History of the 13th Alabama Infantry, CSA, Elmore, Montgomery, Randolph, Talladega, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/civilwar/al13thinf.txt ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ This file is copyrighted and contributed by: Deborah Gabriel ==================================================================== July 2001 Military Records, Civil War, Capsule History of the Thirteenth Alabama Infantry, C.S.A. Companies E and I were from Randolph Co., AL. History of the 13th Alabama Infantry, C.S.A. Capsule History compiled by John F. Walter of the Institute for Civil War Research, Aug 1984 and revised May 1996. Submitted by Deborah Gabriel on July 1, 2001 with permission from John F. Walter: Thank you very much for requesting permission. I know of others who have not bothered and it is refreshing to receive this type of request. Yes, you certainly do have my permission for this use. John F Walter Institute for Civil War Research Email dated July 1,2001 Items with brackets () were added by Deborah Gabriel, Thirteenth Alabama Infantry The Thirteenth Alabama Infantry was organized at Montgomery, Alabama during July, 1861. It was mustered into Confederate service there in mid-July. More detailed information has been found on seven of the regiment's companies. This material is shown below. "C" men from Talladega County, AL "D" men from Montgomery County; also contained a small number of men from DeKalb County, Georgia "E" nicknamed the Randolph Rangers; men from Randolph County, AL "F" men from Elmore County, AL "G" nicknamed the Yancey Guards "I" nicknamed the Roanoke Mitchell Invincibles; men from Randolph Co., AL "K" nicknamed the Tom Watts Rebels' men from Montgomery County, AL ("A" Camden Rifles) ("B" Southern Stars) ("H" Coosa Mountaineers) Like almost all Civil War units the Thirteenth Alabama Infantry was often known by an alternate designation derived from the name of its commanding officer. Names of this type used by or for the regiment are shown below. James Aiken's Infantry Birkett D. Fry's Infantry John T. Smith's Infantry Julian C.B. Mitchell's Infantry Samuel B. Marks' Infantry William H. Betts Infantry Reginald H. Dawson's Infantry John D. Clarke's Infantry Richard M. Cook's Infantry Birkett Davenport Fry was a veteran of the Mexican War and had been one of Walker's Filibusters in Nicaragua in 1858-1859. Upon organization of the Thirteenth Alabama Infantry, Fry was elected its Colonel. He led his regiment with distinction and was captured at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. A special exchange returned him to duty in Virginia in early June 1864. He had, in the meantime, been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General to date from May 24, 1864. In the closing days of the war Fry commanded a district in South Carolina. On July 22, 1861 the unit was ordered to report for duty at Richmond, Virgina. From there it was moved to Yorktown and assigned to the Army of the Peninsula. It also served in the Department of the Peninsula. This command was subsequently absorbed by the Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment served in that Army for the duration of its career. Listed below are the specific higher command assignments of the regiment. Oct. 3, 1861 Fifth Brigade, Army of the Peninsula Jan 31, 1862 Attached, First Division, Department of the Peninsula April 30, 1862 Rains' Brigade, Rains' Division, Left of Position, Army of Northern Virginia. May 21, 1862 Rains' Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of Northern Virginia July 23, 1862 Second Brigade, D.H. Hill's Division, Longstreet's Command, Army of Northern Virginia Sept. 20, 1862 Colquitt's Brigade, Hill's Division, Jackson's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia Dec. 10, 1862 Third Brigade, D.H. Hill's Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. May 1, 1863 Archer's (Fifth Brigade), Hill's Division, Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia July 1, 1863 