Hayes Lowe
5th Ala. Inf., New Co. H
Wed Mar 28 08:48:32 2001


Todd,
We may have discussed this before, I don't remember, but it sure seems familiar.

The 5th Ala. Inf. initially served a one year enlistment. At the end of that enlistment, it was pretty much totally reorganized, and re-recruited.

Company H was predominantly from Tuscaloosa County. This was the Warrior Guard. At the end of the first year enlistment (approx. March 1862), most of Company H left the 5th Alabama. Company C, predominantly from Pickens County, became "New" Company H.

Unless the microfilm record shows otherwise, I think that it is entirely possible that the J.P. Cottles in Company H was recruited at the end of the first year enlistment. This is particularly possible since I don't have him listed in Company C. I have a very good Company C data base. My database on New Co. H is not so complete, yet. However, I have found *many* soldiers in New Co. H, who were not previously in the 5th.

It is possible that he served in the 41st for a short time, and was discharged. Another likely possibility is that he was left behind sick at Tuscaloosa. And, he didn't refoin the 41st for any number of reasons. He could have simply re-enlisted in the 5th when it was re-recruited, or he may have been officially transferred. The latter could explain why he isn't on any existing muster roll. I don't know which rolls exist, but it may be that the earlier rolls didn't survive. He could have had paperwork proving his service in the 41st, which his wife supplied with his pension application...and they just didn't get microfilmed.

If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend that you see the actual microfilm on the 5th's J.P. Cottle. I'd also recommend that you check the 1860 Federal and 1866 State Censuses of Pickens and Tuscaloosa to see if there was indeed more than one J.P. Cottles.

Hope this helps a little.