mm MiHHiiMarin^.4Kift>ja^^j^«<»^#^rvr»aj0i^jAjfiBKi,6uri» ajntnell Ittiueraitg IGihratg Stliata, Sfem ^atk THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE COLLECTION CIVIL WAR LITERATURE THE GIFT OP JAMES VERNER SCAIFE CLASS OF 1889 1919 Cornell University Library E551.5 1st .M16 olin 3 1924 030 921 864 Pi Cornell University S Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030921864 Edward Yoimg McMomes ™ ^ifi|; \ HISTOKY OF THE First Eegiment Alabama Volunteer Infantry C. S. A. BY EDWARD YOUNG McMORRlES, Ph. D. A Private of the Perote Guards, Co. C, 1861, Co. G., 1862-1865; and an Original Member of both the Company and Regiment. MONTGOMEEY, ALA.: THE BROWN PRINTING CO.. PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1904. LL. de^ A.3M5o5 COPYRIGHT, 1902, COPYRIGHT, 1904, By E. Y. McMORRIES. author's edition. Reprinted from Bulletin No. 2, Department of Archives and History of the State of Alabama. TO THE SOLDIERS, THE SAILORS AND THE WOMEN OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THEIR DESCENDANTS FOREVER, THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED PREFATORY NOTE. The History of the First Regiment, Alabama Volunteer In- fantry, Confederate States Army, contained in this volume, was prepared by the author in response to the request of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, for a series of Narrative Histories or Historical Sketches of Alabama Commands in the War between the States, 1861-1865. This series was early pro- jected as one of the activities of the Department, and every effort has been made to secure the compilation of accurate and authen- tic historical sketches of the several commands — regiments, bat- talions and batteries — which are entitled to representation. In order to stimulate the early completion of the series and to afford a suitable moidel for further work, this sketch is issued in the present form. It presents in a clear and sympathetic way the story of the regiment, its organization, sketches of its offi- cers, its engagements, prison life, and hardships, with numerous incidents of thrilling interest. Prof. E. Y. McMorries, the author, has performed a difficult task with delicacy and an «im- est desire for the truth. It has been to him a labor of love, the entire work being done without compensation. He has a reward, however, in that he will receive the grateful plaudits of all sur- vivors of this gallant command, and of the families of those who have passed away. He has coupled his name with the history of the regiment in an imperishable way as its annalist and histo- rian. Thomas McAdory Owen, Director. Department of Archives and History of the State of Alabama. Montgomery, August 2, 1904. CONTENTS. Title I Dedication 3 Prefatory Note 5 Contents 7 Introduction 9 Chapter I. Itensacola Campaign, 1861 13 Chapter II. Island Number Ten Campaign, and Prison Life, 1862 34 Chapter III. Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-1863 48 Chapter IV. Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns, 1863-1864 71 C hapter V. The Tennessee Campaign, 1864 82 Chapter VI. Campaign in the Carolinas, 1864-1865 93 Chapter VII. Reminiscences and Incidents 95 Chapter VIII. Dead of the First Alabama Regiment at Madison, Wis. ; and Mrs. Alice Whiting Waterman 120 Chapter IX. Official Report of Col. (Surgeon) I. G. W. Steedman; and his Reminiscences of Prison Life 129 Index 137 INTRODUCTION. It is well known that for twenty years I have resisted urgent appeals of surviving comrades to write a history of the First Alabama Regiment. Even now I yield my consent to undertake this sketch only after fully realizing that unless I write it, the regiment will be left without any record, and that it will be bet- ter for the regiment to have a poorly written record than none whatever. I am fully aware of my incompetence to do the sub- ject justice ; and the insistence of Col. I. G. W. Steedman, the distinguished commander of the regiment during the war, and of Thomas M. Owen, the able and active Director of the Depart- ment of Archives and History, are to a large degree responsible for the final appearance of the work. The following personal allusions are, necessary in order to gratify the natural desire of readers to know the opportunities I have had by experience and observation for ascertaining the facts and incidents here recorded. I was an original member of the "Perote Guards," organized at Perote, Bullock (then Pike) county, in 1859, and composed mostly of students of the Perote Institute and of young business men of the town; left Perote with the company Feb. 12, 1861, and the next day was mustered into the service of Alabama at Girard by a Captain Thorn ; was organized with the company into the First Regiment Alabama Volunteers at Barrancas, Fla., about a month later, which regi- ment, by consent of men and officers, was transferred to the Con- federate service about April i, 1861 ; remained with the regiment until its surrender with the Army of Tennessee, April 27, 1865, at Greensboro, N. C. ; participated in every battle and campaign of the regiment except the march from Lovejoy Station, Ga., to Tuscumbia, Ala., in the fall of 1864 ; and shared the fate of the regiment in military prison in 1862 at Camp Butler, near Spring- field, 111. With Vergil, I feel that I can justly say : "Quaeque ipse miserrima vidl Et quorum pars magna ful." 10 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. AUTHORITIES AND SOURCES OE INEORMATION. The principal printed authorities and other sources of infor- mation, for this Sketch are: (i) Accoimts of battles and cam- paigns published during and subsequent to the war by the pres- ent writer in the Southern Advertiser, Troy, Ala., the Herald and Times, Union Springs, Ala., and the Advocate, Greenville, Ala.; (2) Authentic clippings from newspaper and periodical press; (3) Unpublished manuscript notes by the present writer, made contemporary with the occurrences ; (4) Confederate Mili- tary History (1899) in 12 vols., edited by Gen. Clement A. Evans; (5) Southern Historical Society Papers, in several vol- umes; (6) Willis Brewer's Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men (1872) ; and (7) Company K, First Alabama Regiment, or Three Years in the Confederate Service, by Lieut. Daniel P. Smith (1885 ; 12 mo. pp. 146.) In the compilation I have had the use of data and material, printed and reminiscent, collected by Col. Steedman and other surviv- ors of the command. Over all a memory, perhaps unfortunate in never forgetting, has exercised a rigid yet conservative censorship. RECORDS OE THE REGIMENT. After a strenuous effort for several months it has been possi- ble to secure from other than official sources, muster-rolls of only four of the thirteen companies of the regiment, besides that preserved in Smith's History of Company K. The following are the companies whose muster-rolls have recently (1902) been compiled, with the names of the survivors performing this all- important work : Perote Guards, Company G, Private D. S. Bethune, Sergeants Hector McLean, Dan McLean, Thomas B. Miles ; Talladega Rifles, Company D, Lieut. D. Z. Goodlet, and S. R. Wheeler; Tallapoosa Rifles, Company A, Lieuts. John H. Sanford, O. W. Lockett, Sergeant James H. Lowry ; Rough and Ready Pioneers, Company E, Lieut. F. P. Bledsoe. The rolls have been placed with the Alabama Department of Archives and History to supplement the original records on file there. Introduction. 