. His trenches are occupied by Field. In the evening Kershaw recrosses to the south side by Chaffin's Bluff to halt for the night near the Clay house.

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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XL/3 [S# 82]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM JULY 5, 1864, TO JULY 31, 1864.(*)--#18

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,
July 24, 1864--7.20 p.m.
Major-General MEADE:
GENERAL: We have no deserters or prisoners from the enemy today. Yesterday a deserter from Mahone's division, Hill's corps, came into our lines at 10.30 a.m. and stated the enemy's position to be unchanged; prior to that Mahone had been on the right of Field's division, of Longstreet's corps, and McLaws was next on the left. Longstreet's other division (Pickett's) is beyond the Appomattox, in front of General Butler. We do not see prisoners or deserters from it. Field's and McLaws' hold the enemy's line from the Norfolk railroad to the Jerusalem plank road, and although we believe that each of the enemy's divisions hold a brigade in reserve, we know of no troops that could occupy the lines if any considerable portion of Longstreet's were withdrawn, as A. P. Hill was accounted for by the deserter of yesterday as holding his old place from the Jerusalem plank road to the Weldon railroad.
Very respectfully,
GEORGE H. SHARPE,
Colonel, &c.

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HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,
July 26, 1864.
Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff:
GENERAL: A deserter from the First Texas Regiment, Gregg's brigade, Field's division, Longstreet's corps, came into our lines last night about 10 o'clock opposite the Third Delaware Regiment, Fifth Army Corps. He states that his division (Field's--Hood's old) is in line of battle in the trenches with one brigade in reserve; that the time of relief are six days on and two off; that McLaws' division moved from their left about a week ago, and he thinks went to the north side of the Appomattox; that they were not in the trenches, but had been lying to the rear in reserve; that a brigade, which he understood was Burton's (probably Barton's, of Pickett's division) was attached to Field's division on the left night before last. They were put in line in the trenches. Informant states in the most positive manner that there is no second line of works to the rear of Hill or Longstreet, between their present line and Petersburg. This is the repeated statement of all deserters from those corps. The following divisions of the enemy are in our front, according to the latest information: A.P. Hill--Heth, extreme right of enemy's line; Anderson's old next. Long-street--Field's (Hood's old) next; Barton's brigade, of Pickett's division, next. Beauregard--Bushrod Johnson's division; Hoke's division, left, on south side Appomattox. On north side of Appomattox are the following divisions: Longstreet's--McLaws' position unknown Pickett's division, in Butler's front. A. P. Hill--Wilcox's division, Chaffin's farm.
J. C. BABCOCK.

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I to had relatives in the 5th Alabama Battalion would love to find out there location as well ...

Steven n. cone

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