Regiments assigned lower numbers like the 5th Alabama entered service early and usually had long military careers. Many regimental books and rolls of the 5th Alabama were lost in the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864. Despite that, it still is among the better documented combat units from this state. The ADAH link I posted earlier provides an outline of its history.

The 5th Alabama Regiment organized on May 11, 1861, at Montgomery. Two days later seven companies enrolled at Pensacola for twelve months in Confederate service, three others enlisting on May 15, 1861. Dated May 11, 1861, field appointments were: Robert Emmet Rodes, Colonel; Allen C. Jones, Lieutenant Colonel; John Tyler Morgan, Major. Staff appointments were dated May 17, 1861: George Augustus Ketchum , Surgeon; Nathaniel Venable, Assistant Surgeon; Charles K. Farley, Commissary; James Daniel Webb, Quartermaster; Henry A. Whiting, Acting Adjutant. Joseph D. Porter was appointed Chaplain on May 25, 1861. Peyton Randolph, 1st Lieut., P.A.C.S., was assigned to the regiment as drill instructor on June 10, 1861.

Company “A” of Clarke County, “Grove Hill Guards”
Company “B” of Sumter County , “Livingston Rifles”
Company “C” of Pickens County, “Pickensville Blues”
Company “D” of Monroe County, “Monroe Guards”
Company “E” of Talladega County, “Talladega Artillery”
Company “F” of Sumter County, “Sumter Rifle Guard”
Company “G” of Dallas County, “Cahaba Rifles”
Company “H” of Tuscaloosa County, “Warrior Guards”
Company “I” of Greene County, “Greensborough Guards”
Company “K” of Mobile County, “Alabama State Artillery”

Captain Ketchum’s Company "K" did not go to Virginia and was replaced by Captain Blackford’s “Barbour Greys”, which had mustered for three years or the war at Richmond on June 23, 1861:

The regiment reorganized under the Conscript Act at Yorktown VA, April 27, 1862, and all company letter designations revised. For instance, Captain Blackford's "Barbour Greys", the senior company by virtue of being the first to enlist for three years or the war, became new Company "A"

Colonel Robert E. Rodes eventually became Major General and commander of a division in the Army of Northern Virginia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rodes

Maj.Gen. Robert E. Rodes, Tuscaloosa, AL