Third Brigade, Heth's Division, Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia (The Thirteenth Alabama was part of the brigade marching toward Gettysburg at dawn on July 1st 1863 when fired upon by Union soldiers. This was the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg and the fighting on McPherson's Ridge & Farm). Aug. 31, 1863 Archer's Brigade, Heth's Division, Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia Jan. 31, 1865 Sander's Brigade, Mahone's Division, Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia Feb. 28, 1865 Forney's Brigade, Mahone's Division, Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The Thirteenth Alabama Infantry participated in a number of various type engagements during its career. These are identified below. Siege, Yorktown, VA April 5-May 4, 1862 Evacuation, Yorktown, VA May 4, 1862 Battle, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, VA May 31-June 1, 1862 Seven Days Battles, VA June 25-July 1, 1862 Battle, Mechanicsville, Beaver Dam Creek, Ellison's Mills, VA June 26, 1862 Battle, Gaines Mill, Cold Harbor, Chickahominy, VA June 27, 1862 Battle, Glendale, Nelson's Farm, Frazier's Farm, Charles City Cross Roads, New Market Cross Roads and Willis Church, VA June 30, 1862 Battle, Malvern Hill, Crew's Farm, Poindexter's Farm, VA July 1, 1862 Maryland Campaign Sept. 6-22, 1862 Battle, South Mountain, MD Sept. 14, 1862 Battle, Antietam, Sharpsburg, MD Sept. 16-17, 1862 Action, Shepherdstown Ford, WV Sept. 20, 1862 Operations in Loudon, Faquier, and Rappahannock Counties, VA Oct. 26-Nov 10, 1862 Battle, Fredericksburg, VA Dec. 12-15, 1862 Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6, 1863 Gettysburg Campaign June 3-Aug. 1, 1863 Battle, Gettysburg, PA July 1-3, 1863 Retreat to near Manassas Gap, VA July 5-24, 1863 Skirmish, Funkstown, MD July 12, 1863 Bristoe Campaign Oct 9-22, 1863 Battle, Bristoe Station, VA Oct. 14, 1863 Mine Run Campaign Nov. 26,-Dec. 2, 1863 Action, New Hope Church, VA Nov. 27, 1863 Skirmishes along Mine Run, VA Nov. 28-30, 1863 Wilderness Campaign May 4-June 12, 1864 Combat, Parker's Store, VA May 5, 1864 Battle, Wilderness, VA May 5-7, 1864 Combat, Laurel Hill, VA May 8, 1864 Battles, Spottsylvania Court House, Laurel Hill, Ny River, Federicksburg Road, VA May 8-21, 1864 Combat, Po River, VA May 10, 1864 Operations on the line of the North Anna River, VA May 22-26, 1864 Operations on the line of the Pamunkey River, VA May 26-28, 1864 Operations on the line of the Totopotomoy River, VA May 28-31, 1864 Battle, Bethesda Church, VA June 1-3, 1864 Battles about Cold Harbor, VA June 1-12, 1864 Action, White Oak Swamp, White Oak Swamp Bridge, Charles City Cross Roads, VA June 13, 1864 Action, Riddell's Shop, VA June 13, 1864 Siege Operations against Petersburg and Richmond, VA June 16, 1864-April 2, 1865 Engagement, Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon R.R., VA June 22, 1864 Explosion, Petersburg Mine and Assault on the Crater, VA July 30, 1864 Battle, Weldon R.R., Globe Tavern, Yellow House, Black's Station, Six Mile House, VA Aug. 18-21, 1864 Battle, Ream's Station, VA Aug. 25, 1864 Battle, Popular Springs Church, Peeble's Farm, Pegram's Farm, Chappell House And Laurel Hill, VA Sept. 29 - Oct 2, 1864 Engagement, Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, VA Oct. 27-28, 1864 Battle, Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, Armstrong's Mills, Rowanty Creek and Vaughan Road, VA Feb. 5-7, 1865 Appomattox Campaign March 28, April 9, 1865 Assault and Capture of Petersburg lines, VA April 2, 1865 Surrender, Appomattox Court House, VA April 9, 1865 An examination of the paroles granted at Appomattox Court House shows that slightly more than eighty-five officers and enlisted men of the Thirteenth Alabama Infantry surrendered there. Those surrendering included two Captains, four Lieutenants, one Hospital Steward, one Quartermaster Sergeant, one Commissary Sergeant, thirteen Sergeants, eight Corporals, and sixty-one Privates.