M311: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama
Enlisted as a Private :
"B" Co. AL 39th Infantry
THE THIRTY-NINTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.
The Thirty-ninth Alabama was organized in May, 1862, and went
immediately to Mississippi, where it was brigaded under Gen.
Frank Gardner with the Nineteenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-fifth
and Twenty-sixth (Fiftieth) regiments.
It went into Kentucky, but being generally in the reserve, its
first battle of consequence was after its return, at
Murfreesboro, December 31st, where it made a fine record. The
regiment behaved gallantly at Chickamauga, September 19 and 20,
1863, losing nearly 27 per cent of its force.
At Missionary Ridge, November 25th, it fought again with less
loss. The regiment wintered at Dalton, and fought under Hood
through the Dalton-Atlanta campaign. At Atlanta, July 20th to
22nd, it suffered great loss, and Colonel Clifton was severely
wounded.
At Jonesboro, August 31st and September 1st, it was again in the
sharpest of the fighting. At Nashville, December 15th and 16th,
a large number were captured. The regiment went with Johnston
into the Carolinas, fought its last fight at Bentonville, and
was surrendered at Yadkin river bridge.
Maj. J. D. Smith was killed at Jonesboro, Captain Roberts in
North Carolina, Capt. Willis Banks near Atlanta, Capts. T. Q.
Stanford and Joseph C. Clayton at Murfreesboro, and Capt. C. H.
Matthews at Peachtree Creek.
The field officers were Henry D. Clayton, who was severely
wounded at Murfreesboro and at Atlanta, promoted to brigadier,
and afterward major-general, and displayed great skill and
heroism to the end; Col. Whitfield Clark, Lieut.-Cols. James
Flewellen, Lemuel Hargroves and W. C. Clifton.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 178
See also: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alcwroot/infantry_files/39th_inf_files/39th_al_inf.htm