THE TWENTY-SECOND ALABAMA INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Montgomery, November, 1861, and armed by private enterprise. It first served in Mobile; from there it was ordered to Corinth and reached Tennessee in time for the battle of Shiloh, where it suffered severe loss. It fought at Munfordville, September 14 to 16, 1862; at Perryville, October 8th, and at Murfreesboro, December 31 to January 2, 1863. It took a very brilliant part in the impetuous assault on Rosecrans' army at Chickamauga, September 20th, and suffered severely, losing almost two-thirds of its forces, the killed including five color-bearers. It served in the campaign in Georgia, losing heavily in the battles around Atlanta, July, 1864, and at Jonesboro, August 31st and September 1st. It was also distinguished at Franklin, November 30th; at Nashville, December 15th and 16th; at Kinston, N. C., March 14, 1865, and at Bentonville, March 19th to 21st. In April it was consolidated with the Twentyfifth, Thirty-ninth and Fiftieth, under Colonel Toulmin. Col. John C. Marrast died in the service, after having made a glorious record. Capt. Abner C. Gaines was killed, and Maj. R. B. Armistead mortally wounded, at Shiloh. Lieuts. J. N. Smith and J. H. Wall fell at Murfreesboro, Lieut.Col. John Weedon, Capt. James Deas Nott and Lieuts. Waller Mordecai and Renfroe were killed at Chickamauga; Col. Benj. R. Hart, Capt. Thomas M. Brindley, Lieuts. Leary and Stackpoole at Atlanta, and Capt. Ben. B. Little was killed at Jonesboro. The other field officers were Col. Zach C. Deas, afterward a noted brigadier-general; Col. Harry T. Toulmin, now U. S. district judge; Lieut.-Cols. Napoleon D. Rouse and Herbert E. Armistead; Majs. Thomas McPrince, Robert D. Armistead and Robert Donnell. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 125 Shiloh after battle report: Report of Col. Z. C. Deas, commanding Twenty-second Alabama Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND ALA. REGT., PROV. ARMY, Corinth, Miss., April 11, 1862. GEN.: I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 6th instant, about 6 o'clock, under orders of Gen. Gladden, I moved my regiment out of camp, numbering 404 rifles and 31 officers, and forming a part of Gen. Gladden's brigade. Marching in line of battle, at about 7 o'clock we came upon the enemy, drawn up in front of their camp, where they opened fire upon us with their infantry and a battery of artillery, to which we responded. Robertson's battery was brought into action, which soon silenced them, and shortly afterwards the enemy wavered, and we charged over their dismantled guns, driving them through their camps, where we halted to reform, and after a short time they again opened upon us with another battery, which was silenced by our batteries. We then moved forward a few hundred yards and halted in support. Here Col. Adams, who was in command-Gen. Gladden having been very seriously wounded by a cannon-ball in the first engagement-was seriously wounded, and the command of the brigade devolving upon me, Lieut.-Col. Marrast took command of my regiment, and will finish this report. Maj. R. B. Armistead was mortally wounded in the first engagement, but he fell where every brave soldier should be found to fall-in the front rank, doing his whole duty and urging his men on to victory. In him his country has lost a most intelligent and gallant officer. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. C. DEAS, Col., Cmdg. ----------Report of Lieut. Col. J. C. Marrast, Twenty-second Alabama Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND ALA. REGT., PROV. ARMY, Corinth, Miss., April 12, 1862. GEN.: I have the honor to report that about 11.30 a.m. Sunday, April 6, the command of this regiment devolved upon me in consequence of the wounding of the gallant Col. Adams, First Louisiana Regt., and the succession of Col. Deas to the command of the Gladden brigade. Col. Adams fell at 11.30 o'clock, while the two regiments were under cover, the enemy firing upon us with artillery and infantry. We advanced from that position, through one of the enemy's camps, into a hollow, from which point we discovered the enemy in houses on the hill beyond. Col. Deas ordered me to send two companies to dislodge them, whereupon Capt. John Weedon, in command of his company [A] and Capt. J. D. Nott, of Company B, gallantly charged the enemy, and driving him before them, the regiment then closed upon the houses and occupied them as a cover for about one hour, and did the enemy much damage, who was throwing a heavy fire of artillery and infantry upon us. Our loss in this engagement was very severe. We then charged upon the enemy's position, driving him before us about 400 or 500 yards, when he made another stand, pouring into us a heavy fire. We were then halted in support of our artillery, and kept as much as possible under cover; but our loss in this affair also was considerable. Capt. A. L. Gaines, of Company C, was here killed, gallantly leading his company. From this position the enemy were finally driven back, and retreated beyond their camps, when the regiment was halted and ordered into camp for the night. On the morning of April 7 [Monday], at daylight, I