Alan J. Pitts
Lucius J. Lockett, PACS
Tue Feb 6 21:38:27 2001


Muskmellons? It brings to mind the scene in "raiders of the Lost Ark' in which Indiana Jones is warned, "Bad dates".

Records of Lucius J. Lockett appear in three different places. Together they provide a clearer idea about the "City Guards". Evidently a native of Marion, Ala., Lockett organized the "Perry County Boys", which became Co. "F", 20th Alabama Inf. Regt. Lockett resigned his commission as captain, effective Aug. 2, 1862, taking a 60-day leave of absence due to ill health on June 26, 1862. He received a commission as 2nd Lt. and Drillmaster, P.A.C.S. on Ocotber 16, 1862, to rank from Sept. 16, 1862. The commission, acknowledged by him at Marion on Oct. 31, 1862, ordered him to report to Major Walthall at Talladega. Lockett received a promotion to 1st Lt. and Drillmaster, P.A.C.S., Nov. 18, 1862, to rank from OCt. 28, 1862. This commission reached him at Talladega on Nov. 28, 1862.

A group of Talladega citizens signed a petition requestin g that he be promoted to Captain on Jan. 24, 1863. He was addressed as captain several time later, but a P.A.C.S. commission was not forthcoming.

All the rest of the material on Lockett places him at Selma. On Apr. 1, 1863, he signed a requisition for 3 officers and 126 enlisted men, a sizeable command. On Apr. 23, 1863, he requisitioned 1000 ball cartridges and 127 musket flints, which tells us how this company was armed.

If anyone is interested, there are documents which describe the service of the "City Guards" at Selma. All indications are that the company was broken up after January 1864, men being senbt to front-line units. Lockett went to Talladega where he resumed his duties as drillmaster. He contracted a disease and died in Way Hospital at Talladega on Oct. 22, 1864. His second in command, William H. King, another PACS drillmaster, accepted a position as 1st Lt. of Lockhart's Battalion at Selma, Ala., Jan. 30, 1864. He eventually became Captain of Co. "K", Lockhart's Battalion, which served a Selma for much of 1864. I didn't have time to check the only other remaining officer, W. H. Kelly, but I'd bet he found other employment as well.

Gentlemen, please respond if you have questions.







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