Alan J. Pitts
Re: Bartow Rangers
Fri Jun 29 12:25:15 2001


Smith D. Hale +may+ be the Captain Hale mentioned in the earlier post. His regiment didn't organize until January 30, 1862, Camp Johnston, Nashville TN. Most companies didn't organize until December 1861, and although all were from the area, none were from Cherokee County. Hale was elected colonel of this regiment, which was also called "Hale's" and the 31st Alabama, but not the 17th.

It's just a guess, but I suppose that Ken looked up "Bartow Rangers" and saw it was a company which belonged to the 17th Alabama. I'd be astonished to learn that the document (?) about the flag presentation mentions anything about a company designation/regimental assignment. Most early flag presentations like this were made to a group of men going off to war with no idea of what official assignment they would recieve. That's why individual company names had an appeal.

Perhaps Ken will explain how we got started down this particular rabbit trail.

By the way, Colonel Hale was not reelected when the regiment reorganized under provisions of the Conscript Act on May 8, 1862. I've not been able to find any later military history about him.