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5th Alabama
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| FIFTH ALABAMA— (Infantry). The Fifth Infantry was organized at
Montgomery, May 5, 1861, and at once moved to Pensacola. A few days after, it proceeded to
Virginia, and took post near Manassas Junction in the brigade of Gen. Ewell. It was in the
skirmish at Farr's X Roads, and was on the field but not engaged at the first Manassas. It
remained in the vicinity of Manassas during the fall and winter, and Gen. Rodes became the
brigade commander in October — the Sixth and Twelfth Alabama, and Twelfth
Mississippi, being the other regiments of the brigade. Moving with the army to Yorktown in
March 1862, it there re-enlisted and re-organized. It was under fire at Yorktown, and was
on the field at Williamsburg. At Seven Pines the regiment received its baptism of blood,
losing 27 killed and 128 wounded. The regiment was hotly engaged at Cold Harbor and
Malvern Hill, losing 15 killed and 58 wounded. It was not at the second Manassas battle,
but moved into Maryland, and shared in the stubborn conflicts at Boonsboro and Sharpsburg,
losing 11 killed and 39 wounded out of the remnant present for duty. It was in line of
battle on the crest, and saw Burnside's bloody repulse at Fredericksburg ; and at
Chancellorsville it was in the invincible line under Rodes that swept everything before it
; reaping its brightest renown, and losing heavily. It moved into Maryland and
Pennsylvania on the Gettysburg campaign, and its loss was very severe in that battle.
Having wintered at Orange C.H., the Fifth, now reduced to a mere skeleton, participated in
the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, without severe loss. It took part in the
subsequent operations as the lines began to be drawn around Petersburg, losing slightly at
the second Cold Harbor. It went with Early into the Valley and across the Potomac, taking
part in numerous engagements with the foe, and losing severely at Winchester. It soon
after took its place in the memorable trenches of Petersburg, and wintered there. Only 25
or 30 men were around its colors when they were surrendered at Appomattox, under Capt.
Riley. Of 1719 names on its rolls, nearly 300 perished in battle, 240 others died in the
service, and 507 were discharged or transferred. FIELD AND STAFF. Colonels. —
Robert E. Eodes of Tuskaloosa ; promoted. Allen O. Jones of Greene ; till reorganized.
Christopher C. Pegues of Dallas ; killed at first Cold Harbor. Josephus Hall of Clarke ;
wounded at Spottsylvania ; resigned. Edwin LaFayette Hobson of Greene. Lieutenant
Colonels. — Allen C. Jones ; promoted. John T. Morgan of Dallas ; resigned. Josephus
Hall ; promoted. Edwin L. Hobson ; promoted. Eugene Blackford of Barbour. Majors. —
John T. Morgan ; promoted. H. A. Whiting of Tuskaloosa ; transferred to Gen. Rodes' staff.
E. L. Hobson ; promoted. Eugene Blackford ; promoted. Adjutants. — H. A. Whiting ;
promoted. Robert I. Smith of Mobile ; till re-organized. Charles J. Pegues of Dallas.
CAPTAINS, AND COUNTIES FROM WHICH THE COMPANIES CAME. Tuskaloosa. — Wm. H. Fowler.
(Company transferred to artillery at the close of the first year's service). Greene.
— E. L. Hobson ; promoted. J. W. Williams ; captured at Boonsboro. Pickens. —
Syd. H. Ferguson ; till re-organization. T. C. Belsher; wounded. Sumter. — John H.
Dent ; till re-organized. N. E. E. Ferguson ; killed at Wilderness. James H. Holmes.
Sumter. — Rob't P. Blount ; resigned. Jas.V. Tutt ; wounded at Seven Pines. George
Reed ; killed near Winchester. Dallas. — C. C. Pegues ; promoted. E. B. Moseley.
Clarke. — Josephus Hall ; promoted. S. M. Woodward. Monroe. — Giles Goode ; died
in the service. T. J. Riley. Talladega.— Charles M. Shelley; resigned. William T.
Renfro ; killed at Chancellorsville. N. S. McAfee. Barbour. — Eugene Blackford ;
promoted. L. S. Chitwood. Lowndes (1862).— D. W. Johnson; killed at Cold Harbor.
Thomas S. Herbert ; resigned. John M. Gilchrist ; killed at second Cold Harbor. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Record
and Public Men. From 1540 to 1872." by W. Brewer, 1872
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