formed my regiment, numbering 1 field and 18 company officers, and 124 non-commissioned officers and privates. This regiment, together with the First Louisiana, under command of Col. Deas, was ordered to march and form on the extreme left of the line of battle then being formed, in which position it remained one hour. Orders being received to advance, the regiment moved forward about 300 yards in the direction of a point occupied by the enemy's batteries, then playing without effect upon us; we then halted in a hollow, under cover. From this position I threw out a skirmishing party of 20 men, under command of Capt. Hart, of Company K. A few minutes thereafter we were ordered to fall back. The skirmishers not hearing the call to return, Lieut. Wood, of Company I, with 2 men, were ordered up the slope of the hill to warn them, which party has not since been heard from, and are supposed to be prisoners. Capt. Hart's party returned to the command all safe and reported not having seen them. The regiment was then, with the First Louisiana, placed under cover, in support of two of our batteries, where we lay for about two hours, when the whole fell back a distance of perhaps a half mile, when, the new line of battle being formed, my regiment again regained its position on the extreme left, and advanced towards the enemy's position some 300 yards. When under cover of the timber we engaged the enemy for perhaps twenty-five minutes, having been left, with the First Louisiana Infantry, isolated and alone, the main line having fallen back to near the original place of formation. In this affair our loss being severe, we were ordered by Col. Deas to fall back to our position in the line, which was done in good order very soon thereafter. The second advance upon the enemy's position was attempted, and after advancing about 200 yards was halted. Placing my men under cover of the timber we opened fire upon the enemy, which was sustained for only a few minutes, meeting with very heavy fire from the enemy. Our entire line at this time wavered and fell back again to the original position. Our lines being reformed, my regiment in its position on the left, we again advanced toward the enemy some 100 to 200 yards, and very soon fell back again under orders. At this time Col. Deas was compelled, from loss of blood from wounds received hours before, to retire from the field, from which time my regiment was represented in every movement made toward the enemy, and never retired without an order, and did not leave the field until the horses and gunners were removed from the two pieces of Capt. Ketchum's battery, which had to be abandoned. Being informed by the officer in command of the battery that he had been deserted by the troops left for his support, I felt it my duty to volunteer the services of my regiment for his support. When my command left this position not a man of our army was in front of us. I beg to mention the following officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, who were particularly conspicuous for soldierly bearing and bravery throughout the action of the two days: Company A-Capt. John Weedon; Lieut. J. M. Whitney; Corps. Alexander Inman [killed], S. V. Cain [wounded], and W. D. Summer [wounded], and Privates J. L. Penly and J. J. Faught. Company B-Capt. J. Deas Nott, and Privates Bartlett Anderson [wounded] and H. C. McMillan. Company C-Capt. A. L. Gaines [killed], and Private Frank Allen. Company H-Private William West. Company I-Capt. A. P. Love [wounded], and First Sergt. S. J. Skinner. Company E-Capt. J. R. Northcott; Sergt. R. J. Moore [wounded], and Corp. James M. Tedder [wounded]. Company K-Capt. B. R. Hart, Second Lieut. R. L. Myrick [wounded], and Privates Aaron Coffey and Monroe Brown. Company D-Capt. E. H. Armistead; Capt. R. J. Hill, assistant quartermaster [wounded]; Adjt. E. F. Travis [wounded]; Sergt. Maj. Nott, and Quartermaster-Sergt. C. I. Michailoffsky. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. MARRAST, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10 Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Capt. Harry T. Toulmin, Twenty-second Alabama Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND ALABAMA REGT., Missionary Ridge, October 5, 1863. CAPT.:I have the honor to report the part taken by the Twenty-second Alabama Regt. in the battle of Chickamauga: On the morning of September 20, the Twenty-second Alabama Regt., under the command of Lieut. Co. John Weedon, and forming a part of the Left Wing of the line of battle, was ordered to move forward against the line of the enemy. The movement began about 11.20 a. m. The regiment had advanced about 300 yards, when it came in contact with the enemy's skirmishers, who immediately fell back on the main line. Here we met with heavy volleys of musketry from behind a temporary breastwork of logs about 3 feet high. Without halting to exchange fire with the enemy, the regiment most gallantly charged the works, capturing some 250 prisoners and a piece of artillery, and putting to flight the remainder of the line. It was here that Capt. J. D. Nott and Lieut. Waller Mordecai, of Company B, fell mortally wounded. No truer patriots ever liver; no better, braver