11 SCOPE OF THE WORK. Within the limits of this sketch neither individ'ual records nor company history can have any place except in so far as they may form an essential part of regimental history. The heroic deeds of every member of the regiment would be of inestimable value, if possible to obtain ; but it would require a volume many times greater than this to contain them. Therefore, thie author, from a desire to be just to all, feels it his duty to omit special mention of any. REUNION OE THE REGIMENT IN 1898. Although not strictly pertinent, I deem it proper to present here a brief account of the reunion of the regiment in 1^98. About twenty survivors met with Col. I. G. W. Steedman in the dining hall of the hotel at Shdby Springs, Ala., July 9, 1898, and organized under the title of "First Regiment, Alabama Vol- unteers, C. S. A." Col. I. G. W. Steedman was chosen Presi- dent; E. Y. McMorries, Vice-President; J. M. Thornton, Sec- retary ; and Samuel R. Wheeler, Treasurer. To those who attended, it was truly "a feast of reason and flow of soul," thus to mingle with our immediate comrades of the mighty past, recount the scenes of our sufferings, achieve- ments, and disappointments, and enjoy the presence of our hon- ored and distinguished commander. It was a memorable occas- ion in the history of the regiment. We all marked that in Col. Steedman the asperity of the military man had disappeared, and that, in its stead, a high and noble nature had been mellowed by age into one of decided sociability and strongest sympathy. A comrade remarked: "In the army I always greatly admired Col. Steedman as an ofificer, but now I love him." Those who did not attend this reunion can form no conception of Col. Steed- man's intense fondness for the members of his old regiment. The night we organized he read to us, while tears chased each other rapidly down his cheeks, accounts of our dead buried in the Con- federate cemetery at Madison, Wis., and other Northern prisons. He greatly appreciated the coming of comrades to meet him, and especially of the comrade who had come thirty miles from Tallapoosa county in a wagon with his family. To him he gave an engraved portrait of himself on parting. 12 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. On this occasion the preparation of a history of the regiment was discussed, and the writer was importuned to undertake the task. The assurances of help and assistance then given have done much to nerve him to the task. ENDORSEMENT BY COIv. STEEDMAN; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. After the labor and pains expended in the preparation, it is gratifying to quote the following commendatory words from Col. Steedman : "I have carefully reviewed the manuscript of this historical sketch of the First Regiment ^ilabama Volunteers, C. S. A., as -writ- ten by Prof. E. Y. McMorries, of tlantersville, Ala. The history of the campaigns in which I was personally engaged is correct in the general facts as well as in details. Our survivors and friends owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to Prof. McMorries for thus recording the history of our regiment, nearly forty years after the actual oc- currences. The illustrations, except the photographs accompanying the text, are printed from original drawings in my possession. These drawings were made upon the spot by actual participants. They are not artistic and finished, but are valuable additions to the history 01 this heroic command." After I had completed the sketch, it was printed' in the, Mont- gomery Advertiser, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 23, and 30, 1902. Its prblication called forth several commendatory expressions from many sources. My attention was also directed to some minor errors. For all these expressions I am profoundly grateful. The writer is under lasting obligations to Dr. Thomas M. Owen, for his hi^arty cooperation, for general editorial revision, proof-reading, and the supervision incident to publication; to Prof. Henry S. Halbert for a careful reading of the manuscript, and assistance in proof-reading; and to Col. I. G. W. Steedman of St. Louis, Mo., for numerous letters of sympathy and encour- agement, for the loan of several volumes of Confederate Military History, maps, plans of battle, etc., for furnishing at his own ex- pense all illustrative cuts, for the deep and unremitting interest he has taken in the sketch, and for his invaluable criticisms of the manuscript. E. Y. McMoRRiESj Regimental Historian, Plantersville, Alabama. Co. G, Perete Guards. CHAPTER I. PENSACOLA CAMPAIGN, 1861. THE RBGIMSNT ORGANIZED. This sketch begins with the organization of the First Regi- ment Alabama Volunteers at Barrancas Barracks, near Fort Barrancas, Fla., February, 1861. The companies composing the regiment were : the Eufaula Pioneers, Capt. John Clark; the Eufaula Rifles, Capt. Alpheus Baker; Perote Guards, Capt. George W. Daw- son,; Wilcox True Blues, Capt. I. G. W. Steedtnan; the Alabama Rifles, Talladega, Capt. J. H. Johnson; Clayton Guards, Capt. Jere N. Williams ; Guards of the Sunny South, Capt. Y. D. Conyers; Tallapoosa Rifles, Capt. J. D. Meadows; Rough and Ready Pioneers, Capt. A. H. Owens; Red Eagles, Capt. Ben Lane; Posey. These companies had been previously mustered into the service of Alabama for twelve months, before leaving their State, but a few weeks later were transferred to the Confedier- ate service, becoming the first regiment, not only from Ala- bama, but from any other State of the Confederacy. The following officers were elected : Henry D. Clayton, Col- onel; I. G. W. Steedman, Lieutenant-Colonel; Jere N. Wil- liams, Major. The staff were: S. H. Dent, Adjt. ; Henry R. Shorter, Com- missary; L. F. Johnson, Quartermaster; J. D. Caldwell, Sur- geon; Walter Curry, Assistant Surgeon. Lieut. Ramsey became captain of the Wilcox True Blues, and Lieut. Maybury captain of the Clayton Guards. Braxton Bragg was major-general commanding the troops; Gens. A. H. Gladden and R. H. Anderson commanded their re- spective brigades. 14 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. THE PUNSACOLA CAMPAIGN. The scene of the regiment's service the first year of the war was the vicinity of the! lower portions of Pensacola bay, between the navy yard and the mouth of the bay, about five miles dist- ant. Of the physical features, forts, etc., of the locality, I may speak briefly. Pensacola bay, receiving the waters of the beautiful Escarn- bia river flowing almost due south, is formed by the interposi- tion of Santa Rosa island lying due east and west, and, there- fore, at right angles to the course of the river as it approaches the gulf ; and deflected westward past the city of Pensacola and the navy yard, curves gracefully southward from' this latter point into the gulf between the western extremity of the island and a projecting spur of the main land about thirty-five miles below the mouth of the river. Fort Pickens, by far the most formidable fortification in this vicinity both in structure and armament, stands upon this extremity of the island, and Fort McRee is due west just across the bay about one and one-half miles distant, the two forts forming the outpost defenses of the harbor. On the north side of the harbor or mainland from the navy yard to Fort McRee, are successively Warrenton, Marinie Hos- pital, Barrancas Barracks, Fort Barrancas, Fort Redoubt, Old Light House and New Light House. These points occupy ele- vations from ten to thirty feet above tidie water, Fort Barrancas and Old Light House being the highest, while Forts Pickens and McRee rise from the white sandy beach, down close to the water's edge. Fort Redoubt, designed as a place of retreat and continuedi resistance in case of Fort Barrancas falling into the hands of the enemy, is half a; mile inland, and directly in rear of the latter with which it is cormected by an underground passageway. It was used by the Confederates as an arsenal. Santa Rosa island, a few feet above sea-level, from a quarter to half a mile wide, interspersed with clumps of gall-berry slashes, great banks of white sand and sea-drift, with here and there an old scaly, gnarly sea-coast pine, with not even a fisher- man's hut or other sign of human habitation save the grim, gloomy old castle of Fort Pickens, stretches away to the east many miles beyondi the horizon. .#?■ HENRY D. CLAYTON, First Colonel of the Regiment, and later Major-General, C. S. A. Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 15 Previous to the .airrival of the companies of the regiment, Lieut. A. J. Slemmer, commanding United States forces, had surrendered all the forts and public buildings on the mainland to Alabama and Florida volunteers ; and, with a small squad of regulars, had retired to Fort Pickens. Thus the stars and stripes were flying from the battlements of the latter, while the lone star of State sovereignty, soon to be supplanted by the stars and bars of the Confederate States, floated from all the forts andi public buildings of the former. The personnel of the regiment was remarkable for the youthfulness of its members, and for notable men as privates in its ranks. Of the former, perhaps not more than 25 per cent. had reached their majority, while not 10 per cent, had passed twenty-five. The prevailing ages were from 18 tO' 21 in ranks, with quite a number from 15 to 18. The average age among officers could not have exceeded 30. Ivieut.