Alan J. Pitts
Vandegrift relatives....
Sat Mar 24 10:01:32 2001


There were four Vandegrifts in Co. "C", 18th Ala. Inf. Regt. These were A.D. Vandegrift, J. H. Vandegrift, James R. Vandegrift and John L. Vandegrift.

The "Cahaba Valley Rangers" organized at Cedar Grove (Leeds), Ala. on July 7, 1861, including residents of St.Clair and Jefferson Counties. A. D., J. H. and John L. Vandegrift were on roll when officers and men mustered in Confederate service on July 24, 1861. Ordered to Camp Johnston near Auburn, Ala., Capt. James Oliver reported with his men on Aug. 12, 1861. Ten companies formed the 18th Alabama on Sept. 4, 1861.

John L. Vandegrift was appointed 3rd Sergeant on Nov. 16, 1861. On Dec. 26, 1861, J. H. Vandegrift was elected 2nd Lt. During this period of time the regiment was in camp near Mobile. It was later sent to Corinth MS and served in the Battle of Shiloh in J. K. Jackson's brigade. The 18th Ala. was assigned the duty of escorting Federal prisoners captured in the "Hornet's Nest" back to Corinth at the end of the first day's fighting.

J. H. Vandegrift resigned his commission due to physical disability on July 4, 1862. About the same time the regiment returned to camp at Mobile. A. D. Vandegrift was appointed 1st Corporal on July 23, 1862. He was discharged for physical disability on Mar. 10, 1863. Probably during this time a fourth member of the family joined, James R. Vandegrift. There is no enlistment information on him.

A few weeks later the regiment returned to the Army of Tennessee. The regiment was involved in the Battle of Chickamauga, served on the slopes of Lookout Mtn. and defended the part of Missionary Ridge near Rossville Gap. James R. Vandegrift was captured there on Nov. 25, 1863, and sent to prison at Rock Island, IL.

The regiment served in the Clayton-Holtzclaw brigade during the Atlanta campaign. The lone remaining member of the family was captured during the early days of this campaign at Cassville, GA, May 19, 1864. He also, was sent to Rock Island. I didn't see a record to show that he was released from prison. However, James R. Vandegrift was relased on MAr. 2, 1865 and sent to City Point VA. Confederate records show that he was admitted to a Richmond VA hospital on Mar. 12, 1865.

I didn't get to look at the other Vandegrift record I mentioned earlier. This unit organized under Capt. Thomas K. Truss. at Elyton (Birmingham) on Sept. 4, 1863, and assisted in the recruiting process in Jefferson and surrounding counties. It later formed part of a mounted battalion led by Maj. Joseph Barbiere and was involved in Wilson's Riad during the last days of the war in Alabama.
I'll try to get that next week.

• Cassville — Tom Marcet, Sat Apr 7 10:37
• Thanks — Susan, Sat Mar 24 10:25