History of the Band: Part 2

Captain R.E. Rodes was elected Colonel of the Regiment and First Lieutenant H.A. Whiting was elected regimental adjutant, causing two vacancies among the commissioned officers in the company. William H. Fowler was promoted to Captain, John J. Harris to First Lieutenant, John Phelan to Second Lieutenant, and B.F. Hardwick to Third Lieutenant.

The regiment was then sent to Pensacola, Florida, where it remained for twelve days, after which it was ordered to Richmond, Virginia. Here it remained for two weeks and then received orders to go to Manassas to join the Army of Virginia. It was made a part of General Richard Stoddard Ewell's Brigade, which was a part of General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson"s Division. Enroute to Manassas, the 5th Alabama was fired upon several times by Federal pickets and outposts.

On the morning of the First Battle of Bull Run (June 17, 1861), the 5th Alabama were deployed as skirmisher at Farr?s X Roads to defend that sector of the field. This position was at the head of the Confederate troops. Private William Tarrant of the Taylorville community was patrolling his post when the Union advance began and he was shot through the leg, becoming the first Alabama soldier wound in this famous battle. Private Mark Weathered captured the first prisoner taken in this battle. Thus, the 5th Alabama produced the first "heroes" of that notable conflict.

During the battle, the 5th Alabama Regiment was ordered to Union Mill and waited there for further orders, but the courier sent by General P.G.T. Beauregard was killed or captured and the regiment was held in reserve during the closing hours of the battle. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Manassas during the fall and winter, and General Rodes became the Brigade commander in October - the 6th and 12th Alabama, and the 12th Mississippi, being the other regiments of the brigade.

On December 28, 1861, seventy five of the original recruits re-enlisted for the duration of the war, being the first troops in the Confederate Army to re-enlist for the duration.

Moving with the army to Yorktown in March, 1862, it there re-enlisted and reorganized. 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 Manassass battle, but moved into Maryland, and shared in the stubborn conflicts at Boonsboro and Sharpsburg (Antietam), losing 11 killed and 39 wounded out of the remnant present for duty. It was in line of battle of Marye?s Heights, and saw Union General Ambrose Burnside?s bloody repulse at Fredericksburg; and with General Robert E. Lee?s at his stunning victory over Union General Joseph Hooker at Chancellorsvile. It was part of 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. General Robert E. Rodes was killed at Manchester, in 1864, while leading his men in a counter attack against the Union forces. He had the distinct honor of being one of the youngest Major Generals on either side.

Having wintered at Orange Courthouse, the 5th Alabama, 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 General Jubal A. Early into the Shenandoah Valley and across the Potomac, taking part in numerous engagements, including the assault on Washington, D.C. Losing severely at Winchester, Virginia, it soon reformed and took its place in the memorable trenches of Petersburg, and wintered there. Only 25 or 30 men were around its colors when they surrendered at Appomattox, under Captain Riley. Of the 1719 names on its muster rolls, nearly 300 men parished in battle, 240 others died in the service and 507 were discharged or transferred.

Continue on to People of the 5th Alabama
    or go back to History Part 1