Alan J. Pitts
Re: As usual, the data is contradictory.
Wed Apr 25 11:10:41 2001


As always you ask good questions. I'm begining to doubt my identification of the 1st A.V.C. regiment with the Third Alabama. The Third Alabama may well have been based on the 2nd A.V.C. rather than the 1st. I'm reasonably sure that someone other than Tennent Lomax commanded the 1st A.V.C. during the occupation of the bay forts and Mount Vernon arsenal. If anyone knows the man's name, I'd be pleased to be reminded.

At least seven AVC companies that later joined the 3rd Alabama were in state service during January of 1861. One of those, the "Wetumpka Light Guards", went to Pensacola under Capt. John Q. Loomis.

Only one AVC company that later joined the 2nd Alabama received pay for state service in January 1861. This was the "South Alabama Rangers", Capt. Fitz Henry Ripley. Six other companies that "flocked to the coast" to joined Maury's 2nd Alabama were directed to Fort Morgan during late March and entered Confederate service on April 1, 1861. All of these companies mustered out at Fort Pillow on March 31, 1862. I'm not at all sure now that this regiment ever had an AVC antecedent.

I've always been curious as to how this regiment organized with seven companies. The other three didn't join until several months later. I'll post my company notes on this group if anyone's interested.