Illene Thompson
17th Alabama Sharpshooters
Sun Jul 22 11:54:14 2001


Thanks to Greg Alexander, Hayes Lowe, and Alan Pitts for responding to my question on the 17th Alabama Sharpshooters.

I finally went back to the service records, and agree that Co. A was men from the 19th and Co. B was men from the 39th. I also finally remembered to go back to "Confederate Military History", edited by Bridges, which gives the following information on the 17th Alabama Sharpshooters: Also known as Yancey's Battalion, it was formed in the summer of 1862. Captain Yancey was succeeded in April 1863 by Captain James F. Nabors (0bviously the James Nabors, captain of Co. A), who led the battalion until July 1864 when Lt. A. R. Andrews took his place, and the battalion was transferred to Johnston's brigade.

I have read that Moreland headed the sharpshooters, and I know that some of the men in the 17th Alabama Infantry were sharpshooters. Is it not possible that there was a group of men assigned to sharpshooter duty within the 17th Alabama Infantry who were in no way connected to the 17th Alabama Sharpshooters? And that Moreland headed this group of men in the 17th Alabama Infantry while still commander fo Co. B 17th Alabama Infantry?