THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.

The Thirty-eighth regiment was organized at Mobile in May, 1862, and remained there until February, 1863. Its first brigade commander was General Slaughter; then General Cumming. Transferred to Bragg's army, it was under General Clayton until his promotion; then under General Holtzclaw from July, 1864, until its surrender at Meridian. At Hoover's Gap, June 24, 1863, it went into its first real battle, coming out almost unscathed; but at Chickamauga, September 19th and 20th, its loss was very great. At Missionary Ridge, November 25th, a large number, after fierce fighting, were captured. The winter of 1863-64 was passed at Dalton, and with the spring of 1864 came the regiment's hardest work, in the Atlanta campaign. At Rocky Face mountain, May 7th to 10th; at Resaca, May 14th and 15th; New Hope church, May 25th, and at Atlanta, July 20th to 28th, its losses were severe, both in killed and wounded, and by capture. In Holtzclaw's brigade, it went with Hood into Tennessee and protected the rear of the army in the retreat. Transferred with the brigade to Mobile, it was in the defense of Spanish Fort, where it suffered its greatest privations. It held its original organization until the end, and surrendered its remnant of 80 men at Meridian. Adjt. Alfred R. Murray was wounded; Capts. W. R. Welsh, John B. Perkins and Charles E. Bussey were killed at Chickamauga; Capts. W. H. Wright, wounded and captured; John A. Jackson, captured at Missionary Ridge. Captain Jackson died in prison. Capt. Ben Lane Posey was captured at Chickamauga, and wounded at Kenesaw. The field officers were Cols. Charles T. Ketchum, and A. R. Lankford, captured at Resaca; and Majs. 0. S. Jewett, killed at Chickamauga, and W. J. Hearin, captured at Missionary Ridge. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 175 Chickamagua after battle report: Reports of Lieut. Col. A. R. Lankford, Thirty-eighth Alabama Infantry. CAMP THIRTY-EIGHTH ALABAMA VOLUNTEERS, In Front of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 28, 1863. CAPT.: I have the honor to make the following report of the marches and participation of my command in the battles of the 19th and 20th instant: Leaving La Fayette, Ga., on the 17th instant, we encamped that night about 2 miles west of Rock Spring. Early the next morning we left camp and marched in a northeasterly direction 3 or 4 miles. Here we bivouacked until 9 p. m., and then moving 1 mile farther west bivouacked in a corn-field, my regiment supporting Humphreys' battery. We left this place early on the morning of the 19th, and about 12 m. the regiment was drawn up in line of battle. At about 1.30 p. m. we were ordered forward and met the enemy and received his fire, when the right of the battalion was about 60 and the left about 30 yards from the enemy's line of battle. The men continued to load and fire until the command "cease firing" was given, when we were withdrawn and supplied with ammunition. I took this engagement 461 muskets. During this engagement Maj. O. S. Jewett and Capt. W. R. Welch, Company B, were killed. Capt. C. E. Bussey, Company I; Lieut. G. H. Cleveland, Company G; Lieut. Newton Johnston, Company E; Capt. B. F. Wright, Company F; Lieut. B. H. Lockett, Company B, and Lieut. E. H. Morgan, Company B, were wounded and carried to the rear. At 5 p. m. we were again ordered to the front and passed Bate's brigade, which was halted in line of battle. Charging at double-quick time over the hill, my regiment passed by two pieces of the enemy's artillery about 50 yards before reaching the road near a house on our left. Some of the officers and men asked my permission to carry off the guns immediately, but being engaged in a successful charge upon the enemy retreating in confusion, I thought it best to continue the pursuit, leaving the artillery to be taken to the rear on our return, not supposing for a moment that a brigade that was not in the charge, and which was at least a quarter of a mile in our rear, would claim and take if off. I am sorry, however, to say that, such was the case, the artillery being carried off by Gen. Bate's brigade, and claimed as having been captured by his command. We pursued through a corn-field and afterward through a sedge-field half a mile beyond the batteries mentioned above. I saw no other command except Clayton's brigade. In this charge Lieut. M. J. Gordon, Company I, was killed. Adjt. A. R. Murray, Lieut. James Holley, Company G, and Lieut. B. S. Davis were wounded. On the night of the 19th, we rested on the battle-field. On the 20th, I took into battle 299 muskets. We were ordered to the front between 12 m. and 1 p. m. and charged a battery supported by infantry and by another battery on our right. We advanced