Jim Martin
Alot of controversy for a long time!
Tue Jan 30 10:15:16 2001


There are varying statements from participants, even members of the 1st Delaware as to which units actually crossed the stone wall. Peter Turney, gives a vivid account in the Confederate Veteran and states that the 1st and 7th Tennessee crossed over with a large number being captured, including the writer. As a followup, a member of the 13th Alabama took issue with Turney's account and stated that members of his regiment, the 5th Alabama Battalin and the 14th Tennessee all had representatives east of the wall.

I have a copy of a letter from the commander of the 5th Alabama Battalion which states that he definitely did not reach the wall and after falling back, spent some considerable time in the depression formed by the Emmitsburg Pike before returning to his own lines.

Archer's Brigade was just north of the angle formed by the stonewall, so they had to right oblique to crossover the wall. I say right oblique like it was a parade ground move. From written accounts it sounds like they moved to the support of the Virginians who had already crossed.

I guess I'm most impressed by the fact that under tremendous infantry and artillery fire, these men and others without orders from a commander pushed further on rather than fall back under the withering fire which they were facing.

Though my ancestry is filled with Confederate soldiers, I've adopted my wife's gg-grandfather as my hero. His name was Lemuel Thomas Ormond and he was a sergeant in Company "A" (North Sumter Rifles) of the 5th AL Bttn.

I've been studying the WBTS for about 35 years and knew of, but was unfamiliar with the astounding war record of Archer's Brigade and the 5th Alabama Battalion, in particular. This was one of those units that over and over again, was at some of the most dangerous and dramatic points in the battle fought by the Army of Northern Virginia.

I maintain a tribute site on the web dedicated to the 5th Alabama Battalion. Some time when you have a chance I invite you to visit.

The Fifth Alabama Battalion
"That Band of Heroes"

Jim Martin

• Gb — Purvis, Tue Jan 30 16:31
• The Mississippians had further to go! — Jim Martin, Tue Jan 30 17:18
• Jo Jo — Tim, Tue Jan 30 18:06
• "relatively inexperienced"? — Alan Pitts, Tue Jan 30 22:38
• Heth's (3rd Corps) Missisippi Brigade — Tim, Wed Jan 31 09:59
• Re: Heth's (3rd Corps) Missisippi Brigade — Alan Pitts, Wed Jan 31 12:43
• Freeman — Tim, Wed Jan 31 19:10
• Jim, Tim , Alan — G. Purvis, Wed Jan 31 18:34
• Beg your pardon — Tim, Wed Jan 31 19:16
• 1st Corps Missisippians — Tim, Wed Jan 31 19:12
• Yes — Tim, Tue Jan 30 10:30