Thank you for posting your ancestors diary. I dont know if there are many first person accounts of the 1st Alab USV. Do you know why your ancestor switched sides? I know some CSA soldiers switched sides and joined the Union Army although I dont know how common that was. I know a not small amount of CSA prisoners at Camp Douglas Il became "galvinized yankees" because they did not wish to die from disease and horrible sanitatary conditions and would rather take there chances fighting Indians in the N.W.. Why CSA soldiers would switch sides in the middle of the CW is an intresting topic.
Thanks;
Leonard