-Col. Steedman was only 26. Most of these young men were from homes of wealth and culture, of the best Southern families, and, in- flamed with resentment against the North for long-continued aggressions upon the rights of the South, as well as by the recent John Brown raid in Virginia, had quitted these sur- roundings of luxury, and, in many instances, classic halls of learning, and hiadi seized their muskets and gone to battle. Nor less conspicuous and heroic were the conduct and spirit of the "wool hat boys" who, with no property interests involved, equalled the zeal and loyalty of their wealthy comrades in de- votion, courage, sacrifice and duty. Neither space nor ability permit me to pursue further this tempting line of thought. Crown him historian laureate, the genius of whose pen shall adequately portray and reflect to future generations the war spirit of the South in 1861 ! All thinking classes in the South knew that the "irrepressible conflict" had come and must be met. Of notable men as privates in our ranks were Edward C. Bullock, a distinguished barrister; Judge John Cochran, an eminent jurist; and James L. Pugh, who upon the secession of Alabama a few weeks before, had resigned his seat in the Fed- eral house of representatives. These men, in blouse, army sharts, trudging along at drill through the deep sand beneath a burning sun, or' pacing their beats, or pushing a wheelbarrow of sand to construct a battery, were familiar sights to us all 16 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. during our twelve months' service at Barrancas. They were dubbed "high privates." The following year private Bullock raised and led to the front the i8th Alabama regiment, but he shortly after died; private Cochran resumed the practice of law ; private Pugh was elected to the Confederate States Con- gress, where he remained to the end of the war, and since the war he has served three terms in the United States Senate. He now (1904) resides in Washington, D. C. By such illustrious examples as the above, of which no peo- ple ever furnished so many notable instances as the Southern States at the beginning of the war, the position and service of the Confederate soldier in ranks had been emphasized and dignified ; andi this fact may be put down as the most powerful factor in the evolution of that sublime courage and irresistible prowess of the Southern soldier. There was no office-seeking, it being considered as high an honor to be a private as toi be an officer. Men were elected to positions for their fitness to com- mand, and not on account of culture, wealth, or family pres- tige. Of course, men of superior advantages in all these re^ spects were elected toi office, but as a rule each was elected on his own) individual merits. Nothing more plainly exemplifies the big-heartedness of the Southern aristocrat than this eleva- tion of so many of hiis inferiors socially, and his steadfast loy- alty to, and support of these officers from start to finish. Never before was an army organized on such broad basis of liberality, and never was there an army before commanded by such an able corps of officers. Mutual respect and confidence was the natural result. Until about the 1st of April our regiment was quartered at Barrancas Barracks and Fort Barrancas. Many messes had negro cooks, and men hired to do all their laundry and other drudgery. All wore neat clothes, drew as daily rations a pound each of beef and' baker's bread, occasionally supplemented with boxes of provisions from home. Most of the companies of the regiment had been organized several years before the war, and had been under the command of efficient officers and had, therefore, reached Barrancas quite proficient in company drill, but they had no experience in bat- talion drill. Wie now entered the full routine of soldier duty : company drill in the morning, battalion drill in the afternoon, guard and police duty, andi all other duties. Military regula- Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 17 tions began to be enforced and peiialties to be inflicted for vio- lation. A cordon of guards was kept around the encampment and along the beach; no ingress or egress was permitted without a pass; no intoxicants were allowed within the lines. Whether rising or retiring or whatever else, everything must obe;y the taps of the drum. Guards were constantly bringing in one or more prisoners and dumping them in the guard house amid frantic execrations of the prisoner that he had come to war to fight for his rights, that he had) lost all his rights by the tyranny of his officers, and that he wouldn't stand it. Raw troops and their officers both have a hard time until the former learn that a soldier's first and highest duty is to obey orders, and the latter how to command. COL. HENRY D. CLAYTON. Col. Clayton drilled the regiment the first two months, but having been assigned to court-martial duty practically left the drilling of the regiment to Col. Steedman for the rest of the year. Col. Clayton was a fine officer, afterwardls becoming one of the ablest major-g'enerals in the Confederate service. But both by native endowments and education he was a lawyer, politician, and man of letters ; serving many years after the war as a distinguished circuit judge, losing in the Democratic Statia convention the nomination for Governor of Alabama by only ai few votes. He was president of the Alabama State University when he died. In private as well as in public life, he was a man of most exemplary purity of character, and greatly loved by all the people of the State. His son, Henry D. Clayton, Jr., has ably represented (1904) the third congres- sional district of Alabama in Congress, and another son, Bert- ram Clayton, represented!, for several terms, a New York con- gressional district. COL. I. G. W. STEEDMAN. Col. I. G. W. Steedman combined all the inborn elements of a military man with a thorough military education, having graduated fromi the South Carolina Military Academy in 1856. Since it was he who, in 1861, made the First Alabama regiment one of the very best drilled in the Confederate army, thus lay- ing the foundation for its subsequent distinguished career, I 18 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. may be permitted to speak briefly at this point of his family, service, and characteristics. He was born in Lexington dis- trict, S. C, in 1835, where three generations of his family had lived before him. His great-grandfather, John Steedman, from the north of Ireland, settled in Lexington many years be- fore the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, George Steed- man, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, as were also his maternal ancestors. His father, Reuben Steedman, served the last six months of the Civil War in the militia of Soiutlh Caro- lina under the official call for the ailistment of all men under fifty-five years of age. Four other sons of Reuben Steedman be- sides the colonel, were in the Confederate service. Immediately after graduating from the military academy, Col. Steedman began the study of medicine, attending the South Carolina Medical College one term ; then coming to Ala- bama he continued his professional studies under the preceptor- ship of his uncle. Dr. D. J. Fox, in Wilcox county, and finally receiving his diploma from the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana in 1859. He was engaged in the prac- tice of medicine with Dr. Fotx when Alabama seceded. Prompt- ly volunteering, he was mustered into the service of Alabama as captain O'f the Wilcox True Blues in February, 1861, and ordered with his company to Fort Barrancas, near Pensacola, Fla. Within a month the company became Co. A, First Regi- ment Alabama Volunteers ; and, as stated, he was elected lieu- tenant-colonel of the regiment. At the reorganization of the regiment in February, 1862, he was unanimously elected col- onel, and held this rank and position to the close of the war, though during a large portion of the time he was a prisoner-of- war. His first experience undler fire was the bombardment of Fort Pickens, Nov. 22 and 23, 1861. In March, 1862, he was ordered with his regiment to Island No. 10, Mississippi river, and was put in command of the heavy batteries on the east bank of the river. There he exhibited in a high degree all the quali- ties of an able commander, and under most trying and disad- vantageous circumstances until compelled tOi surrender after a siege of four weeks by Federal gunboats and infantry. Suf- fering at the time of the surrender with pneumonia, he was sent as a prisoner first to St. Louis, where he was held six weeks ; thence to Columbus, O., where he was paroled for a month ""^n-cj?