Alan Pitts
Elijah G. White -- Co. "I" 5th Ala. Inf. Regt.
Mon Jan 29 20:36:58 2001


You ancestor belonged to a famous Clarke County command, Capt. Josephus M. Hall's "Grove Hill Guards". Elijah G. White enlisted at Grove Hill on Mar. 16, 1862, and went to Virginia to help fill the ranks of Hall's Company. Capt. Hall was elected Lt.Col. of his regiment on April 27, 1862, and Simeon T. Woodward was elected to take his place as captain.

Private White was wounded during the first day's fighting at Gettysburg and left behind when the Confederates abandoned the town. Federal hospital records say he was treated for a wound in his left knee; after he was returned to Confederate lines at City Point, Va., Aug. 28, 1863, he was treated for a wound in his right knee. I guess opposing medical staffs saw things differently.

Disabled by his wound, Private White was retired to the Invalid Corps on August 8, 1864. The retirement certificate says he was five feet nine inches tall, had fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was paroled at Demopolis, Ala., June 14, 1865.