Alan J. Pitts
Coffee County Rangers
Tue Feb 27 22:20:08 2001


Here's a company profile for this unit:

Company “D” of Coffee County “Coffee County Rangers”

Capt. John C. Brown. Promoted Major November 9, 1861.
Capt. Exton Tucker. Elected Captain on November 22, 1861. Reelected April 29, 1862. Wounded at Seven Pines, Virginia, on May 31, 1862. Killed at Sharpsburg, Maryland, September 17, 1862.
Capt. James T. Davis. Appointed Captain September 25, 1862. Killed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863.
Cap. Irwin J. Horn. Promoted Captain [December 19,] 1863, [to rank July 1, 1863]. Retired to the Invalid Corps April 20, 1864.

Organized December 28, 1860, this company mustered in Confederate service at Victoria, Alabama, on May 23, 1861.

Service records show that Sgt. Wm. J. McNeal was furloughed on Jan 13, 1865; it appears he was unable to return to his command before the war ended. Wade H. Cardwell remained with the company and surrendered at Appomattox. William McKenzie Cardwell lost his life during the famous attack of Rodes' Brigade at Seven Pines May 31, 1862. His widow's name was Mary Cardwell.

There are a several good references to the 12th Alabama Infantry Regiment, perhaps the best known being Emory Park's book. The 12th Ala. belonged to the Rodes-Battle Brigade, led by Cullen A. Battle in the last half of the war. Battle's Brigade was among the troops dispatched under General Early to threaten Washington and wage war against the Federals in the lower Shenandoah Valley. It's always been entertaining to picture these Confederate soldiers from Alabama within sight of the Federal capitol on July 12-13, 1864. Defeat of Early's army at Winchester and Cedar Creek helped re-elect Lincoln and thereby insure Union victory as much as the fall of Atlanta.

Hope this helps you.....






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