John D. Cardwell was born about 1843 in Pike County, Alabama. He was the son of Edmund Cardwell and Nancy Sullivan. John enlisted as a Private in Company A of the 33rd Alabama Infantry, CSA on 22 Feb 1862 in Elba, Coffee County, Alabama. His service records state that he enlisted for a term of three years "or the war". That he traveled 56 miles to enlistand was a resident of Coffee County, Alabama. He appears on numerous muster rolls from January to Decemeber 1863 serving with the said unit. He was listed as a patient at the Ocmulga Hospital in Macon, Georgia on 21 Mar 1864 suffering from pneumonia. He was furloughed on 07 Jun 1864. It is unclear what happened to John D. Cardwell after that point. I have been unable to find any addition mention of him in census records, etc.

Benjamin Jones Cardwell was born on 05 Oct 1844 in Elba, Coffee County, Alabama. He and his brother, John D. Cardwell, both served in the 33rd Alabama Infantry, CSA during the Civil War. Benjamin enlisted a little later than his brother, on 20 Dec 1862 in Elba, Coffee County, Alabama. He was a Private and enlisted for a term of three years. The last record in his service records is in Decemeber 1863. Benjamin returned home to Coffee County, Alabama after the conflict and married Nancy Mathney. They produced a large family and lived out their lives in Coffee County. Benjamin died on 07 Nov 1927 in Coffee County, Alabama.

The 33rd Alabama Infantry, CSA took part in the following battles during the Civil War.

Munfordville (September 17, 1862) - John D. Cardwell enlisted prior to this engagement
Perryville (October 8, 1862)
Murfreesboro (December 31, 1862 - January 3, 1863) - Benjamin J. Cardwell enlisted prior to this engagement
Chickamauga (September 19 - 20, 1863)
Chattanooga Seige (September - November 1863)
Chattanooga (November 23 - 25, 1863)
Ringgold Gap (November 27, 1863) - last known service record for Benjamin J. Cardwell is shortly after this engagment Atlanta Campaign (May - September 1864)
New Hope Church (May 25 - June 4, 1864) - last known service record for John D. Cardwell is during this period Kennesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864)
Atlanta (July 22, 1864)
Ezra Church (July 28, 1864)
Atlanta Siege (July - September 1864)
Jonesboro (August 31 - September 1, 1864)
Franklin (November 30, 1864)
Nashville (December 15 - 16, 1864)
Carolinas Campaign (February - April 1865)

A Brief History of the 33rd Alabama Infantry, CSA

The Thirty-third Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Pensacola, FL, on 23 April 1862, with men recruited from Butler, Coffee, Covington, Dale, and Montgomery counties. It proceeded to Corinth just after the Battle of Shiloh. Placed in the brigade commanded by Col. Hawthorn of Arkansas, the regiment remained at Tupelo untill the Kentucky Campaign began. It was part of the brigade of Gen'l Sterling A. M. Wood of Lauderdale, Gen'l Simon Buckner's Division, and was present at the capture of Munfordsville. At Perryville, the Thirty-third entered that conflict about 500 strong, and came out with but 88 rank and file. It came out of Kentucky with the army, and at Murfeesboro the loss of the regiment was comparatively large, for it was in Gen'l Patrick Cleburne's Division. The remainder of the winter was spent in camps near Tullahoma, and the regiment retired behind the Tennessee River during the summer. In the grand forward movement on the enemy's line at Chickamauga, the Thirty-third lost 149 casualties. Gen'l Mark Perrin Lowrey of Mississippi relieved Gen'l Wood after the latter was wounded and assumed command of the brigade [16th, 33rd Mississippi regiments, and J. H. Gibson's (18th AL) and Newman's (TN) battalions] the Thirty-third was effectively engaged at Missionary Ridge without loss. It was part of the wall of fire that checked the exultant federals at Ringgold Gap, where it lost but one man. The regiment passed the winter at Dalton, and was in the incessant battle from there to Atlanta, fighting during the day and entrenching at night, and losing many by the casualties of battle, particularly at New Hope Church, and around Atlanta. Having followed Gen'l John Bell Hood into Tennessee, it moved to the assault of the enemy's works at Franklin, with 285 men, and lost over two-thirds of them, mostly killed. Transferred to North Carolina, the Thirty-third took part in the operations there, and a remnant was there surrendered.

Field and staff officers: Cols. Samuel Adams (Butler; wounded, Perryville; KIA, Kennesaw Mountain); Robert F. Crittenden (Coffee; captured, Nashville); Lt. Cols. Daniel H. Horn ( Coffee; resigned); Robert F. Crittenden (promoted); James H. Dunklin (Butler); Majors Robert F. Crittenden (promoted); James H. Dunklin (wounded, Chickamauga; promoted); and Adjutants John Crosby Stallworth (Conecuh; died, Tupelo); A. M. Moore (Greene; KIA, Chickamauga); Willis J. Milner (Butler)

SOURCE: http://www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/alinf.html#33rd-Inf

by Rand Cardwell - March 2008

Two Brothers in the 33rd Alabama Infantry, CSA