History Of the 19th Alabama

On August 14, 1861, in Huntsville, Alabama , the 19th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized and mustered into Confederate service. Immediately the regiment, ten companies strong, was orderd to Mobile,Alabama, and remained there for about three months. Thereafter they were stationed at Pensacola for a fortnight and then orders to Corinth. At Corinth the 19th Alabama was placed under the command of General Gladden of Louisiana and organized in a brigade with the following regiments; the Twenty-second, Twenty-fifth, and Twenty-sixth Alabama regiments. The Thirty-ninth Alabama regiment was added after the Battle Of Shiloh.

The 19th Alabama's first baptism of fire came in the Battle Of Shiloh. In this battle 110 were killed and 240 wounded of the 650 that originally followed the colors into the battle. Soon thereafter General Frank Gardner became commander of the bridgade. The regiment also participated in the Army Of Tennessee's campaign into Kentucky, however, the regiment did not come into contact with the enemy. Afterward they retired to Murfreesboro and fought at this place with a loss of approximately 100 killed and wounded, this being about one-fourth of its strength. General Deans of Mobile suceeded to the command of the brigade, and he led the brigade at the Battle Of Chicamauga. Here the 19th Alabama lost heavily, however, there were few casualties at Missionary Ridge, and the 19th spend the winter at Dalton, Georgia.

During Sherman advance on Atlanta, the 19th lost largely in casualties during the various battles between Dalton and Atlanta, particularly at New Hope and near Marietta. At Atlanta the brigade was placed under the command of General Johnston of Perry. Here in Atlanta the 19th Alabama was severely cut up in the battles of July 22 and 28. However, at Jonesboro the regiment suffered lightly, The brigade was then part of General Hood's march into Tennessee. At the Battle of Franklin the 19th lost severely in prisoners with few casualties. The brigade went on to North Carolina, and was then engaged at Kinston and Bentonville, with large casualties taken in the latter battle. The 19th Alabama was then consolidated with the 40th and the 46th Alabama Regiments at Salisbury with M.L. Woods of Montgomery as Colonel and Ezekiel Gully of Sumter as Lietenant Colonel. The 19th Alabama Infantry Regiment surrendered at Salisbury, being 76 strong.

These brave men fought very honorably and many gave the supreme sacrafice to the Southern Cause. For these men to be honored and remembered is the least we can do. God Bless.

History Of 19th Alabama