THE FIFTY-FIRST ALABAMA CAVALRY

The Fifty-first Alabama cavalry regiment, known as Partisan Rangers, was recruited by Col. John T. Morgan, who had entered the war as a major of infantry, served for a time in Virginia, and returned home to raise a mounted regiment. It was sent to Alabama, served for a time in Tennessee, fought at Lavergne with General Forrest; was then attached to Wheeler's cavalry, and was brigaded under Morgan, Hagan and Allen. It took part in the Sequatchie raid, and was part of the force which captured 400 Federals at Maysville, and took part in the investment of Knoxville. It took a gallant part in the Stone's River and Chickamauga campaigns; was on Johnston's flank during the retreat to Dalton, fighting almost daily for three months, and lost heavily at Decatur and Jonesboro. It moved through Tennessee, and harassed General Sherman's forces very effectually in the Carolinas. About a week before the close of hostilities, it fought and captured a portion of the First Alabama United States regiment and finally surrendered at Raleigh, N. C. Col. John T. Morgan was commissioned brigadier in November, 1863, and was for some time in command of a division and served with Generals Hood, Longstreet and Johnston. After the close of hostilities he returned to the profession of law, and in 1877 was sent to the United States Senate, of which body he has long been one of the most able and distinguished members. He was succeeded in command of the regiment by the gallant Lieut.-Col. J. D. Webb, who was mortally wounded near Decherd, Tenn., in July, 1863. Captain Battle was in command for a short time, and Capt. M. L. Kirkpatrick, who took command during the Chickamauga campaign, continued to lead the regiment until the close of the war. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 280 Stone's River after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. J. D. Webb, Fifty-first Alabama Partisan Rangers including skirmishes December 26-January 5. OLD FOSTERVILLE, TENN., January 23, 1863. In obedience to General Orders, No. 6, in the absence of Col. John T. Morgan, Fifty-first Alabama Regiment, Partisan Rangers, who was in command on the occasion of which report is to be made, I beg leave to submit the following: On Friday evening, December 26 [ultimo], the regiment left their camp on Stewart's Creek, on the Murfreesborough and Nashville turnpike, and promptly reported to the general commanding at La Vergne, which is a distance of 5 miles from the camp. They were ordered to the right of the railroad and to the front of La Vergne. The command was dismounted to fight, and soon became engaged along the line with the sharpshooters and skirmishers of the enemy's infantry, as also their advanced guard, on the left of their line. This was kept up steadily on both sides until the orders was given to fall back, to take a position nearer the turnpike, and to be in supporting distance of the artillery. The order was executed in good order. They then formed a line of battle, the right resting on the turnpike and extending near to the railroad. The enemy did not pursue. Night came on, and the regiment remained in line of battle until 10 o'clock. They were ordered to return to camp. In this skirmish we lost 1 private of Company C, supposed to be captured and not killed; 1 private from Company D, known to be captured. At early dawn on Saturday, the 27th, was ordered to the front. They were again ordered to take position in advance of the ground on which they were formed the evening before. Soon after reaching the position we were again engaged with the enemy's left, advancing in line of battle under cover of his artillery, throwing and shell. We continued the engagement until our artillery was forced to retire on the pike, when we fell back slowly to the right of and along the Jefferson pike, in the direction of the town of Jefferson. Heavy rain commenced to fall and continued for several hours. When the command had reached the Jefferson pike, and near the residence of Mr. York, Capt. [N. D.] Johnson, of Company F, with his company, was ordered to go in the direction of Buchanan's Mill on a scout; and Lieut. [J. J.] Seawell, in command of Company I, with his company, was ordered, too, as a scouting party in the direction of La Vergne, neither of whom joined the regiment again that day. In a few minutes after each of these companies left, in obedience to orders, a large force of cavalry, accompanied by artillery and infantry, advanced on the Jefferson pike, and commenced a heavy and brisk firing upon us as we were crossing Stewart's [Creek], where the Jefferson pike crosses that stream. Their fire was returned with vigor, and their advance checked until their artillery and infantry came up. Being heavily pressed by greatly superior numbers, and opened upon by their artillery with grape, canister, and shell vigorously, we retired in good order on the pike in the direction of Jefferson. While the enemy were pressing our rear, after crossing Stewart's Creek, in this engagement, the conduct of Capt. M. L. Kirpatrick, Company H; Capt. L. W. Battle, Company B; Lieut. William [M.] Fitt, Company G, deserves especial mention in rallying their men and leading them in a charge on the enemy's cavalry. Justice requires that the name of James W. Copiley, of Company I (who was then and is now acting ordnance sergeant for this regiment), should be mentioned for his gallantry and daring at the head of the column in this charge. The gallant and brave Lieut. William [M.] Fitt, Company G, was killed; Private Holey, of Company G, and Private Urley, of Company K, were killed; Lieut. [John O.] Zeigler, of Company B, and 2 privates of Company G, were wounded. Lieut. [J. J.] Seawell, with 12 of his company, were captured. We are informed by those of his command who made their escape that they are almost certain that he with those of his men who were captured, were wounded. They saw several of their horses fall. The coolness and bravery of Orderly Sergt. H. Clay Reynolds, of Company I, distinguished him while he brought off several of his company under a heavy fire in crossing Stewart's Creek, [and] rejoined his command. His conduct commends him for special mention. The regiment bivouacked that night on Stone's River without rations. On the morning of the 28th, we formed line of battle to the right of