THE FORTY-FIRST ALABAMA INFANTRY.

The Forty-first regiment, 1,250 strong, was organized in May, 1862; was ordered from Tuscaloosa to Chattanooga; was in Middle Tennessee for some months, doing guard duty principally; was sent to Kentucky in September, brigaded under General Hanson, being the only Alabama troops in his Kentucky brigade. Under its gallant and brave Colonel Stansel, who shared its vicissitudes from the beginning until the close, it fought valiantly at Murfreesboro, December 31st to January 2nd, where two of its finest lieutenants were killed, as was its brigade commender, General Hanson. Gen. Marcus Wright and Colonel Hunt, successively, commanded the Kentucky brigade, but in May, 1863, it was assigned to General Helm, and moved to Tullahoma in Breckinridge's army. The regiment was engaged in the operations for the relief of Vicksburg, and in the trenches at Jackson through the long, weary summer of 1863. Rejoining the army of Tennessee, the regiment immortalized itself at Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863. Of the 325 men who went into battle, 147 were killed and wounded, several of them officers. Again it lost its brigade commander, General Helm being killed in this battle. In November, we find the regiment brigaded with the Forty-third Alabama and the First, Second, Third and Fourth battalions, Hilliard's legion (afterward known as the Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth Alabama), and Stallworth's sharpshooters, under the command of General Gracie, which organization remained identical until the surrender; took part, with considerable loss, in the campaign of East Tennessee. In April, 1864, the brigade was sent to Virginia; was at Drewry's Bluff, May 12th to 16th, and at Dutch Gap. Took part in the siege of Petersburg, March 25th to April 2nd, where Maj. L. D. Hudgins was killed, and the loss was very severe; suffered greatly at Hatcher's Run; at White Oak road it lost its brave and gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Trimmier. The regiment was bravely fighting at Appomattox, and had repulsed the enemy, when the flag of truce ended the fight, and, at the same time, the long war. Of 1,454 names on the rolls since its enrollment, there were 270 in this last fight, led by Stansel, and under the command of General Gordon. Capt. Robert H. McCord died in the service; Capt. B. A. Hudgins was wounded, and Lieuts. J. T. Hardaway and N. B. Lenderman were killed, at Murfreesboro. Capt. L. M. Clements was wounded, and Lieut. A. Hawkins and Sergt.-Maj. Ira Tarrant were killed, at Chickamauga; Capt. H. M. Bell was wounded at Hatcher's Run. The field officers were Cols. Henry Talbird and M. L. Stansel, wounded at Murfreesboro, and since distinguished in the political history of Alabama and at the bar; Lieut.-Cols. J. T. Murfee and T. G. Trimmier, who laid down his life at White Oak road; and Majs. Jesse G. Nash and L. D. Hudgins, the latter killed at Petersburg. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 183 Stone's River after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. M. L. Stansel, Forty-first Alabama Infantry. TULLAHOMA, TENN., January 12, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the performances of this regiment in the recent seven days' battles in front of Murfreesborough, Tenn.: On Sunday, December 28, this regiment, together with the other regiments composing Hanson's brigade, acting under orders proceeding from general headquarters, proceeded to Wayne's Hill and formed line of battle in rear and in support of Cobb's battery and a section of the Washington Artillery, as also a section of Lumsden's battery. In this position we remained for several days, exposed to a constant and galling fire both from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters, awaiting an evidently contemplated attack upon that point. During this time two of our best lieutenants [[James T.] Hardaway and [N. B.] Lenderman] and Private Suddeth were killed and a number of our men wounded; still, however, we held our position against the most terrific assaults the enemy could bring to bear against ita point called by Gen. Bragg himself the key of the battle-field. On Friday evening, January 2, this regiment, together with the Second, Fourth, and Sixth Kentucky Regiments, was ordered to the right of our position, and proceeded down Stone's River to a point about 1 mile north of Wayne's Hill, to make an attack upon a strong body of the enemy in force there. In this attack, from which ensued a most terrific battle, my officers and men demeaned themselves most gallantly, driving the enemy before them across the river entirely from the position they held, pushing forward until they came within the raking fire of the powerful batteries of the enemy planted on the opposite bank of the river and supported by almost their entire army. So gallant was the general conduct of my officers and men in this the hardest struggle of the battle, that it would seem invidious to discriminate between them. The annexed is a correct list* of the casualties in the battle, which shows the following result: Killed, 18; wounded, 90; missing, 35; total, 143. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. L. STANSEL, Lieut.-Col., Comdg. Forty-first Regt. Alabama Vols. Col. R. P. TRABUE, Cmdg. Hanson's Brigade.

Source: Official Records PAGE 830-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. [Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]

Alabama 41st Infantry (Confederate)

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