Henry Seale
Alabama Militia Units
Thu Feb 22 08:58:30 2001


Hayes, I do not know anything about the 2ND Ala. Vol. Militia per se, but I do know that in 1861 and early 1862 many men in Alabama joined local militia companies that were organized by the State of Alabama into militia regiments for the defense of the State. These men were not officially in Confederate service, but in State service and when called to duty they were paid, I believe although not certain, at the same rate as regular C.S. soldiers. They probably were for the most part not issued arms, supplying their own arms, equipment,etc. The state may have issued a few arms and equipments to them. The reason for their existence was because the C.S. government was rejecting nearly all companies of men that had been organized for military service starting about the late summer or fall of 1861 as the government could not supply them with arms and equipments. Most all of the few arms that were siezed at U.S. Arsenals had been quickly issued. There were no or very few industries geared for the production of arms and equipments to say nothing of the other neccessary supplies that an army needs such as wagons, harnesses, pots and pans, shovels, axes, canteens, buckets, haversacks, gun cassions, forge wagons for artillery and cavalry,ammunition and uniform manufactories. Even if these and the vast other items that an army needs there was no distribution organization in place. Even with foriegn purchases, it was the spring of 1862 before a fairly good working system of supply was in place. It actually was hard for a man to join the C.S. Army in the late fall and winter of 1861. Many organized companies of men were rejected for service. It has been said by many of that time period that war fervor was so strong that at least twice if not more men could have easily been in the army if the government could have armed them. What a different result this would have made! This alarmed the State government who were of course interested in the defense of Alabama primarily. To fill this gap the State tried to organize as best it could some of these organized (and I use the term loosely) militia companies into some sort of organization for State defense, hence the birth of the Alabama Militia Regiments. I believe that most of the members of these militia regiments were in time recruited into the C.S. Army units that were organized in the spring of 1862. I know that most of Companies H and K of the 40TH Ala. came directly from the 4TH Alabama Militia and I am not sure as yet, but I suspect the same is true of Company I of the 40TH.I am still slowly, but surely researcing this.

I know this did not directly adress the 2ND Alabama Militia, but I hope that it helps you a bit.

Regards, Henry






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