Alan J. Pitts
Re: Blount's 5th Ala. Batt.
Mon Jul 16 13:59:14 2001


The 17th Alabama was part of the same brigade while at Mobile (Camp Beulah), and Captain Moreland commanded a battalion of sharpshooters. The legislation which created sharpshooter units was dated April 24, 1862. I mentioned Moreland in a post last Friday.

With to the company lettering problem in the 18th Alabama, here's your answer from my notes on that regiment:

Orders issued April 19, 1862, merged Companies “A” and “G” of Blount’s 5th Alabama Infantry Battalion and assigned members to this regiment as new Company “K”. Old Company “K” was consolidated with Company “E”. The new command consisted of men from St. Clair County who reorganized for three years or the war on July 21, 1862. Their company letter became “L” about September 30, 1862, old Company “K” reverting to its original designation at the same time. On March 2, 1863, Company “L” was dissolved and its members reassigned to Companies “A” and “G” of the 9th Alabama Infantry Battalion.

The 18th, 36th, 38th regiments, as well as the 9th Battalion, were ordered to report to the Army of Tennessee at Tullahoma in April 1863. The 9th Battalion served in Bate's Brigade, A. P. Stewart's Brigade, and saw action at Hoover's Gap TN, June 24, 1863. The first three regiments formed Clayton's Brigade, later known as Holtzcalw's, and fought at Chickamuaga. The 9th Battalion was increased to a regiment and numbered the 58th Alabama shortly afterwards, and was consolidated with the 32nd Alabama. The 32nd/58th Alabama had been assigned to Clayton's prior to its part in the defense of Lookout Mountain and Rossville Gap on Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25, 1863.