-^ ^^Z^- Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 19 within the city limits ; thence to Johnson's Island, where he was detained until exchanged at Vicksburg the following Septem- ber. Rejoining his regiment at the latter place, they were sent a few days later to Port Hudson, La., where he was put in charge of a line of heavy batteries. He was in command of this line on the night of March 14, 1863. During the siege of Port Hudson, which began May 25 following, he was act- ing brigadier-general in command of the left wing of the land defenses, as well as the river defenses ; and it was during this terrible siege of seven weeks that his superb endurance and military genius and courage shone forth with great nesplend- ence. After the surrender of Port Hudson July 8, four days later than that of Vicksburg on July 4, Col. Steedman and the rest of our officers were sent to New Orleans, thence to Governor's Island, N. Y., by sea, and thence to Johnson's Island, where he was held until the spring of 1865. While here he was, at the request of his fellow prisoners, put in charge of the prison Jiospitad, selecting his own assistants, five in number, who were also fellow prisoners. < After being sent east for exchange he sailed from Fort Mc- Henry, Baltimore, for City Point, and on the voyage rendered -valuable service to the sick suffering from smallpox and gan- grene. Before reaching its destination the vessel returned to the military prison at Point Lookout, and Col. Steedman was Jield here until sent to Fort Delaware, where he was paroled at the close of the war. Returning to Alabama he located in Montgomery for the practice of his profession. On Oct. 31, 1865, he was married at St. Louis, Mo., to Dora Harrison, a native of that city, and locating in St. Louis he began the prac- tice of his profession there in 1866. In his profession he was eminently successful, until he retired in 1880. He sitill ( 1904) resides in that city, in excellent health. He has three sons: James Harrison, George Fox, and Edwin H. Steedman, all Uni- versity graduates, and successful manufacturers, being associ- ated with their father. The following were some of the prominent characteristics of Col. Steedman, as he was in 1861-1865, and will be readily Tecognized by every member of the regiment : Five feet eight or nine inches high, weight about one hundred and forty pounds, dark grey eyes, dark brown hair, and heavy goatee and mus- 20 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. tache of same color; perfectly symmetrical; graceful carriage, quick in movement, perception, decision, and expression; a clear, ringing voice ; untiring energy ; a mind ever on the alert but never confused; utterly fearless, but never reckless; de- lighting in the profession of arms ; firm in discipline, but most courteous to and most considerate of the humblest private; never, under any circumstances, exhibiting the least irritation or temper; abstemious; modest; chaste in language, and o£ pure, irreproachable private character; and of a powerful per- sonal magnetism. Never was there an officer whose men would have followed him with more implicit faith and greater enthusi- asm, into any danger he might have proposed to lead them. Nowhere did Col. Steedman have a greater admirer than the big-hearted Gen. Clayton himself. Speaking of Col. Steedman in the Union Springs Herald, September, 1885, Gen. Clayton says : "If Col. Steedman had been in the field instead of being confined to garrison duty during the war, he would have risen to the rank of major-general long before I did." Maj. Williams, being third in command, had no particular opportunity to show his ability as a military man. He was held in the highest esteem by every member of the regiment. Since the close of the war he has represented the third congressional district in the lower house of the Federal congress, and since his retirement from congress has for many years filled the honorable position of chancellor of his district. Under the immediate direction' of Lieut. Joseph Wheeler, of the engineer corps, now the celebrated Gen. Wheeler of two wars, the regiment was soon put to erecting batteries along the hieights west of Fort Barrancas : the Red Eagles for two motar guns in the rear of Fort Barrancas ; the Rough and Ready Pio- neers, for two thirty-two pounders in the depression between Fort Barrancas and the Old Light House ; the Perote Guards, for three ten-inch columbiad's and one eight-inch columbiad at the Old Light House; the Alabama Rifles for two ten-inch mortars between the Perote battery and the New Light House ; the Clayton Guards, for two ten-inch rifle gims at the New Light House. These companies were assisted by daily details from other companies of the regiment, cannon being brought by slow and laborious processes (rolled on skids) from Forts Barrancas and Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 21 McRee. While getting a gun from the latter fort, the regiment heard for the first time of their future friend and inseparable travieling companion, the army louse ; for it was on this occasion that an old regular soldier was stripped, shaved and carried publicly out to the beach, stretched! upon tlile sand and scrubbed to rid him of the loathsome vermin. We would then have re- sented the slightest insinuation that these companions would form an accompaniment of our future wardrobe. This whole line was now astir with busy men. Work, drill, picket duty kept us moving ; and after the cannon were mount- ed in their respective batteries, artillery drill was added. Th§ scarcity of artillerists in the Confederate army at this stage of the war rendered it necessary that volunteers be trained at once for this important branch of the service, and this explains why our regiment came to be both an infantry and heavy artillery regiment. It continued! in this dual service until it left Fort Gaines, Ala., in May, 1864. Early in April the regiment cleared away the scrub bushes and seaweed between Fort Barrancas and Perote battery, and pitched their tents in front of the bay in full view of Fort Pickens, the Eufaula Pioneers remaining to garrison Fort Barrancas. The tents, with arbors of seaweed in front for shade, afforded a delightful retreat from the stale old barracks, but the warm spring brought clouds of mosquitos, and fleas of prodigious size and bloodthirsty intent became as numer- ous as the sands of the seashore. THE SONG OF THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG. The first time I ever heard the song of the Bonnie Blue Flag was undler the following circumstances : Lieut. M. B. Locke of the Perote Guards, later lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, came to me about sundown one evening and asked me to at- tend the theatre with him that night in Warrenton. I gladly accepted the invitation for several reasons. In the first place, it gave me an outing beyond our lines for a few hours. In the second, I was fond of theatres anyway. In the third, I always loved "Mike" and deem his personal friendship one of my most valuable earthly possessions. We went. The large building was densely packed with soldiers, andl a few ladies. I have no recollection of any special points in the play, but at the close 22 F*irst Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. was an incident never during life to be effaced from mernory. A gentleman soloist, and a fine singer he was, advanced to the front of the stage bearing a large, blue, silk flag with a golden star in the center. Slowly unfurling the banner he began the song of the "Bonnie Blue Flag." As he named each State in the order of its secession tlie soldiers from these respective States cheered with the greatest enthusiasm. But as he con- cluded the last stanza, "For the lone star of the Bonnie Blue Flag Has grown to be eleven," he at the same time reversed the banner, displaying on the. opposite side a galaxy of eleven stars, representing the eleven States of our new-bom Confederacy. The sentiment, the oc- casion, the highly dramatic rendition of the