Joe Wheeler paraphrased Willis Brewer's 1872 history for Volume VII, Confederate Military History. 'Plagarized' is probably a more accurate word, as Wheeler made no reference to Willis Brewer or gave him any credit.

That being said, Brewer has nearly always been reliable, but sometimes we're left to wonder about his sources. In many cases we might assume that he spoke with veterans just a short time after the war. Even so, I'm still having trouble with his account of the 65th Alabama Regt.

Consider Brewer's field officers and adjutant for this command. We've already reviewed Underhill, a rather young man and a subject of Queen Victoria. E Toomer is almost certainly Edward Terry Toomer of Mobile. Toomer surrendered at Appomattox as a lieutenant of the 3rd Alabama Regiment. S. B. Waring is S Bartlett Waring, a discharged soldier of the 3rd Alabama who served as 2nd Lieut and drill officer of the 1st Alabama Conscripts at Camp Watts. Waring resigned his commission in January 1863 and nothing more appears in his record. Charles F Westfeldt was another Mobile resident who had served with the 3rd Alabama until being discharged due to wounds received at Malvern Hill.

Charles Harrison Ming was a VMI Cadet from Mobile serving in Virginia. In 1864 Ming requested a transfer to the Reserve Forces of Alabama. Instead he received an appointment as Capt of Co "F", 1st Foreign Battalion. Ming declined that appoinment, but there is no further reference to his service in 1865.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=MI&GSfn=c&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=3&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=601&GRid=16612045&df=all&

Officers mentioned as being captured at Girard (Battle of Columbus GA, Apr 16, 1865) signed paroles as officers of the 4th Alabama Reserves.

The only direct connection between the 4th Alabama Reserves and the 65th Alabama Regt is Colonel Underhill's signed parole at Meridian MS, and three members of the "Chunchula Guards", a company which belonged to the 4th Alabama Reserves during 1864. A glance at rolls of this company reveal a variety of ages, including some boys under eighteen.

Existing rolls for other companies of the 4th Alabama Reserves list ages, which are between 45 and 50 as required by law. It appears that the "Chunchula Guards" did not conform and was reassigned to PACS service, evidently becoming Co "G", 65th Alabama Regt.

George, any thoughts as to where eivdence for other companies of this regiment may be located?