Alan J. Pitts
Braxton Bragg / mix and match
Fri Feb 9 07:33:19 2001


After the battle of Shiloh Braxton Bragg broke up a number of units and moved enlisted men about. The first example that comes to mind involves the break-up of Blount's Ala. Battn. We have the officer's petitions preserved on the service record microfilm protesting the action to the War Department in Richmond. All the officers were stripped of their commissions and sent home; enlisted men were distributed among various companies of the 18th Alabama. A surplus was available, so Company "L" was created out of men from the old battalion. At least one officer persisted in an effort to petition authorities in Richmond, and finally in March 1863 an order was issued to reconstitute the original battalion. See Inzer's account of the 9th Battalion/58th Alabama.

You might also check my earlier post on Dent's Battery and the two batteries that were broken up and survivors sent to that unit. Bragg also broke up the 12th Ala. Cav. Battn. and placed it in the 1st Ala. Cav. Regt. That was eventually reversed also.