whole recitation electrified the great assembly. Every man at once seemed to lose his reasooi. They sprang to their feet, rushed forward' fran- tically waving their caps and wildly gesticulating, some out of joy beating comrades with fists, others embracing and kissing, still others shouting and yelling like mad men. This reign of Bedlam lasted ten minutes. Though forty-two years have elapsed since this incident, the whole scene rises from the dead past as vividly as on the night of its occurrence. the; rbgimbnt paid for first two months' service in specie. In April or May the regiment was paid for its first two months' service in goldl and silver by the State of Alabama, privates receiving each $20 in gold and $2 in silver, and offi- cers in proportion. That night the whole encampment looked like a gambling establishment. This writer did his first gamb- line then and there at "seven up," ten cents a game, and after playing until after midnight came off one dime winner. He is glad to add that this was his last gambling. But expert card players reaped a harvest that night from "suckers." Jack Gib- son next day bad about $200, I believe, and my recollection is that he .carried nearly all this sum through to the close of the war. Though fond of playing cards, Jack was a good fellow and a good soldier. This was the last and only gold and silver paid the regiment for its services during the war, and if any other Southern command was as fortunate even as we in this respect we are not aware of the fact. Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 23 UNIFORMS. On reaching Barrancas no two companies were uniformed alike. As a rule each company had two suits, full dress and fatigue. The formier was made of high grade material, tl.-^.t of the Perote Guards costing $50 a suit. It was full dress style, heav)^ gray cassimere, trimmed with blue, three rows of buttons in front of coat, and red plumes tipped with white. This suit the company bought at its organization, each member paying foT his own uniform. The fatigue suit of the same company pre- sented by the ladies of Perote on our leaving home was of very dark cassimere, heavy weight, trimmed with light gray, single rovvf of buttons and frock skirts. About the first of July we were furnished by the ladies of Alabama with a regimental uniform. This was made of blue jeans, frock skirt reaching down to CMir knees, and with a single row of buttons in front. FLAGS. Each company reached Barrancas with its own company flag, and these were as unlike as the uniforms, but bearing a striking resemblance to the Stars and Stripes of the Union. They generally agreed in one point only, that of having a sin- gle star. Some had been inscribed with mottoes and curious devices, such, for instance, as a rattlesnake in coil ready to strike his victim, with the motto, "Don't tread on me." This great diversity of company flags was especially conspicuous on regimental drill and dress parade. On the adoption of a sov- ereign flag, during summer the ladies of Montgomery sent the regiment a Confederate flag made of bunting, after which the company flags were seldom used. These flags were captured at Island No. 10, April, 1862, and are presumably in possession of Northern States. That of the Perote Guards has been recently located at Madison, Wis., by Hon. Thomas M. Owen, Director of the Department oif Ar- chives and History of Alabama. It will probably be restored to our State when the next legislature of Wisconsin convenes. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE ARMY AT BARRANCAS. Gen. Bragg determined to hold a general review of the army during the month of July, and for this purpose had all under- 24 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. brush removed from a space of half a mile square out in the piney woods about a mile in the rear of the new light house, and out of sight of Fort Pickens. It was a fearfully hot day and not a leaf of the forest stirred from its place. The hot sun burned our feet through our shoes. We stood in this posi- tion about an hour facing the sun with our long blue jeans coats buttoned tightly up to our chins while we enjoyed the luxury (?) of being reviewed by the general and his staff. After the general had passed along our front he took a position at one corner of the square Avhere the army by companies marched past him as he sat on his highly caparisoned war-steed, cap in hand and head bared to the burning sun. This consumed another hour, by which time many of the men were prostrated with heat, and had to fall out of ranks. This was the only gen- eral review we had at Barrancas, and it was enough for us. For several weeks we had been looking forward to this event, anticipating a "big time," but as a pleasure affair the whole per- formance was a stupendbus failure. SICKNESS AT BARRANCAS, FLA., IN 1861. I shall speak briefly first of thei Marine hospital, a distinct image of which as it was in 1861 still hangs in the picture gal- lery of memory, although I was never an inmate; myself. The building was a magnificent structure of brick, three stories high, painted yellow, occupying a terraced elevation half a mile from the beach, enclosed by a heavy brick wall quadrangu- lar in form, with a large iron gate at the center of each side, almost obscured by that prince of all forest trees, the live oak, around whose dark massive trunks and long wandering branches ivy and other vines had woven themselves into a solid coating, until leaping up and over-spreading the tops of trees and hospital they hung in graceful festoons along the walls of the latter. The spacious grounds were carpeted with nature's perennial green, relieved here and there by clusters of brilliant and variagatedl flowers. The grove was enlivened by the cease- less singing of many birds, of which our own Southern mock- ing-bird is king, thus removing this one spot as far away as possible from every other suggestion of war and turmoil and strife. A Confederate soldier, in full uniform and with fixed bayonet, is pacing his beat in front of each gate and also of Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 25 each entrance of the main buildings, while sisters of charity, dressed in black and wearing white sun-bonnets were moving along the wide corridors and verandahs on their missions of mercy, or standing in groups of two or three in earnest consul- tation with the surgeon. If we enter andi go through the apart- ments we shall find them large, well lighted and well ventilated ; the walls, furniture, and beddings scrupulously clean, and the patients receiving such food and attention as their respective conditions demand. During the spring, summer and fall measles, jaundice and malarial and typhoid fevers hadi successively invaded the cajmp of the 1st Alabama regiments; and, despite the rigid enforce- ment of sanitary regulations, the first two became epidemic and the last nearly so. Many believed that too much drilling in the hot sun, while closely laced up from hip to chin in heavy woolen uniforms, was responsible for so much sickness. As many of the regiment had never been accustomed to labor or active exercise of any kind ,this opinion may have been, at least to some extent, well founded. Of course no blame can attach to any officer of the regiment on this accoimt. Raw troops have to be drilled, disciplined! and hardened for service, and officers alone have to do this. Besides, the "hardening pro- cess" at Barrancas doubtless saved many lives to the regiment at Island No. 10, when the exposure and duties were so much greater, and where the new recruits suffered such terrible fatal- ity, while the volunteers of '61 passed through the fiery ordeal of after campaigns with comparatively slight loss. Whatever the cause, the Marine hospital was full of sick from June to October. Every day several were carried down from the hospital to the "dfead house" for interment, or ship- ment home, the latter almost invariably the rule in the South- ern army during 1861. To us, not yet accustomed to the hor-. rors of war, the situation was distressing. Said a nervous com- rade : "A man can die and be buried here with the least cere- mony and conc'em I ever saw." Our regiment lost about forty this year, mostly young men. Many a youth, who only a few months previous, had left a home of tenderness and luxury, and had gone forth at his country's call to drive back the invad- ers of the South, thus early and suddenly found the end of his brief career and earthly ambition. 