soldiers ever died. Here, too, Sergeant Laery, of Company H, bravely bearing the colors, fell severely wounded. The colors were then seized by Lieut. Leonard, of Company K, and borne by him until he was wounded and forced to give them up. They then fell into the hands of Lieut. Renfro, of Company K, who gallantly carried them to the front and planted them almost within the enemy's line. Moving rapidly forward, amid a destructive fire of shot and shell, some 200 yards across an open field, the regiment became engaged with a second line of battle, which obstinately contested every foot of ground over which it passed. Here took place a terrible conflict, which lasted about 20 minutes, and in which we lost many brave spirits, none of whom deserves more honorable mention than Lieut. A. B. Renfro, who fell pierced through the head with colors in hand. Here too, fell our brave, our true, our esteemed commander, Lieut. Col. John Weedon. Having led with distinguished coolness and bravery his command to within 20 paces of the enemy's line, he fell to rise no more. He fell beneath the honored folds of that cherished flag under which he had so gallantly led his brave men. It was at this point the command of the regiment devolved upon me, Maj. Hart having been previously wounded and retired from the field. The command firmly held its ground and was driving the enemy slowly but surely before its destructive fire when re-enforcements came to our support. At this time the Twenty-second Alabama rushed forward with a yell and drove the enemy in dismay form his strong position. Here it captured two pieces of cannon and the tattered remnants of a stand of colors. It pressed on and, in conjunction with a portion of Gen. Anderson's brigade, captured several other pieces of cannon. The regiment continued to press forward, the enemy fleeing before it, until ordered to fall back about a quarter of a mile for the purpose of reforming the brigade. This order was promptly obeyed. Having formed, the regiment, with the brigade, moved by the right flank some half or three-quarters of a mile and again formed line of battle, when it was halted to procure ammunition. This being done, moved on a short distance into the woods, where it was halted and remained at rest about an hour. The regiment moved from this point in a line at right angles with the one occupied in the morning over a range of thickly wooded and very steep hills. Being ordered to move by a right wheel and to assault the enemy's line, it did so, but finding the enemy on a very high hill with a strongly posted battery, it was impossible to penetrate his line. The fire of grape and canister at this point was terrific, and although the command made bold and earnest efforts to rise the hill and storm the battery it was unsuccessful. Here, I regret to state, we lost our colors. Private Braswell, of Company A, who was then bearing them, fearlessly rushed to the front and in advance of the line, and was there riddled with balls, as was subsequently shown by the recovery of his body. The fire at this time was such at to throw the regiment into confusion, in which the loss of Private Braswell and colors was not discovered until too late to rescue them, for amid this confusion the regiment fell back, and was unable afterward to regain its lost position. Twice did it rally and attempt to recover its ground and lost colors, but the storm of grape and canister was so terrible and destructive that every effort proved unavailing. Having fallen back a third time in some disorder, the regiment retired to the foot of the hill and reformed there. This was done by the whole brigade. From this point we moved by the right flank some 300 yards to a point on the crest of a hill, where we formed line of battle and bivouacked for the night. It was now about sunset. Where all did so well, both officers and men, it would be hard to discriminate, but I cannot fail to mention the coolness and gallantry of Adjt. W. G. Smith, and to express my appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him during the battle; nor can I close this report without the honorable mention of Lieut. C. J. Michailoffsky, of Company B, whose conduct was so worthy of the cause in which he fought, and whose gallantry was so conspicuous on every part of the field. I am proud to be able to state that the command displayed such conduct on the battle-field of Chickamauga as will entitle it to another star in that crown of glory it has already won. The following is a list of casualties in the Twenty-second Alabama Regt. during the battle of Chickamauga, September 20: Went into action with 31 officers and 340 men; aggregate, 371. Killed: Officers, 5; enlisted men 39. Wounded: Officers, 10; enlisted men, 151. Missing, none. Aggregate killed, wounded, and missing, 205. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. T. TOULMIN, Capt., Comdg. Twenty-second Alabama Regt. Capt. E. F. TRAVIS, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records PAGE 335-51 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII. [Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]

Alabama 22nd Infantry (Confederate)

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