Jim Martin
Elijah White - 26th/50th (Coltart's) Ala Inf
Sun Jan 28 10:55:47 2001


It appears your Elijah White was a private in the 26th/50th Alabama Infantry, Company "B".

Here is a short history of this unit from Ken Jones' Alabama Confederate Regimental Histories website:

50th Alabama Infantry Regiment
The 50th Alabama (sometimes the 26th-50th) Infantry Regiment was organized at Corinth, MS, on 3 April 1862, by consolidating the 2nd (Davis'-Chadwick's) and 5th (Golladay's) AL Inf Battalions which were recently recruited. Originally mustered into Confederate service as the 26th (Coltart's) Regiment, its designation was changed to 50th in June, 1863 when it was learned that another 26th Infantry was already serving in Virginia. The men were raised in the counties of Calhoun, Jackson, Lauderdale, Blount, Limestone, Walker, Fayette, and Tuscaloosa. Ordered to Tennessee, the unit fought at Shiloh, saw light action in KY, and was then placed in Deas', G. D. Johnston's, and Brantley's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. It fought in many conflicts from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, spent the winter with Hood's campaign in Tennessee, and was active in North Carolina. At Shiloh, the regiment had 440 effectives, but because of casualties, sickness, and exhaustion, the number was fewer than 150 by the 2nd day. It lost 4 k and 76 w at Murfreesboro, 16 k and 81 w at Chickamauga, and totaled 289 men and 180 arms in Dec, 63. The regiment sustained 33 casualties in the Battle of Atlanta and was badly cut up at Franklin. Few survived to surrender in April, 65.

Field and Staff Officers: Col. John Gordon Coltart (Madison; wounded, Shiloh, Atlanta); Lt. Cols. Edward I. Golladay (5th Bn., dropped at consolidation); Nick Davis (2nd Bn., dropped at consolidation); George Weedon Arnold; William Davidson Chaddick (Madison; resigned, 20 Oct 1862); Newton Nash Clements (Tuscaloosa); Majors: Andrew Dunne Gwynne (Tennessee; wounded, Shiloh; promoted to Lt. Col., 38th TN Regt.); Newton Nash Clements (promoted); Thomas H. Gilbert (Limestone; resigned, 14 Oct 1863); John C. Hutto (Walker); and Adjutants W. E. Hill (dropped at consolidation); Daniel Q. Allen; John J. Bruckner (KIA, 28 July 1864); and George W. Cain.

Captains, and counties from which the companies came:

Co. "A", Calhoun Beauregards, formerly Co. "A", 2nd Bn. (Calhoun): J. A. T. Sappington (resigned, 20 July 62); Thomas K. Langford (died in service, 28 July 64); Martin Walker
Co. "B", formerly Co. "C", 2nd Bn. (Limestone): Thomas H. Gilbert (promoted to Major); John Archie Ray (died in service, 29 April 64); John E. Gilbert
Co. "C", formerly Co. "F", 2nd Bn. (Jackson): Lemuel G. Meade (resigned, 1 July 62; promoted to Colonel of Mead's North Atlanta and Tennessee Cavalry); James E. Daniel (promoted, Lt. Col., 27th AL Infantry Bn.)
Co. "D", formerly Co. "E", 2nd Bn. (Blount): George W. Arnold (promoted to Lt. Col.); William John Elrod
Co. "E", formerly Co. "B/G", 2nd Bn., Limestone Rebels (Limestone): James Henry Malone (resigned, 10 July 62); John B. McClelland (1st Lt., promoted to Capt., Co. "H"); William J. Richardson
Co. "F", formerly Co. "D", 2nd Bn. (Tuscaloosa): Newton Nash Clements (promoted to Lt. Col., but retired? as Capt.); John D. Burgin
Co. "G", formerly Co. "K", 38th TN Infantry (Walker and Fayette): John C. Clements; E. B. Vaughn
Co. "H", formerly Co. "D/B", 2nd Bn. (Lauderdale): John G. Haney (died in service, 20 July 62); Archibald D. Ray; John B. McClelland
Co. "I", formerly Co. "H", 38th TN Infantry (Walker and Fayette): James Thomas Wooten (dismissed); James F. Sowell (dropped at reorganization); Robert Donnell
Co. "K", formerly Co. "?", 5th Bn. (Walker): John C. Hutto (promoted to Major); Robert W. Smith