David,

I have not seen the word, “platoon,” used in the Confederate records. That doesn’t mean I haven’t missed it somewhere. I have, however, frequently seen, “squad,” used to refer to a work detail on a road or breastwork- that usually referred to about 6-8 men on the detail. I am wondering if skirmishers could have been the equivalent of a platoon. The 9th Alabama had designated Company F as its skirmishers, although I have never seen it mentioned by that name in their battles.

The other odd thing about the company, is that at the beginning of the war, each company was literally “a band of brothers,” as the members of a company were generally from that hometown or county. That was all they talked about, until the went into battle. As the war progressed, the 9th Alabama troops focused then their allegiance to the regiment, then the brigade, then the division, and finally just to Robert E. Lee’s army. It had a lot to do with mounting casualties and the use of larger units in the battles. By the end of the war there was only one man left in Company H from Limestone County- he promoted himself to Captain.