Hayes Lowe
Here it is.
Tue Jan 23 11:18:21 2001


Instead of rewriting all that has been written before, I decided to just cut and past some quotes, then explain why I say that the 41st was largely the source of the name.

>There have been two theories put forward as to the source of the name, both are probably partly correct.
Following the Orphans' disastrous assault at Murfreesboro on 2 January 1863, in which they suffered devastating casualties from massed Federal artillery, Gen. Breckinridge rode along their lines. Distraught at the obvious high casualties, he cried out, "My poor Orphan Brigade! They have cut it to pieces!". Another possible source for the name was the general situation faced by the Kentucky Confederates. When they left the state in February 1862, they were never able to return as a unit during the war." From WHY THE NAME "ORPHAN BRIGADE"?, by Geoff Walden and/or Laura Cook [Editted for relevance and brevity.]

>Sadly, the attack turned out exactly as Breckinridge had predicted. Once the ground was taken the Federal artillery opened fire on Breckinridge's division. Hanson was one of the first to fall, mortally wounded. The Kentucky Brigade was once again orphaned. The price of this battle was high as the Orphans lost 27% of their brigade. When the battle ended, Breckinridge surveyed the damage. He had great anger at the suicidal and senseless order by Bragg, which had cost the life of Hanson and many others.....and great sadness at the observation of what was left of his old brigade. This was too much for him. A tear came from his eye. "My poor Orphans! My poor Orphans!", he cried, "My poor Orphan Brigade! They have cut it to pieces!" BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO / STONES RIVER, DEC. 30, 1862-JAN. 3, 1863 by Laura Cook


>It [the 41st] was initiated into the harsh realities of war when "stormed at with shot and shell," as part of Hanson's Brigade at Murfreesboro. During that episode, it lost its brigadier and 198 casualties.
ALABAMA HER HISTORY, RESOURCES, WAR RECORD, AND PUBLIC MEN FROM 1540 TO 1872, BY W. Brewer.

>The assault quickly achieved initial success, as the Southerners fired a volley at close range and charged with the bayonet, driving the Yankees from the ridge. However, they did not stop, but pursued the fleeing foe toward the river. This placed them squarely in range of the massed guns, which wrecked havoc in their ranks from bursting shrapnel and shells. The Orphan Brigade commander, General Hanson, was mortally wounded. The Fourth Kentucky lost two color-bearers, and the Sixth Kentucky, three. Men fell all along the line. Although some of the Confederates actually crossed the river, the main force could not withstand the terrible fire, and they fell back to the starting point. The Orphan Brigade had lost nearly a third of its men, and when Breckinridge saw the pitiful remnant, he wept for his "poor Orphans" who had been "cut to pieces."
A HISTORY OF COMPANY F, FOURTH KENTUCKY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, CSA by Geoffrey R. Walden

The charge mentioned above resulted in mostly the cutting to pieces of the 41st Ala. Inf. Overall, the Kentucky regiments did not receive near as much of the brunt of the battle as did the 41st. The one Kentucky regiment that advanced along with the 41st to the primary field of battle got over enthusiastic and crossed the river, pretty much out of harms way from the decimating cannon fire. They did come under fairly harsh small arms fire, but nothing like the cannonading of the 41st. The 41st entered the fray with about 700 men, and left the field with approximately 500 remaining. Many more died in Chattannoga at the various hospitals and homes used as hospitals. If I remember correctly, I have read that hardly a man of the 41st came through without a wound. This was not the case for some of the Kentucky regiments.

Also, the 41st was an orphan regiment in its own way. It was an Alabama regiment which had been assigned to another state's brigade...a state which was not even a part of the Confederacy, no less. It was an orphan in the care of orphans!

At any rate,

Go Back To Archive Page

Go To Alabama CW Message Board