Alan J. Pitts
Re: Gulf City Guards CSA Mobile
Sun Jul 8 21:25:28 2001


Don't understand what possible connection could be made between the "Gulf City Guards" and Lockett's "City Guards" other than the name. There were at least two editions of the "Gulf City Guards", the first being assigned to the 3rd Alabama Infantry and the second being the one you mentioned. This was a popular volunteer militia company from Mobile which eventually had enough members to form two companies. Notices would appear in the Mobile newspaper announcing when company members were expected to appear for drill and company meetings.

A uniform jacket worn by John Young Gilmore of Mobile, a member of the 3rd Alabama, appears the the Museum of the Confederacy's "Catalogue of Uniforms". He may have served in the GCG; I'd have to check his name.

On the other hand, Lockett's "City Guards" were a collection of conscripts gathered from all corners of central Alabama. They would've worn whatever was issued by the depot quartermaster at Talladega and Selma until the company was broken up in the early months of 1864. Unlike the GCG, these were not volunteers, they didn't know one another until after being assigned to this company, they didn't select their officers. I could go on, but you get the idea. In other words, more like a group of guys collected a Camp Bragg during the late stages of the Viet Nam war.