beyond a corn-field up to a house, where the fire from the enemy was perfectly furious, particularly on our left. From this position we were repulsed, but had we been properly supported the enemy would have been routed. Our own brigade was much scattered when we reached this point, owing to the long distance over which we had passed at double-quick time, besides the men were more or less affected by meeting a retreating brigade. Had it not been for this influence I believe we would have been successful. During this charge Capt. J. B. Perkins, Company G; Lieut. J. R. Williams, Company I; Lieut. R. R. Harwell, Company A; Lieut. Joseph Flant, Company K (acting adjutant), were wounded and carried to the rear. The command was rallied in line of battle in less than an hour. The regiment, with the balance of them, took position to the right of that previously occupied until near 5 p. m., when it was ordered forward. Passing over the enemy's breastworks, it moved upon the enemy in full retreat through an open field. Several taking refuge in and around a hospital, Gen. Clayton ordered my regiment forward to the hospital, where it and the next morning the regiment collected several hundred guns an accouterments, which were turned over to the ordnance officer. Commending all officers in my command who were in the fight for their gallantry and zeal, I cannot mention any particular officer as having distinguished himself above all others. All performed their duties well. Lieut. Flant, who acted as adjutant after Adjutant Murray was wounded, rendered me good services until he himself was wounded. Lieut. John Vidmer, of Gen. Clayton's staff, rendered me efficient service after the fall of Maj. Jewett. He is a gallant and efficient officer. The non-commissioned officers and men of my command exhibited the courage and gallantry which characterize all Southern soldiers, particularly Alabamians, and I have no doubt will do much better fighting when another opportunity is again given them. This was the first time they were ever under fire. I take this occasion to mention in very commendable terms Joel Bell, Company E, color bearer of the regiment. In the fight of both days he was always in advance of the regiment, carrying his colors in proper position. In the charge on Sunday he bore the colors of this regiment farther than any other that I saw. He is a cool, brave, determined man. Very respectfully, A. F. LANKFORD, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Thirty-eighth Regt. Alabama Vols. Capt. J. M. MACON, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Clayton's Brigade. HDQRS. THIRTY-EIGHTH ALABAMA REGT., October 18, 1863. SIR: In obedience to an order this day received from the major-general commanding this division, I have the honor to make the following report: The order was given by Gen. Clayton to forward between 4 and 5 o'clock. We soon met the enemy, and, after and engagement of some length, the enemy commenced retiring. We pursued, I suppose, some 300 yards, when I saw two pieces of artillery manned and fired several times by the enemy. These pieces were, or one of them, about opposite the left of my (Thirty-eighth Alabama) regiment, the other about opposite the right of the third company from the left of the same regiment. These guns were near and in front of a house--the guns on one side and the house on the other of the main Chattanooga. Lieut. M. J. Gordon, commanding Company I, the second company from the left of the regiment, fell killed by a ball within 5 paces of one of the guns which he had so nobly assisted to take from the enemy. These guns cannot be the same referred to by the Eighteenth and Thirty-sixth Regt.'s, as mine (the Thirty-eighth) was on the left of the brigade. I did not take time to examine the pieces particularly, as I pursued the enemy at least a half mile farther, and when I returned to where we left these pieces of artillery I was in command of all the forces of three regiments of this brigade. There being no colonel present, and Lieut.-Col. Inge, of the Eighteenth, being dismounted, gave the command no me until we could get the regiment reformed or find a ranking officer. When we returned to where these guns were left, I saw them being carried off by some of Gen. Bate's brigade, who were in our rear, we having passed then in our charge. I think they were probably 8 or 12 pounders. Respectfully submitted. A. R. LANKFORD, Lieut.-Col., Thirty-eighth Alabama Regt. Maj. HATCHER, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Stewart's Division.

Source: Official Records PAGE 409-51 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII. [Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]

Alabama 38th Infantry (Confederate)

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