the Nashville turnpike, 8 miles from Murfreesborough, and opposite to a church on the pike. We occupied the position until nightfall, and, with the exception of slight skirmishing with the enemy's pickets, were not engaged. We bivouacked for the night opposite to Miller's, near the pike. On the morning of the 29th, we advanced on the pike and again formed line of battle on the ground of the day before, and remained until we were ordered to fall back to the left and along the turnpike in the direction of Murfreesborough, skirmishing with the enemy's advance forces from that point until we entered our infantry lines, drawn up in front of Murfreesborough in line of battle, which was late in the afternoon of that day, being the whole distance under the fire of the enemy, both artillery and small-arms. After reaching our infantry lines we were ordered to form a line o battle, our left extending toward and within a short distance of the Lebanon turnpike, about 2 miles from Murfreesborough. We remained there until 12 o'clock night. We then took up the march and proceeded down that pike, crossing Stone's River, until we reached the Jefferson pike, and proceeded on that pike in the direction of Jefferson until daylight; then, turning to the right, continued the march until we encountered the enemy on Tuesday morning. This regiment remained to support the artillery, and were not actively engaged with the enemy at this point. At 2 o'clock on that day the regiment charged at La Vergne a train of wagons parked on the plains; captured 36 wagons laden with ammunition, commissary and quartermaster's stores, which were burned; the teams of mules and horses attached to them, 8 or 10 wagons, and 50 prisoners. After which they proceeded to Nolensville, and, with other commands of this brigade, captured 20 wagons, 50 prisoners, the teams of horses and mules, late in the afternoon of that day. From thence they proceeded in a westerly direction for 6 or 8 miles and bivouacked for the night. Before daylight on Wednesday morning, the 31st, we were ordered to march, and at 2 o'clock on that day, on the Wilkinson pike, engaged in skirmishing with the infantry of the enemy's right in front of Murfreesborough. The engagement was kept up until nightfall. In this engagement Lieut.-Col. Webb was struck on the fore-head by a fragment of a shell; 1 private of Company A wounded; 4 privates of Company B wounded; Company D, 1 private wounded; Company H, 1 private; Company F, 3 privates; Company E, 1 private. Again on January 1, 1863, we engaged the enemy at La Vergne, on the left of the pike, facing toward Murfreesborough, for nearly one hour. They were well posted on an eminence behind houses, a train of wagons parked, and fences. The contest for the time was very warm. We captured some 15 or 20 prisoners, 5 or 6 wagons, destroyed some 8 or 10 wagons laden with army stores, and carried off the teams of mules. We held our position until we were ordered to retire. The casualties were--Company C, 1 sergeant wounded; Company D, 1 private; Company E, 2 privates; Company F, 1 private; Company G, 1 private; Company H, 2 privates; Company I, 1 private; Company K, 1 private killed and 2 wounded. We returned to a place on the Nashville and Shelbyville dirt road, and at 2 o'clock in the morning halted to rest. Friday morning, the 2d, we were ordered to march, and proceeded to the point on the Wilkinson pike where we engaged the enemy on the afternoon of the 31st. We remained drawn up in line of battle until after sunset that evening, when we were ordered to proceed down the Wilkinson pike several miles, and turning on a dirt road, marched until a late hour in the night. We were halted and ordered to rest. At daylight the next morning (the 3d) we were ordered to remount, and proceeded to Antioch Church. At that point we were ordered to proceed to the Nashville and Murfreesborough pike, at or near Blood's, which is within 8 miles of Nashville. We reached the point designated about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and soon became engaged in a skirmish with the enemy, which was kept up for an hour, when orders were received from Gen. Wheeler to withdraw and return by Antioch Church and join him. We did so, and after a toilsome marched we halted at the place from which we moved on Friday evening, and bivouacked until morning. On Monday morning, the 4th, about sunrise, we crossed Stone's River and proceeded on the Manchester pike 3 miles. We halted and remained there until the next morning, when we were again ordered to march. We advanced on that pike for 4 miles farther, where we halted until the afternoon, when we [were] ordered to return on the pike some 3 miles. We were ordered to dismount to fight, and formed on the right of the pike facing Murfreesborough, and soon became engaged with the enemy's cavalry, who advanced under cover of their artillery, firing grape and shell. We checked their advanced and kept up a brisk engagement until artillery retired on the pike, before a greatly superior force, with the following casualties: Company B, 1 private wounded; Company C, 2 wounded; Company E, 1 wounded; Company G, 1, mortally; Company H, 1 wounded; Company K, 1 killed. That night we bivouacked on the Manchester pike, 8 miles from Murfreesborough. On the morning of the 6th, we moved slowly down the pike to Beach Grove, where we remained, and bivouacked until Friday, the 9th, which time we set out the march for the Cumberland River. On each of the occasions mentioned the officers and men behaved with such coolness and bravery as to show that they could be relied on in an hour of danger or peril--not to be dismayed by unequal numbers and superior equipments. I regret the absence of Col. Morgan in making this report, as I had not expected to be called on to do so, and kept no memorandum from which to prepare a more accurate account or detailed report. The surgeon of the regiment had provided the list of the casualties mentioned. Respectfully submitted. J. D. WEBB, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Fifty-first Alabama Regt. Partisan Rangers.

Source: Official Records CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN. PAGE 963-29 [Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]

Alabama 51st Cavalry Partisan Rangers (Confederate)

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