The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863

July 1864 Battle of Tupelo

How the heck do the 13th Alabama ID ever get put onto the 6th Miss Cav flag in CV???????

Confederate Veteran Magazine, Vol. XVI, 1908 p. 583
Flag of Thirteenth Alabama Regiment

Lucius D. Alden who served in the 33rd Missouri Infantry, U.S.A. noting his participation in the battles at Tupelo, Miss. July 15-17, 1864, begins his discussion:

"After a charge by the Confederate (the 2d, I believe) was repulsed by Gen. Joseph A. Mower's Division . . . . . I heard a voice calling for my assistance, and, turning saw a fine-looking and well-dressed Confederate soldier sitting on the ground . . . who entreated me to pull off his boots. . . [I] instantly responded pulling off both boots, and discovered he had been shot through both legs below the knees, and that his limbs were badly swollen . . . I think he was in the same position when, a little later, we fell back. .

"A color bearer went down with his flag as the enemy felt back, and I requested permission of General Mower to advance up the slope and secure it. . . . I understand from one of our regiment that another member of it has the flag. It is that of the 13th Alabama. I have written to learn about it more fully . . . This might be a clue to the information desired -- the Confederate who was shot in the legs."

This close indicates that a previous query must have been placed in the Veteran regarding the injured color bearer. I have not tried searching back issues.

.........

As to the 13th Alabama, the 13th Alabama Battalion, Partisan Rangers had participated in combat at Tupelo in 1863:

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIV/1 [S# 36] pp. 691-2
MAY 5, 1863.--Action at King's Creek, near Tupelo, Miss.
No. 3.--Report of Maj. W. A. Hewlett, Thirteenth Alabama Battalion, Partisan Rangers.

OKOLONA, MISS., May 7, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state, for the information of the brigadier-general commanding First District, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, that on Thursday, May 5, at about 11 a.m., while encamped about 4 miles west of Verona, I received orders to proceed at once to Verona, intelligence having been received that the enemy had driven in Major [W. M.] Inge's pickets in the neighborhood of Tupelo. On my arrival at Verona, the column moved toward Tupelo, Colonel [J.] Cunningham in front. My command, which consisted of detachments of four companies (about 140 in all), constituted the left wing. The enemy's pickets were driven in about 1 mile from the scene of action. In the neighborhood of King's Creek, one-half mile west of Tupelo, while my command was crossing a large corn-field, Colonel Cunningham drove in the enemy's advance guard, and immediately crossed the creek and proceeded into the heavy timber on the opposite side. My command followed with as little delay as possible, considering the difficulty of fording, and proceeded into the wood about 100 yards in the rear of Colonel Cunningham. Colonel Cunningham pushed on in pursuit of the enemy's advance guard, without drawing the fire of his main body, which was in ambush. On reaching a ridge about 100 yards from the creek, I first received the fire from the enemy's left wing, at a distance of from 25 to 40 yards. I returned the fire and dismounted my right wing. Several of the horses of my left becoming unmanageable, they faltered. The enemy raised a yell and attempted a charge, but were held in check by my right wing.

At this time Lieutenant-Colonel [C. R.]Barteau came to my assistance on the right; poured a volley into the enemy, driving him back about 200 yards, to a more advantageous position. The firing then commenced from their whole line, with three pieces of artillery, two making a cross fire from each wing and one from the center. It is said by those at a distance they fired 40 rounds from each gun. Just before the firing ceased, Colonel Barteau informed me that two regiments were attempting a flank movement on the left, and ordered me to recross the creek and form on the opposite side, which I did under a heavy fire. I was here joined by two rear companies of the Second Alabama, which were cut off. After crossing the creek, the firing ceased along the whole line, and Colonel Barteau came out a few minutes afterward. I then moved with Colonel Barteau's command to Chesterville, 1 miles west of Tupelo, and continued driving in the enemy's pickets and skirmishing until night.

My loss is 1 killed, 3 wounded, and 2 missing. I also lost 12 horses Without attaching too much importance to the affair, I consider it my duty to mention Capt. Jacob R. Shepherd, First Lieut. Samuel P. Morrow, and First Lieut H. H. Bibb as worthy of praise for gallant and meritorious conduct.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. A. HEWLETT,
Major, Commanding.

Capt. L. D. SANDIDGE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General

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Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863
Re: King's Creek near Tupelo MS, May 5, 1863