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6th Alabama
Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| SIXTH ALABAMA— (Infantry). The Sixth Infantry organized at
Montgomery, May 6, 1861, with twelve companies, and about 1400 men. It was first ordered
to Corinth, and from there went to Virginia. Reaching Manassas Junction, it was brigaded
under Gen. Ewell. It was on the field, but not actively engaged in the first Manassas, and
passed the fall and winter in that vicinity. General Rodes succeeded Ewell in command of
the brigade. In the spring it moved to Yorktown with the army, and there re-organized, and
re-enlisted for the war. It was on the field at Williamsburg, but not under fire. At Seven
Pines the regiment took a prominent part, suffering terribly, losing 102 killed, and 282
wounded out of about 650 engaged ; while the brigade lost 1296 out of about 2500. Its
mutilated columns again took a conspicuous part at Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, and
Malvern Hill, and suffered very severely. It was in the advance in the movement across the
Potomac, and lost slightly at Boonsboro ; but at Sharpsburg was severely cut up, the loss
being 52 killed and 104 wounded. The regiment was present, but did not take part at
Fredericksburg. With its brigade-companions — the Third, Fifth, Twelfth, and Twenty-
sixth — Col. O'Neal commanding them, the regiment was in the victorious wave of
battle at Chancellorsville, and again its ranks were thinned by its losses. It shared the
perils of the Pennsylvania campaign, when Gen. Battle led the brigade, and in the fierce
shock on the rocky slopes of Gettysburg it suffered frightfully. Having wintered near
Orange Courthouse, the regiment was at the Wilderness, where it lost considerably ; and
was badly mutilated at Spottsylvania. It took part in the Valley campaign of Gen. Early,
and suffered severely at Winchester ; and lost a number captured at Cedar Creek. Moving
back to Petersburg, it was placed in Fort Mahone, and was almost continuously under fire
till it colors were folded at Appomatox ; its number present being about 80 men under
Lieut. Col. Culver. Of 2109 names on its rolls, nearly 400 perished in battle, 243 died of
disease in the service, and 675 were discharged or transferred. FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonels. — John J. Seibels of Montgomery ; till re-organized. John B. Gordon of
Jackson ; wounded at Sharpsburg ; promoted. James N. Lightfoot of Henry ; wounded at
Chancellorsville and Spottsylvania. Lieutenant Colonels.— Benjamin H. Baker of
Russell; resigned. John B. Gordon; promoted. James J. Willingham of Lowndes ; killed at
Seven Pines. James N. Lightfoot ; wounded at Sharpsburg ; promoted. A. M. Gordon of
Jackson; killed at Chancellorsville. George W. Hooper of Russell ; disabled by accident ;
retired. Isaac F. Culver of Henry ; wounded at Winchester. Majors. — John B. Gordon ;
promoted. S. Perry NeSmith of Lowndes ; killed at Seven Pines. A. M. Gordon ; promoted.
George W. Hooper ; promoted. Isaac P. Culver ; wounded at Sharpsburg ; promoted.
Adjutants. — George Goldthwaite jr. of Montgomery ; resigned. ... Pace of Georgia ;
transferred. John Whit Thomas of Henry ; killed at Spottsylvania. Edgar Watson of
Montgomery ; killed at Farmville.
CAPTAINS, AND COUNTIES FROM WHICH COMPANIES CAME. Henry. — Alexander C. Gordon ;
resigned. James N. Lightfoot ; promoted. Isaac F. Culver ; wounded at Boonsboro ;
promoted. Thomas Lightfoot, killed at Winchester. Lowndes. — James J. Willingham ;
elected lieutenant colonel. M. L. Bowie ; wounded at Sharpsburg and Spottsylvania ;
retired. Montgomery. — Gabriel DuVal ; resigned. M. L. Kirkpatrick ; till
re-organized. Mathew Fox ; killed at Seven Pines. John W. Burton ; wounded and captured at
Gettysburg. Lieut. Wat. Waller commanded. Macon. — John M. Kennedy; till
re-organization. W. D. Rowe ; wounded at Winchester. Russell. — James F. Waddell ;
till re-organization. Augustus S. Floumoy ; killed at Seven Pines. B. M. Greene ; wounded
at Wilderness and Winchester. Montgomery. — S. G Hardaway ; till re-organization.
John B. McCarthy ; killed at Seven Pines. John Lawler ; resigned. Wilcox. — George
Lynch ; till re-organization. Julius A. Kimbrough ; wounded at Gettysburg. Autauga. —
Thomas A. Davis; appointed surgeon. Wm. F. Davis ; resigned. Green H. Thompson. Jackson.
— Wm. T. Gunter ; till re-organized. W. C. Hunt ; wounded at Seven Pines and
Gettysburg ; killed at Cedar Creek. Jackson. — Wm. L. Gordon; till re-organization.
A- M. Gordon ; wounded at Seven Pines ; promoted. Henry. — T. T. Smith ; resigned.
Thomas Bell ; killed at Seven Pines. _ Russell. — Walter H. Weems ; till
re-organized. George W. Hooper ; promoted. N. S. Black. |
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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