William H. Capps, Private, (Old) Company G, 5th Alabama Infantry,* enlisted April 10, 1861 at Cahaba, Alabama by Capt. C. C. Pegues for one year, discharged from service by Surgeon for Chronic Rheumatism January 23, 1862, at Davis ' Ford, Virginia, described as a 20 year old Farmer, born in Dallas County, Alabama, 5' 10", dark complexion, dark eyes, black hair, discharged by reason of Disability, "During the last five months said soldier has been unfit for duty Sixty days. He was first taken with camp fever and dysentery and after was attacked with Rheumatism in one leg causing it to perish so much that he is compelled to use a crutch to move about and which renders him wholly and totally unfit for duty," enlisted March 10,1862 at Cahaba, Alabama by C. C. Pegues for 3 years, captured at Cedar Creek October 19, 1864, admitted October 21 to the U. S. A. Depot Field Hospital, Winchester, Virginia, gunshot (Minie Ball) fracture upper 3rd Femur, treated with a Double Inclined Plane, transferred to U. S. A. General Hospital, West's Buildings, Baltimore, Maryland December 10, transferred to U. S. General Hospital January 28, 1865, admitted to U. S. A. General Hospital, Point Lookout, Maryland prison camp January 31, 1865 (Gunshot wound left thigh Mid[?] 3d fracturing bone Limb three inches shorter), released June 6, 1865 on taking the Oath of Allegiance to the United States
* This company subsequently became (New) Company F, 5th Regiment Alabama Infantry
M311: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama
THE FIFTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.
The Fifth Alabama regiment was organized at Montgomery, May 5,
1861.
Its first duty was at Pensacola, Fla. In August it was
ordered to report to the commending officer of the army of
Northern Virginia.
Its first colonel was the renowned Robert E. Rodes, who was
promoted to brigadier-general, October 21, 1861, and to the
rank of major-general, May 2, 1863. He was distinguished in
all the battles of Northern Virginia and was wounded and
disabled at Seven Pines, but recovered sufficiently to resume
command of the brigade at the battles of Boonsboro and
Sharpsburg. He was then placed in command of a division,
which he led in its brilliant charge on Hooker's line at
Chancellorsville, and it was for his gallantry in this battle
that he received the commission of major-general.
He was greatly distinguished at Gettysburg, The Wilderness,
Spottsylvania, the second battle of Cold Harbor, Castleman's
Ferry, Kernstown and Winchester. In the latter battle, while
triumphantly leading his division, he received a mortal wound,
lamented by his commanders and the entire army of Northern
Virginia, toward whose great victories he had largely
contributed.
Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson spoke of him in terms of
highest commendation, and at Gettysburg his gallantry and
skillful conduct elicited from General Lee his admiration and
special thanks.
The next commander of this regiment was Christopher C. Pegues,
who, like General Rodes, also reached great distinction, and
after winning the encomiums of his commander for his gallantry
in many battles, was killed while leading his regiment in the
bloody charge at Cold Harbor.
Allen T. Jones, Lafayette Hobson and Josephus M. Hall
afterward succeeded in command of this regiment. John T.
Morgan, afterward a brigadier-general, was at one time its
lieutenant-colonel, and Eugene Blackford its major.
Its first severe engagement was at Seven Pines, May 31 and
June 1, 1862, where it lost 27 killed and 128 wounded. It
also earned a well-merited meed of honor at Gaines' Mill and
Cold Harbor, June 27th and 28th; Malvern Hill, July 1st to
5th; Second Manassas, August 30th; Boonsboro, September 15th;
Sharpsburg, September 17, 1862; Chancellorsville, May 1 and 4,
1863; Gettysburg, July 1 to 3, 1863; the Wilderness, May 5, 6
and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 8 to 18, 1864; Second Cold
Harbor, June 1 to 12, 1864; advance upon Washington, July,
1864; battle of Winchester, July 24, 1864, and the terrible
conflict in the trenches around Petersburg, September, 1864,
to April, 1865.
Among the other officers who were killed in battle were Capt.
G. W. Johnson at Cold Harbor, Capt. William T. Renfro at
Chancellorsville, Capt. N. R. E. Ferguson at the Wilderness,
Capt. George Reed near Winchester, Capt. J. N. Gilchrist at
Second Cold Harbor, Lieut. L. D. Wiley at Seven Pines,
Lieutenant Ramsey at Gaines' Mill, and Lieut. Albert J. Wilcox
at Gettysburg.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 66