26 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. I distinctly recall to mind one, a youth of seventeen, of at- tractive personality, of superior intellect, of wealthy and dis- tingushied family, of magnanimous soul and Christian charac- ter, and of high social position, all giving assurance of a most honorable and useful life — thus untimely cut down. From the first oi the son's illness the anxious father ( for his mother had died several years before) was at the bedside of his son who was slowly dying of typhoid fever. Though the hospital service was excellent, and thie father provided for his son every comfort and delicacy that heart could wish, two com- pany comrades, by permission, spent the long, lonesome, sad hours of night in affectionate ministration to their loved friend. Towards the last of his illness, the patient's mind began to wander. In dreams and during periods of aberration he was conversing with comrades in camp, or in a gay party of friends at home, or wearied of a long march, or engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy. After a protracted struggle, the end came peacefully ; the spirit of a noble youthi, with all its future hopes and promises, had departed; only dust remained; but the natural color of the face returned; a gentle smile, so char- acteristic in health and now so heaven-like, again lit up the wasted cheek. A fond. Christian father, overwhelmed with grief, bore him away from sorrowing comrades to still more anguished hearts of relatives and friends at home, where he was laid to rest, highly honioredl and sincerely lamented, by a whole community; and where a marble monument marks the place of his earthly remains. This youth was Langdon h- Rumph of the Perote Guards; the father. Dr. James D. Rumph. These were our first experiences in the horrors of war. Our sensibilities were yet tender, and the death of a comrade, a sad bereavement then, for we had not yet become accustomed to suffering and death by long-continued conflict and carnage. You who read this, read of the death of a soldier in time of war under most favorable conditions and circtmistances possible. Later, we shall attempt to portray the death of a Confederate soldier on the field of battle. Unnumbered thousands of Southern soldiers as noble and promising as comrade Rumph met death, and met it like men, far away from home and loved ones ; sometimes from sickness or wounds in over-crowded hospitals, where there were neither Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 27 nurses, food, comfort nor medical attention! ; sometimes in an instant on the field of battle; sometimes in prison hospitals among our enemies, where it was a matter of total indifference whether they lived or died, though with some preference for the latter ; and, after death, were dumped into a hole in the ground with as little concern as a dead horse. But on this score we must not judige our enemy harshly. We Confederates shed no tears around the graves of dead Yankees. This is war. Confederate troops had been constantly arriving at Barran- cas until by the 1st of June we had eight or ten thousand. Fed- erals had also been busy recruiting. Col. Brown with re- enforcements had superseded Lieut. Slemmer in command of Fort Pickens ; Billy Wilson's regiment of New York Zouaves had gone into tents half a mile above Fort Pickens on the island; batteries in front of us were being constructed. Still, a fellow feeling apparently prevailed between friend and foe as each, under the guns of the other, were allowed to bask in the morning and evening breeze without molestation. Even as late as April the Federal gunboat, Wyandotte, was permitted to land at the navy yard and take aboard supplies. The Yankees first broke the peace. Selecting a dark night, they captured and burned our little patrol boat, the Judith, lying out in the harbor. Not content, they shortly afterwards surprised the guard at the navy yard, burned the dry dock, spiked the guns of our battery manned by old ex-Federal regulars, and made good their escape. There was suspicion of treason. This ugly behavior called for correction. Accordingly, Gen. Bragg fitted out a detachment of about fifteen hundred men made up by details from the various, regiments, put Gen. Anderson and Col. Chalmers in command, and left the rest to' them. The Talladega Rifles and Wilcox True Blues represented the First Alabama. Marching to Pensacola, the expedition embarked on the steamer Times and on barges about dark on the evening of October 7, 1861, steamed west near the coast of Santa Rosa island and landed the troops on the north side of the island about 2 a. m. on the morning of the 8th. The objective point was Billy Wilson's Zouaves camp, about five miles above which the troops were landed. The plan was to advance stealthily down the island, capture the pickets and surprise the camp. This was successfully done, and the Confederates were open- ing by platoons upon the camp before the Zouaves were aware 28 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. of their presence. This was about 4 a. m. The rebel yell was raised which was instantly responded to by the Confederates from the navy yard to Fort McRee, who, with eager expect- ancy, had remained awake all night to witness the battle. There was the wildest consternation among the Yankees. Many of the enemy were killed and wounded, a few were captured, more escaped through the darkness of the night. The sound of a horse's hoofs running at full speed down the plank road to Fort Pickens was distinctly heard at our battery. Torches were applied to the tents and arbors of seaweed, to the com- missary and other buildings near the camp. This so lighted up the island that we could plainly see the movements of our iroops from the mainland. The Yankees were gone. Da} light soon came and at the same time there advanced from the rear portals of Fort Pickens a long column of Federals. Our men, exhausted by the laborious march down the island through deep sand and dense thickets, and over rugged surface, slowly be- gan to retreat to the steamer Times and barges. The enemy followed, and our men were several times compelled to halt, form line and push back their assailants. At this juncture Gen. Bragg sent over the steamer Ewing with reinforcements, who took the place of our tired soldiers and drove the enemy down the island in confusion. The troops then re-embarked and landed at Pensacola. In the afternoon Gen. Bragg, under flag of truce, brought away bis killed and wounded from the island, the total loss being about thirty. Among the former were Capt. Bradford of a Florida regiment, and Lieut. Nelms of a Georgia regiment. Out of honor to these officers, by order of Gen. Bragg, the steamer Times was thenceforth called the Bradford, and the Ewing, the Nelms. Owing to this unpleasantness the regiment had to move its camp about half a mile in rear and out of sight of the enemy. We then began the erection of wooden barracks for winter quarters along the depression in the immediate rear of the Pe- rote battery. BOMBARDMENT OF PORT PICKBNS. On the morning of November 22, 1 861, as the Bradford was steaming down to the navy yard' from Pensacola, Fort Pickens opened fire upon it. This was the signal for a general attack Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 29 on our lines, and in a few minutes cannon were darting flame and iron from every porthole of Fort Pickens and from every battery along the island. The former had more guns than all the Confederate forts and batteries combined, but it had to di- vide its attack along a range otf four miles, while it received the concentrated fire of all the Confederates. Fort McReie was the weakest of all our defenses, aridl yet the most exposed both to the fleet and Fort Pickens. Its gallant commander, Villipi- gue, with Ms Georgia battalion had strengthened it somewhat with sand bags. For this reason Fort McRee had, from the outset, been the object of deepest concern and anxiety ; but our apprehensions were greatly intensified when two of the enemy's largest men-of-war were moved up a channel even the existence of which had. hitherto been unknown to us, cast anchor in the rear of the right wing oif thie fort on which side the garrison had neither strengthened the walls against attack, nor mounted guns for defense ; and from this new position about a mile nearer Fort McRee then the other Federal vessels, opened a terrific fire upon this helpless part of the fort. At the same time the rest of the squadron, now about two miles off, made a vigorous attack on the right front of McRee. The situation was alarm- ing. Fleet and fort were soon enveloped with the smoke of their own guns and that of exploding shells, except as an oc- casional breeze afforded a temporary glimpse. On one occas- ion simultaneous volleys raked the outer walls and parapets of the fort, wrapped it with flames of bursting shells, sent huge timbers and massive pieces of concrete flying through the air, swept away the flagstaff and demolished a section of wall on the right. As dimly seen from our position the whole structure seemed to bulge and sink to the earth in one general conflagra- tion and gigantic heap of ruins. There was a momentary sus- pense of firing along the Confederate lines, as men stood in breathless excitement and gazed with the eagerness of despair at what appeared the final doom of the fort. "McRee is gone up," murmured some. Nobody denied or doubted it. A mo- ment later a friendly breeze partially lifting the smoke, re- vealed only a part demolished, the rest standing firm. This gave some relief, but a moment later it was noticed that the flag had disappeared. "The fort has surrendered," they now said. But these words were hardly spoken when the large gar- rison banner with broken staff and torn with shot was seen 30 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. slowly ascending the wall. Then a mighty shout of Confeder- ates, heard abo^e the din of artillery and sounding like the distant murmur of many waters, rang along the bending shore from Fort McRee to the navy yard. While such was the struggle between the fleet and Fort Mc- Ree, a conflict of far greater proportion was on between Fort Pickens and Barrancas with its chain of batteries, all manned by the First Alabama regiment. Ten times more lead and iron were hurled against our positions than against Fort McRee, but shot and) shell made little impression on our batteries of sand bags ; and Fort Barrancas, sunk in a great sand hill with very little brick wall above the surface, was almost as invul- nerable. The artillery on both sides aggregated about 300 pieces, varying in calibre from 32 to 128 pounders; and as each was fired every few minutes, the deafening roar was beyond de- scription — beyond even conception save to those engaged. Every vvindow light in Warrenton was shivered to atoms by the first few volleys, while those in Pensacola, eight miles dis- tant, were badly shaken up and many broken. In some in- stances blood poured from the noses of men working the guns, while the thunder of the conflict was afterwards declared to have been heard at Greenville, Camden, Montgomery, Hayne- ville. Union Springs, and Troy, distances ranging from one hundred to one hundred and twaity-five miles from the scene of action. No damage was done Barrancas or any of its batteries, but we inflicted material damage to Fort Pickens. The battle continued all dkiy with unabated energy. About dark the firing ceased, except Capt. Posey's mortar battery that kept up a duel all night with a Yankee mortar battery, furnish- ing quite a spectacular entertainment to the two armies. Fort McRee had learned some things by the day's experience ; and under cover of darkness, and, assisted by heavy details,' her men built a battery of three guns half a mile down the shore, between the fort and the two men-of-war. Worn out by the day's hard work, we ate a cold lunch and retiredl to the rough planks of our "old cabin home" for need- ed rest. But a seaward breeze setting up, whistled about the roofs and around the corners of our cottages in such exact imi- tation of a coming hostile shell, to which our ears had all day been accustomed that we were frequently startled from our Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 31 dreams,, and sprang from our bunks. Many a hearty laugh was indulged in during the night on this score. Rather an "airy" sort of battle was this, but later in the night we got up another sort ,almost as airy but on a much grander scale. About up. m. our pickets began discharging their guns along the beach. At first the shots were scattering, but rapidly increased until it seemed like the whiole picket force was hotly engaged', while in camp the "long roll" was beating to arms, and officers shout- ing to their men to "fall in," as if the whole Yankee army was landing about two hundred yards in our front. Men ran hither- thither in hurly-burley style, sometimes knocking each other down in their blind and mad rush for clothing, guns and equip- ment. As soon as formed, the companies were "double-quick- ed" to their respective batteries. On reaching his battery, a certain captain of the regiment made a speech that night to his company that was repeated many a time afterward around the camp-fires of the regiment. As he drew up his company in line, he thus harangued! the men at the top of his voice, and in aj high key: "Stand firm, men! Stand firm! Think of your homes and firesides ! You have done well today, and we expect you to do well tonight." It was, of course, a. false alarm, a very common occurrence in any army in time oi war, and after an hour's detention, we were dismissed to our quarters. I will state, however, for the benefit of the uninitiated, that these night alarms, far in the dead hour of night, are more trying to the nerves than a real battle in daytime. At dawn next morning, November 23, Fort McRee's men early began the day's battle by a vigorous attack on the two warships. After a hot contest for an hour, the latter retired out of range, taking their position along with the rest of the fleet, where they could do the fort less damage. By 8 o'clock the bombardment was again in full blast, every gun on both sides being brought into action. The Yankees, however, had a better range of our positions, and landed their shot and shell with greater precision. Frequently several shells would explode almost simultaneously in or above a single bat- tery, and the men would take refuge in their "rat-holes" for protection. But these "rat holes," covered with coarse, loose sand to a depth of about four feet, were places oi fanciedi, rather than real security. They offered good protection against small fragments of shells, but we are confident that a shell from a mortar would have penetrated without any difficulty. 32 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. The second day's battle was essentially a repetition of the first, with no abatement of spirit on either side. The firing ceased at dark, excetpt that Capt. Posey again kept up his mortar battery duel all night. The enemy did not resume the attack next mofning, and thus ended! the great bombardment — the greatest, perhaps, during the Civil War, when both num- ber and calibre of guns are taken into account. By order of Gen. Bragg, the words "November 22 and 23, 1861," were inscribed on the banner of the ist Alabama regiment. On January i, 1862, Gen. Bragg had occasion to be absent, leaving Gen. Anderson in command. The latter opened up a fight which lasted all day. Rumor had it that Gen. Bragg was much displeased at this attack. All the Confederate forts and batteries were manned by the First Alabama, except Fort Mc- Ree and a battery at the navy yard. REGIMENT REORGANIZED. The period of our enlistment (twelve months) was now drawing to a close, and the question of reorganization was a lively theme with the regiment. When we volunteered, we thought we could whip the Yankees in three months. It was now evident that we were entering upon a long and bloody conflict. Accordingly, the Confederacy was enlisting soldiers only for three years, or the war. But as the First had already served one year. Gen. Bragg thought it just that we be received for two years, and we were mustered in for that period — ^the only regiment perhaps in the Confederate service so enlisted. Three companies — the Eufaula Pioneers, Eufaula Rifles, and Red Eagles — declined to reorganize, and their places were taken by Capt. Pruitt's company from Barbour county; Capt. Knowles's company from Macon county; and Capt. John F. Whitfield's company from Autauga and Montgomery counties. Of the seven companies reorganized, about half of the men and officers