John H. Davis, Private (Old) Company !, 6th Alabama Infantry*, mustered into service May 16, 1861 at Montgomery, Alabama by Major McLeans for 12 months, last recorded present on the July & August, 1861 muster roll, no further records
* This company subsequently became (New) Company B, 6th Regiment Alabama Infantry
Record of Events
Old Co. A**, May 15 to June 30, 1861, stationed at Fairfax Station
"For Good Order & behavor [sic] generally, This company is not surpassed if indeed equalled by any that I have observed in the service."
** Subsequently became (New) Company B, 6th Rgt. Alabama Infantry
Old Co. A***, July & August, 1861, stationed at Sangsters X Roads Va.
"The events deemed worthy of records in this place are as follows. The company was mustered into service May 16, 186 at Montgomery Ala. Remained there about one week. Was sent with regiment to for instruction in drill etc remained Corinth about 2 weeks, was ordered to Richmond but halted at Lynchburg remained in that vicinity about one week drilling etc. were moved to Fairfax Station about 20th June. remained there in discharge of usual Camp duties, besides much labor bestowed on entrenchments Scouting and picket guard duty & drilling. Retired from that place on morning of 14th July before the enemy to place
assigned behind Bull Run near Union Mills ford. Was there employed in making and occupying entrenchment, without shelter or cooking & eating utensils until morning of Memotable[?] 21st July. On morning of that day crossed over Bull Run to cover retreat of picket guard, if necessary. At 12 O'clock M was joined by Regt. at 2 O'clock by 5th Ala Regt. and was placed in front as skirmishers when Brigade moved to attack enemys rear were relieved [?] about 3. O'clock and marched to border of left Wing where battle raged most fircely [sic]. Enemy had given way on our arrival. Company ordered to return and to occupy former position, attained that position about 8 O'clock P.M. thus marching on that afternoon about 20 miles in 5 hours. Returned there till 23rd were then encamped on East side of Bull Run till about 15th Aug. since then have been at Sangster X Roads in discharge of usual Co. duties drilling & picket guard
*** Subsequent (New) Co. B
The next bi-monthly muster which survived to be recorded was that of April 1, 1864. Thus, we have no record of his subsequent actiities
M311: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama
THE SIXTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.
The Sixth Alabama infantry was organized at
Montgomery, May, 1861. Its first colonel was John J. Seibels,
who had commanded a battalion in the Mexican war. Its
first service was at Corinth. It was soon ordered to Vir-
ginia, and during the winter of 1862 was stationed far in front
of the army, at Manassas Junction. Its first serious battle
was at Seven Pines, May 31 to June 1, 1862, where the
regiment was greatly distinguished, losing 102 officers and
men killed and wounded, including Lieut.-Col. James J.
Willingham, Maj. S. Perry Nesmith, and Capts. Thomas Bell,
Matthew Fox, W. C. Hunt, Augustus S. Flournoy and John
B. McCarty.
The Sixth served in nearly all the battles of the army of
Northern Virginia, including Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862;
Cold Harbor or Gaines' Mill, June 27th and 28th; Malvern
Hill, July 1st to 5th; Boonsboro, September 15th; Sharpsburg,
September 17th; Fredericksburg, December 13th;
Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863; The Wilderness, May 5, 6
and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 8th to 18th; Winchester, July
24th, and all the numerous battles and conflicts around
Petersburg, September, 1864, to April, 1865.
Lieut.-Col. Augustus M. Gordon was killed at
Chancellorsville; Adjt. J. Whitt Thomas at Spottsylvania;
Adjt. Edgar Watson at Farmville. Capt. W. C. Hunt,
wounded at Seven Pines, was killed while gallantly leading
his men at Cedar Creek. Capts. Matt. Fox, Thos. H. Bell
and Augustus S. Flournoy were killed at Seven Pines, and
Capt. Thomas Lightfoot at Winchester. Among the other
distinguished officers of the regiment were Lieut.Col. James
M. Lightfoot, Lieut.-Col. B. H. Baker, Lieut. Col. George
W. Hooker, Maj. Walker H. Weems and Maj. Isaac F.
Culver. But probably the most distinguished officer was John
B. Gordon, who entered the regiment as a captain, passed
rapidly through the grades of lieutenant-colonel and colonel,
was appointed brigadier-general May 7, 1863, end major-
general May 14, 1864. At the close of the war in 1865 he
was in command of an army corps in Northern Virginia.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 72