Alan J. Pitts
Alston boys....
Tue Mar 13 23:43:20 2001


George W. Alston was rejected by the surgeon because he had a broken collarbone and couldn't join. Cicero F. and Peter D. Alston joined when their company organized. Here are my notes on that company and its captains:

Company “G” of Chambers County, “Wiche Jackson Blues”

Warner W. Meadors. Mortally wounded at Corinth, Mississippi, October 4, 1862.
Sledge M. Robertson. Wounded and disabled at Corinth, Mississippi, October 3, 1862. Promoted Captain [December 17,] 1862, to rank from October 4, 1862. Surrendered at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863, and exchanged July 9, 1863. Resigned February 24, 1864.
Claiborne E. Evans. Promoted Captain [on May 5,] 1864 to rank from February 24, 1864. Wounded at Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864, and Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864. Appointed Major of the consolidated regiment on April 9, 1865, and surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, May 1, 1865.

Officers and men mustered at Cusetta, Alabama, on March 24, 1862. Survivors surrendered with Company “E” of the consolidated 37th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

There's an entry under the name "C. F. Allison" which I believe refers to one of the men you mentioned. It shows that he was excahnged by Federal authorities of Oct. 13, 1862, after being captured in the recent fighting in northeast Mississippi. The same entry appears for Peter D. Alston. Their regiment fought at Iuka MS (Sept. 19, 1862) and Corinth MS (Oct. 3-4, 1862), but it's more likely they were captured at Corinth or in the ragged retreat which followed that defeat. Here are some more notes:

The 37th Alabama was assigned to Colonel John D. Martin’s Brigade of Little’s Division, Army of the West. The men of this command participated in the battles of Iuka (September 19, 1862) and Corinth, Mississippi (October 3-5, 1862), General Little being killed at Iuka, and Colonel Martin at Corinth. Shortly afterwards the regiment was transferred to the brigade of Brigadier General John C. Moore. After Grant’s advance along the Central Railroad was turned back in December of 1862, Moore’s Brigade moved south to defend the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

During the spring of 1863, members of this command defeated another Federal expedition along the Tallahatchie River. Afterwards they held defensive lines along the Yazoo and Big Black Rivers until withdrawn to Vicksburg, Mississippi, on May 17, 1863. Moore’s troops later surrendered with the garrison at Vicksburg. Receiving paroles on July 9, 1863, officers and men soon went into camp at Demopolis, Alabama.

The 37th Alabama went to Chattanooga with Moore's Brigade and defended the lower slopes of Lookout Mountain. It also served on Missionary Ridge the following day, and saw action wit hthe Army of Tennessee during the following year. Their are several receipts to show that both Alstons drew clothing in the spring of 1864. Both survived the war and surrendered with consoldiated company "E", 37th Ala. Inf. Regt. Of course I cannot speculate on what may have happened to either one of them after the surrender at Greensboro NC, May 1, 1865. Let me know if you need further infomation.