Alan J. Pitts
In conclusion....
Mon Apr 23 10:53:08 2001


In order to learn more about these kinds of things, I almost bid on a militia regulations book (1847) offered on ebay. We'd all learn more on the subject if a few good men (Neel, Howerton, et al) could be pursuaded to conduct some kind of on-line classes.

For the moment, it appears that we have concluded that the letter "J" wasn't used as a company letter designation because (a) the letter was a relatively recent addition to the English alphabet, and (b) in script the letters "I" and "J" usually look almost identical. Is that it?

Evidently some of our ancestors weren't familiar with the regulations. The "Russell Volunteers", Capt. Walter H. Weems, 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment, reported as Company "J" until October of 1861. At that time error was corrected. Company "L" became Company "M", Company "K" became Company "L" and Company "J" became Company "K".

A similar situation existed in the 55th Alabama. When the 6th and 16th Alabama Battalions merged in early 1863, the new regiment included a Company "J". Formerly known as Company "B", 16th Alabama Infantry Battalion, Captain Robert J. Wright's "Shorter Guards" of Cherokee County received this designation. Shortly after the end of the Vicksburg Campaign, Wright's company merged with Captain Randle's Company "K" to form new Company "K". For some reason company officers from Randle's Company "K" weren't retained. Captain Randle returned from parole camp sometime after Sept. 22, 1864 and was captured at Franklin, TN, Nov. 30, 1864, thus ending a most curious situation.

If another example of a legitimate Company "J" existed in an Alabama command, I'm unaware of it.