|
The 1st Confederate Battalion,
Company A
|
|
|
|
|
1st Confederate Infantry Battalion Co. A
On March 6, 1861 the Confederate States Central Government organized its regular Army, a force roughly between 6,000 to 10,000 men. Prior to June of 1861 the men of the “regular army” did not have uniform or dress regulations. Regular army recruits were clothed in gray trousers, red or white flannel shirts, blue fatigue blouses, and a cap. On June 6, 1861 the Confederate Congressional Committee authorized and approved a pattern of uniform and a system of ranking which would be used by its regular army. “Officially” this detailed plan was altered in only one respect during the course of the war. In 1862 the “tunic” was replaced with the longer Frock coat. The color of “Cadet Gray” was decided upon as the color of the upper garment, faced with branch of service colors on the collars and cuffs and edging of garment. Sky blue trousers were prescribed for enlisted men as well as a French style Kepi in branch of service color with a dark blue band. The best evidence suggests that the above uniform was designed by Nicola Marschall a Prussian artist. His inspiration was Austrian riflemen who he had seen in 1859. Although very few, if any, of these uniforms were made for enlisted men, the regulations became the standard for the Regular Army and copied by some units of the “provisional” army and it also inspired several state regulations ( militia ). In all the Confederate States Government was only able to assemble the following “regular”army units during the course of the war, recruitment ceased by the end of 1862: 2 battalions & 7 regiments of Infantry, 2 battalions & 10 regiments of Cavalry, and 1 battalion & 4 regiments of Engineer and 1 battery of artillery. In some cases the term “Confederate” was applied to consolidated company’s made up from multiple states to which no state designation could be given.
The seven company 1st Infantry battalion was organized during the spring of 1862 with men drawn from the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The unit was originally assigned to the 3rd Military District at Port Hudson , LA the Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana. The unit’s first engagement was at Corinth where they incurred a small loss. Assigned to Tilghman’s brigade, Loring’s division, it fought at Bakers Creek, with few casualties. It fought at Grand Gulf as part of Gen. J.S. Bowen’s Defense Force where part of the battalion was captured at Vicksburg. Assigned to Rust’s & Adam’s Brigade, the Army of Mobile, it fought at Port Hudson, Champions Hill, Jackson and Fort Pillow. In June of 1863 the Battalion was assigned to Gen Johnston’s Army of Relief, Dept. of the West. Then in March of 1864 it was ordered to Virginia and attached to J.R. Davis’ Brigade, Heth’s Division, Hill’s Corps A.N.V. The unit participated in the conflicts at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Liberty Mills, Bethesda Church and 2nd Cold Harbor. It then endured the long siege at Petersburg. In an attempt to drive the enemy from the Weldon Rail Road the battalion lost severely . Most of the remaining unit was killed or captured at Hatchers Run, April 1865 , and at the surrender in April 1865 only 3 Officers and 6 men were present. Lieut. Colonels’ George H. Forney( K.I.A.) & Francis B McClung and Major Lawrence W. O’Bannon were in command. It remained one of the few units of Regular Army to last the war. The unit also maintained a roll of honor which contained the names of 11 members of the Battalion.
The Roll of Honor , 1st Infantry Battalion C.S.A 1862- 1865 Pvt. A. J. Sizemore (Co. A, K.I.A, Bethesda Church); Sgt. A. Hembree (Co. A, Weldon RR); Sgt. A. D. Stoude (Co. B, Welon RR); Pvt. John Dunnigan (Co. D, Weldon RR); Sgt. J. Maddon (Co. F, Weldon RR); Pvt. John McNamara (Co. I, Weldon RR); Cpl. B. J. Hugan (Co. B, Corinth, Port Hudson, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek, The Wilderness); Pvt. John Kelley (Co. C, Fort Pillow, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Port Hudson); Sgt. Adolph W. Leslie (Co. E, Fort Pillow, Corinth, Port Hudson, Baker's Creek, Jackson, The Wilderness, K.I.A Spotsylvania); Pvt. Patrick Finegan (Co. F, Corinth, Port Hudson, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church); Pvt. Mitchell Smith (Co. I, Fort Pillow, Corinth, Port Hudson, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek, Jackson, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Liberty Mills, 2nd Cold Harbor)
Anyone interested in joining this existing unit may contact 1st Sgt Arthur T. Green or Visit our Yahoo Group page
|
|
Send mail to
Webmaster with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
