Alan J. Pitts
Re: SEEKING INFORMATION
Fri Apr 20 09:28:59 2001


If you're really interested in the 9th Alabama Infantry, read anything you can about Wilcox's Brigade. The 9th Alabama served with this group of Alabama regiments, so you can learn about the 9th by reading about what they did. Start with Dr. Jones' webpage on Wilcox's Brigade: http://www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/wilcox.html

Then click on the 9th Alabama bibliography tab....

If you live in Alabama, a library within driving distance has Price's history of the 9th Alabama. Also, a good search engine (one that allows search using a phrase) identifies more sites than I can visit in a reasonable time using the phrase "Wilcox's Brigade". I learned several things about this unit at Gettysburg, Salem Church and Gaines Mill in the past few minutes by using that method. For instance, I didn't know the Park Service had recently placed a marker on the Seven Days battlefield for this brigade. Here's that URL:

http://www.nps.gov/rich/wint007.html

There's a load of material (enough for at least one full day's reading) at the archives in Montgomery. Among other items collected there, I have casualty lists of the 9th Alabama for the Seven Days Battles which appeared in the Mobile Advertiser & Register, and letters written by an officer of a 9th Ala. Limestone County company which tell the story of a young boy in his command who lost his life on the 2nd of July, 1863.

Do not neglect Saunders' story of the 9th Alabama! Here's the citation as given by Dr. Jones: Saunders, James Edmonds. Early Settlers of Alabama, with notes and genealogies. (Baltimore : Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982 [pp.128-171]) Great reading!

Anyway, if your ancestor received a pension for service in the 9th Alabama Infantry, the board of review had good reason to award it. You might go back to check his company, his captain and anything he said about his service. That's usually what was required to authenticate an application that couldn't be supported by the muster rolls and other records.

Good luck in your search. I am envious of your situation, being able to start from "ground zero" and build your knowledge of the 9th Alabama and its service with the Army of Northern Virginia!