The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
In Response To: Re: Theory re 65th Alabama ()

The report you cited includes more than one confusing item. For example, Capt W B Ragan is listed as commanding Co H, 3rd Confederate Reserves. You might suppose this was just one company from a full regiment. In fact 'Reserves' were established for each state by the law of Feb 17, 1864, but no 'Reserves' for the Confederate Government. Capt Ragan had been serving with Smith 3rd/5th Confederate at Chickamauga, where he was wounded and disabled. Rather than resign his commission, Ragan accepted a post assignment at Demopolis as an enrolling officer. He was still an officer of the 3rd/5th Confederate Regt, and someone entered his name and command. In reality it means he was in charge of a small group of newly recruited Alabama Reserves.

Major (later Colonel) Stone's command of senior reserves sometimes appears as the 1st Alabama Reserve Battn and elsewhere as the 4th Alabama Reserve Battn. Eventually it became the 4th Alabama Reserve Regt. Evidently Stone resigned due to ill health in 1865 and Lt. Col. Edward M Underhill took his place. The Official Records show the 3rd and 4th Alabama Reserves were assigned to Brig. Gen. Dan Adams, District of Central Alabama, and left Spanish Fort by March 31, 1865. They were seen in Montgomery in early April, and were evacuated by rail when the city was given up to Wilson's forces. Six companies of the 3rd Alabama Reserves had been assigned as provost guards at Cahaba until the prison was evacuated. Evidently they went to Montgomery as well.

A unit that's not accounted for is the 3rd Alabama Reserve Battn., Maj. Solomon T Strickland. This battalion included ten companies, but little is known about its assignments or orders.

Reviewing strength reported for these units in November 1864, it's obviously very small. Liddell's command, which besides reserves included Alpheus Baker's Brigade of four Alabama regiments, the 15th Confederate Cavalry, two field batteries and the water batteries numbered 141 officers and 1449 present for duty. Thomas commanded only Col Huger's 1st Alabama Reserves, 17 officers and 160 men present for duty; total present and absent = 858 officers and men. Col Taylor's command, which besides Stone's 4th Alabama Reserves includes the Mobile City Battalion, a company of Alabama cadets and a small number of the 21st Alabama, reported 47 officers and 367 men present; total present and absent = 1,200 officers and men. Fuller's command, which besides the 2nd Alabama Reserves included three batteries and the 1st Louisiana Artillery, counted 32 officers and 342 men; 1,329 officers and men present and absent.

Field officers of the reserve regiments and battalions were mainly former staff officers. For instance, Edward M Underhill (born Scotland, 1831) had been a 1st Lt. and drill officer assigned to Gen. Stephen D. Lee. Underhill signed his parole as Colonel, 65th Alabama Regt. Where he came up with that I don't have any idea.

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Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Patterson's 5th Alabama Cavalry
Re: Patterson's 5th Alabama Cavalry
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama
Re: Theory re 65th Alabama