John C. Carter
Alabama regiments
Mon Oct 30 10:07:12 2000



My gr-gr-grandfather served in the 9th AL and also wondered why the river valley they were sent to defend was the POtomac and not the Tennessee. As quickly as the companies of the 9th were organized, they were put on trains and sent to Virginia.

Alabama sent a couple of dozen regiments to the Army of Northern Virginia. The reason for this was simply that was where they were expecting the first major offensive of the war. Regiments were desperately needed in Virginia to be sent to the Shenandoah Valley and to Manassas as preparations were made for a defense in both places. As Alabama regiments were formed, they were sent via train to Lynchburg, Virginia and then on to Richmond for training. Afterwards they were sent by train to the Shenandoah Valley. It really didn't matter if they were from Alabama or not- they were simpley needed in Virginia more than Tennessee at the time. After the war started, Alabama regiments raised afterwards remained in the western theatre.

The decision was made by Jefferson Davis with the urging of Joseph Johnston and PGT Beauregard to send troops diretly to VA from the deep South. Edmund Kirby Smith was responsible for direting the new troops from Lynchburg to Richmond.

John Carter

• Excellent Response! — Jim Martin, Mon Oct 30 10:53
• 5th AL Battalion — John C. Cartre, Mon Oct 30 14:01