Hayes Lowe
Reputation as best drilled brigade.
Sat Mar 31 13:19:47 2001


I didn't think that you were meaning to impugn, but I was just trying to get to the truth behind the story.

If I recall correctly, the Orphan Brigade was considered the best march and drill brigade in the AoT during the time that the 41st was a part of it. If the Alabama soldiers were prone to drop out of line just to take a rest, I don't think that the brigade as a whole would have been able to maintain this status. I think that it was at Murfreesboro where a competition was held. The finalists were a Texas Brigade and the Orphan Brigade. The finals were interrupted by the battle, but it was generally agreed that the Orphan Brigade was leading the competition. {Where did I read that?}