re-enlisted, the rest being discharged and enlisting in other commands. Upon reorganization, I. G. W. Steedman was unanimously elected! Colonel; S. L. Knox, Major; S. D. Steedman was ap- pointed Adjutant ; Dr. J. C. Hamilton, Surgeon ; Dr. Madding, Assistant Surgeon; D. Carmichael, Quartermaster; Capt. B. Sullens, Commissary. The companies were commanded respect- Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 33 ively by J. D. Meadows, Capt. Co. A (Tallapoosa Rifles) ; D. W. Ramsey, Capt. Co. B (Wilcox True Blues) ; J. T. Stubbs, Capt. Co. C (Guards of the Sunny South) ; R. H. Isbell, Capt. Co. D (Talladega Rifles) ; JohnH. Wood, Capt. Co. E (Rough and Ready Pioneers) ; Richard Williams, Capt. Co. F (Clay- ton Guards); M. B. Locke', Capt. Co. G (Perote Guards; Knowles, Capt. Co. H ; W. H. Pruitt, Capt. Co. I ; John F. Whitfield, Capt. Co. K (John Gill Shorter, Artillery) . No election was held for lieutenant-colonel, because, as yet, regi- mental sentiment had not united on any single indSvidual for the position; and, besides, as the regiment was soon to be largely recruited, it seemed just that the recruits should have a voice in the selection of at least one field officer. At Island No. 10, owing to so much sickness and other causes the elec- tion was not considered, and accordingly an election for lieutenant-colonel was not held until we reached Port Hudson in October, 1862. We received our furloughs for thirty days, January 17, 1862, and left on the first train for our respective homes, where we were welcomed, banqueted and lionized by all, but especially by sweethearts, as conquering heroes. Social entertainments were given almost every night at which "soft eyes looked love to eyes that spake again." Very few then could lay claim to having seen twelve months' service, and to having participated in three battles. Besides, the hot sun at Barrancas had so tanned our skins that we in no wise resembled the tender-faced boys of twelve months before, but had become veterans in ap- pearance. The war spirit was at red heat, and the military was everywhere conspicuous throughout the State. At the expira- tion of our furloughs we left our respective communities amid impassioned speeches and pathletic scenes of separation from loved ones. When the companies reached Barrancas late in February the regiment had over one thousand men on its rolls, nearly two- thirds of whom knew nothing of arms or service. Many of the boys, who were in school or college when they enlisted a year previous, had carried back with themi school books in Latin, Greek, mathematics, and othler branches, under the delusion that we would be at Barrancas to the end of the war; and, as we had several scholarly teachers in the regiment, we expected to fight Yankees and pursue our studies at the same time. 3 CHAPTER II. ISLAND NUMBER TEN CAMPAIGN, AND PRISON LIFE, 1862. ISLAND NO. 10 CAMPAIGN. Within a few days wie were put to dismounting the big guns in our batteries. We knew this portended early evacuation of Barrancas. The work was carried on at night through blind- ing clouds of dust that filled our eyes and throats, and which caused an epidemic of bad colds. Doubtless, this condition of our men was, in a large degree, responsible for so much fatal sickness in our regiment a week or two later at Island No. 10. On the morning of March 5, 1862, our regiment, having more the appearance of a brigade than regiment, led by our own Steedman, and headed by a brass band, marched from Barrancas to Pensacola. It was an ideal spring morning, and the live oak groves and wild flowers ailong the way were in full bloom and resonant with the melodies of singing birds. All trunks, books, and heavy clothing had been shipped home. We were under marching orders for Island No. 10, a military post in the Mississippi river commanded by Brigadier-General J. P. Mc- Cown. The next morning we boarded flat cars at Pensacola depot. A cold raiin was falling that beat upon us until we reached Tensas landing. From Tensas we went by steamer to Mobile; thence in two sections and in passenger coaches by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to Corinth, Miss. ; thence by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad to Memphis, Tenn., which' we reached early on March 12, 1862. We wiere at once transferred to a steamer and started to Island No. 10. The boat was a leaky old transport, unfit for service, and of insufficient capacity to carry our regiment comfortably, compelling us to leave tents and heavy baggage behind. We were packed almost to suffo- cation on both decks. Thie river was at its highest flood, and Island No. Ten Campaign, and! Prison Life, 1862. 35 down its maddened and foaming billows uprooted trees and debris were being driven with resistless fury. We faced all day a cold north wind, and when night came the men spread down their blankets, covering every inch of available space, each trying to get as near the smokestack as possible. Learning during the day that the Federals had captured New Madrid!, Mo., about twelve miles below Island No. 10, we landed about dark at Tiptonville, and at once marched to the former point, about six miles distant. We were halted for the night in an old cornfield, where, wrapped in blankets and stretched on the ground, we were soon asleep. An hour later we were aroused from this blissful state by a doiwnpour of rain that lasted until daylight. Our tents did not reach us until a week later, during which time we suffered much from cold and rain. Island No. 10 contained at this time about forty acres, was situated in the Mississippi river near the cornier of Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. Its surface was about ten feet above the river at this stage. The eastern bank of the river for a mile or more was about twenty feet above the river level. Half a mile above the island the river, flowing south, abruptly turns northward to Newl Madrid, thence southeast to Tiptonville, a distance of 35 miles, thus forming a great peninsula, across whose neck from Tiptonville to Island No. 10 is only six miles. Nearly a mile above the island, where the river turns northwest, the east bank sinks to the general level of the valley ; and there the river, overleaping its banks in a sheet of water half a mile wide and from two to five feet deep, flows southeast to Reel Foot lake, eight miles distant, encircling at this time Tiptonville, our fortifications and army in a great island. On the river's bank in the upper edge of this sheet of wa.ter, and facing directly up the river, was Rucker's battery of six guns forming our outpost defence. It was a miserable affair, knee deep in water, and its weak parapets affording little protection to men, guns, or ammunition. The ordnance and details could reach it only at night andl in small boats; sometimes up the channel of the river, sometimes across the sheet of water through the swamp. Naturally, it was the main point of attack. Besides Rucker's, there were six batteries on the east bank of the river, each mounting from two to four guns varying in cal- ibre from 32 to 64-pounders; and on the island proper there were two batteries of four guns each, and an old barge anchored 36 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. in front of the island and having a battery of four guns. There were also quite a number of unmounted cannon. Our regi- ment, without sleep the previous night, mounted two guns on the 14th of March. The next day the enemy's fleet of mortar boats and iron-clad gunboats arrived and at once attacked us, concentrating their fire on Rucker. All the batteries replied with vigor, and occa- sionally with effect. The cannonading was heavy and lasted until night with only slight damage to Rucker's battery. Early on the morning of March 16, three of the enemy's strongest gunboats lashed together, advanced within close range and opened a vigorous fire upon Ruckeir's battery, and also upon our position below. They were now within fair range of all our batteries and every gun was brought into action. All day cannon thundered from the gunboats, the east bank, and the island. At Rucker's, one man was killed and several wounded by a shell. Beyond this there was no material damage to either side. This closed! the biggest fight at Island No. 10, the fleet after this keeping well out of our reach. Major H. S. Foote, son of Mississippi's distinguished congressman, aid-de-