The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: History Project
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These four memoirs held by the U. S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa. should provide just the type of material you're seeking.

U.S. Army Military History Institute
Collections Division
950 Soldiers Drive
Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5021
15 Feb 08

40th Alabama Infantry Regiment

Sprott, Samuel H. Cush: A Civil War Memoir. [Ed by Louis R. Smith, Jr. & Andrew Quist]
Livingston, AL: U West AL, 1999. 173 p. E551.5.40thS67.

Taylor, Grant & Malinda. This Cruel War: The Civil War Letters of … 1862-1865. Macon, GA:
Mercer, 2000. 348 p. E551.5.40th.T39.

Willett, Elbert D. History of Company B (Originally Pickens' Planters) 40th Alabama Regiment,
Confederate States Army, l862 to l865. Anniston, AL: Norwood, 1902. 89 p. E55l.5.40th.W54.

Williams, Hiram S. This War So Horrible: The Civil War Diary of... [Ed. by Lewis N. Wynne &
Robert A. Taylor]. Tuscaloosa, AL: U AL, 1993. 175 p. E476.7W55.

...........

See also:

http://history-sites.com/%7Ekjones/CSal-az.html#AL-Inf

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=40th+Alabama+Infantry&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

.......

THE FORTIETH ALABAMA INFANTRY.

The Fortieth Alabama was organized at Mobile in May, 1862.

It went to Vicksburg by way of Columbus, Miss., and was brigaded
with the Thirty-seventh and Forty-second under General Moore; was
in Featherstone's command in the Steele's bayou expedition, March
16 to 22, 1863; was transferred to Bragg's army, and appears to
have served in detachment as sharpshooters for the greater part
of the time of its service.

At Vicksburg it suffered severely, and a large portion was
captured. Being paroled, it joined its command in Tennessee in
time to take part in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19th
and 20th, where it lost heavily, next fighting at Lookout
Mountain, November 24th, and at Missionary Ridge, November 25th.

Gen. Alpheus Baker became its brigadier, and it wintered at
Dalton. It took a prominent part in the Atlanta campaign; at
Rocky Face, May 9 and 1O, 1864; Resaca, May 14th and 15th, and at
New Hope church, May 25th, making gallant charges and earning a
fine record, both collectively and individually.

In midsummer, 1864, the brigade was transferred to Mobile, and,
under General Maury, took part in the defense of Mobile; but
Hood, who knew well the gallantry of these troops, clamored for
their return, and in January, 1865, they were sent back to the
army of Tennessee; and after skirmishing and fighting, last of
all at Bentonville, March 18th, the regiment, consolidated with
the Nineteenth and Forty-sixth, was surrendered at Yadkin river
bridge.

Adjt. C. H. Ellerbee and Capt. James A. Latham were killed at
Bentonville, Capt. Ed. Marsh at Dalton, Sergt. Preston S. Gilder,
standard-bearer, at Resaca.

The field officers were Cols. A. A. Coleman and John H. Higley,
Lieut.-Cols. Thomas Stone (who died in the service) and Ezekiel
Gully, and Maj. E. D. Willett.

Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 180

********************************************************************************

Report of Col. John H. Higley, Fortieth Alabama Infantry, of operations
May 7-27.

HDQRS. FORTIETH ALABAMA,
May 31, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part
taken by my regiment in the late actions, commencing with May 7
and ending May 27, inclusive:

May 7, formed line of battle at 9 a. m. left of Mill Creek Gap.
May 8, skirmished with the enemy (50 men under command of
Capt. E. Marsh, 100 under command of Capt. E. D. Willett) until
compelled to fall back by the giving way of the right. One man
killed. May 9, moved to position on the right of railroad adjacent
to Rocky Face Mountain. May 11, skirmished with enemy in front
of Rocky Face Mountain from 3 a. m. till 7 p. m. He made an
assault on my regiment at 6 p. m., which was easily repulsed. Loss--Capt.
Marsh and 2 privates killed; Lieut. J. C. Moore and 4 privates
wounded. Total loss up to May 12, 4 killed and 5 wounded.

May 12, at 10 p. m., took up line of march for Resaca. May 14,
formed line of battle at Resaca about 10 a. m., right of regiment
resting near Oostenaula River. At 5 p. m. moved forward one mile
and a half, drove the enemy back, and held the position till 12
m., at which time I returned to my position in line. Loss during
the day, 3 enlisted men wounded, 3 missing (1 missing supposed to
be killed.)

May 15, at 8 a. m. moved forward, formed a line of battle parallel
and near to railroad, then retired and built breast-works on
the ridge 150 yards in front of former position. At 4.30 p. m.
moved to the support of Stovall's brigade, charged the enemy, and
retained our position in a strip of thinly timbered woods beyond
the railroad, but ordered to retire. From misapprehension of this
order this movement was executed in some confusion, but with the
help of my officers I succeeded in rallying the majority of my command,
which I reformed on the railroad. There I remained until
Gen. Maney retired, when I received orders to fall back to the
breast-works. During the heaviest firing my color bearer, Sergt.
P. S. Gilder, was killed several paces in front of the command.
When the first order to retire was received the colors were left on
the field. Adjutant Ellerbee, Lieut. Knighton, Company F, and
acting Lieut. Peteet, Company A, volunteered to return to the
battle-field and regain the colors, which they did under a heavy fire.
I beg leave to call attention to the conduct of Sergt. William M. Murray,
color-bearer Fifty-second Georgia Regiment, who remained
on the field with his colors striving to rally any troops that might
have become disorganized, irrespective of command, acting with the
utmost coolness and gallantry after his brigade had retired. His
conduct was such as to elicit praise from all, and his name and command
were inquired for and taken down by many officers and men
of my regiment. Loss in this charge 5 killed, 34 wounded; total, 39.

May 25 (Wednesday), formed line at noon two miles and a half
from Dallas. At 5.30 p. m. charge attempted by enemy and repulsed.
Loss, 5 killed and 9 wounded; total, 14. May 26 and 27,
skirmishing with the enemy. Loss, 3 killed and 9 wounded.

I commenced the campaign, May 7, with 416 effective men. This
number on the 12th had been reduced to 398, on May 25 to 346, and
at present I number 326 effective men.

My total loss has been-killed, 17; wounded, 60; missing, 3; aggregate,
80.

The conduct of men and officers on all occasions was cool, brave
and praiseworthy, and all seemed to emulate each other in the
prompt and cheerful discharge of their onerous duties.

I have the honor to remain, captain, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,

JNO. H. HIGLEY,
Col. Fortieth Alabama Regt.

Capt. JAMES M. LOUGHBOROUGH,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records
CHAP. L.] REPORTS, ETC.--CONFEDERATE. PAGE 849-74
[Series I. Vol. 38. Part III, Reports. Serial No. 74.]

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