The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry

Annelle: You have to remember that most Southern fighting men joined the army before the Conscript Law went into effect, and that most of them fought from principle. Money has always been important, and soldiers then as now needed it to send back to their families, etc. So I doubt that Sgt. White would have been interested in a promotion simply for money, and I doubt that his superiors would have promoted him just so that he could draw more pay. (I'm not saying that you think Southerners went to war simply for money!) Sgt. White would have been promoted for outstanding service, zeal, discipline, the ability to inspire others, and sheer courage -- and for no other reasons. And, in fact, Sgt. W.J. White was so courageous on the field of battle at Murfreesboro that he was placed on the Confederate Roll of Honor. He would actually have been given the equivalent of the Confederate Medal of Honor, but the CS government was so hard-pressed with other things (like our survival as a nation!) that they never got around to actually minting the medals in quantity (though some very few sorts of CS medals for bravery were manufactured). That is why Sgt. White became Lt. White, and that same efficiency and bravery led him to, at time, command his company later in the war. Thank you for bringing this Southern hero to my attention and the attention of others here on the MS CW BB! I do hope his grave is marked with some indication of his heroic service to the South. Free VA markers are available! (You can order this hero's Compiled Military Service Record from the link at the top of this page.) -- Jim Huffman, 14th Confederate Cavalry

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Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry
Re: Sgt. William J. White,39th Alabama Infantry