THE TWENTY-FOURTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Mobile in August, 1861. In April it was ordered to Corinth, and was under fire at Farmington, May 9th, and Blackland, June 4, 1862. It was in the Kentucky campaign, but did not become engaged; lost heavily at Murfreesboro, and was distinguished at Chickamauga, where it lost over 30 per cent of its number, and at Missionary Ridge. It was with General Johnston in the campaign of 1864, and fought in most of the battles from Dalton to Jonesboro. It was at Columbia, Tenn., November 29th; at Franklin, November 30th, and at Nashville, December 15th and 16th. Capt. W. B. Smith and Lieutenant Cooper were killed at Murfreesboro, Capt. Wm. J. O'Brien at Chickamauga, and Capt. John B. Hazard, mortally wounded at Missionary Ridge, was taken prisoner and died at Johnson's Island. Its commanders were Cols. William A. Buck and Newton N. Davis, Lieut.-Cols. Benjamin F. Sawyer, Wm. B. Dennett, Geo. A. Jennison and Wm. M. LeBaron, Maj. Junius J. Pierce. Capts. S. H. Oliver and Thos. J. Kimbell were at times in command of regiment. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 131 Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Col. N. N. Davis, Twenty-fourth Alabama Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-FOURTH ALABAMA REGT., Near Chattanooga, Tenn., October 5, 1863. CAPT.:In compliance with circular of this date from brigade headquarters, calling for a report of the action taken by the respective regiments and battery in the late battle of Chickamauga, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken in that engagement by this regiment: Early on the morning of September 18, I being on picket with my regiment at the gap leading through Pigeon Mountain to McLemore's Cove, received orders to rejoin the brigade with my regiment, immediately after which the brigade took up line of march on the road leading from La Fayette to Lee and Gordon's Mills, and arrived near the latter place about 10 a. m., when the brigade halted in the road, and orders were received from the brigade commander to deploy two companies as skirmishers on the left flank of the regiment, and to connect with skirmishers on the right and left. Capt.'s Fowler and Hall, with their respective companies, were ordered on this duty, both under the command of the former. The brigade then moved a short distance farther down the road toward the mills, where it again halted and line of battle was formed fronting Chickamauga Creek and in an oblique angle to the road. The skirmishers moved to the right, so as to cover the front of the brigade and about 300 yards in advance. In forming line of battle the enemy discovered the movement and opened upon us from a battery on the opposite side of the creek, but fortunately no damage was done, the shells passing over and exploding in our rear. Late in the evening the regiment moved by the right flank with the brigade back into the road and some 400 or 500 yards nearer the mill, when it halted and bivouacked for the night on the roadside. Early Saturday morning (the 19th), reformed line of battle fronting the creek as before. The enemy again opened upon us from their battery, but with no effect. Our skirmishers were ordered to advance nearer the creek, which they did under fire of the enemy's skirmishers on the opposite bank. In moving forward, Private Thomas J. Carter, of Capt. Fowler's company, was killed. The regiment remained in line of battle, the enemy shelling us at intervals until late in the evening, when it moved with the brigade some 3 miles down the creek to Hunt's Ford, and after crossing joined the main body of the army. After crossing, the regiment proceeded about a mile and formed line of battle with the brigade and moved to the front some 600 or 800 yards, when it halted and we were ordered to bivouac for the night. Capt.'s Fowler and Hall, with their companies, rejoined the regiment early Sunday morning. Immediately afterward the regiment moved with the brigade and took position in the front line of battle. At 10.15 a. m. the order was received to advance. After moving forward about 400 or 500 yards through the woods, the regiment entered an open field, through which it continued to advance briskly for some distance up a gentle slope, and immediately upon arriving upon the crest of the hill the enemy opened upon us a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. The order having been previously given to guide upon the regiment on the right, in order to do this the regiment was compelled to oblique to the right, which threw the right wing into the woods skirting the field. After moving forward a short distance, the regiment came under a heavy cross-fire from the left besides a severe fire from the front. It being discovered that we were being flanked on our left, the order was given to fall back, which was immediately obeyed. In this charge the regiment suffered severely, both in killed and wounded. Capt. W. J. O'Brien was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his company forward, and Capt. B. S. Chamberlain severely wounded while leading on his men. Lieut. Cooper was dangerously wounded while some distance in advance of his regiment. The color bearer, Sergt. George W. Moody, receiving a severe wound, dropped the colors, which was not discovered until after the regiment was rallied. Lieut. Young, with 4 men, immediately volunteered to bring them off the field, but they could not be found. It is reported that Sergt. George B. Ackerman, of Company G, was seen with the colors in hand going toward the enemy's lines, and it is supposed he deserted, as he has not been heard from since. The line having again been formed, the regiment moved with the brigade by the right flank about a mile on the road leading to McFarland's Springs, when line of battle was again formed near the foot of a range of hills and at right angles to our original line. It then moved forward upon the slope of a hill where it was ordered to halt, as I supposed to await the movement of some troops on the left. In a few minutes the order was given to advance. We had gone but a short distance before the enemy [opened] upon us a heavy fire from the top of hill, where they were strongly posted, with both infantry and artillery. After morning forward some distance up the hill the fire became so heavy the regiment fell back. It was soon rallied, and again moved forward to the charge; again fell back. Several charges were in like manner made, and with the same result until about sundown, when a final and successful charge was made and the enemy driven back from the hill in confusion. We pressed forward briskly and followed the enemy in his retreat until dark, when we halted to await orders, supposing it to be dangerous to proceed farther in the dark. Both officers and men were completely exhausted, having fought desperately for more than three consecutive hours before the enemy could be driven from their position. In following up the enemy the different regiments became confused and mixed. When we halted order was again restored and we were ordered to the crest of the hill, where we bivouacked for the night. Conspicuous for their gallantry during the day I would mention Adjutant Jennison, Capt.'s Hazard, Oliver, McCrackin, Fowler, and Hall; Lieut.'s Higley, Chapman, Parham, Dunlap, Young, Enholm, Wood, Hanley, Northrup, Short, and Nettles, and Sergeant-Maj. Mink. In fact, many of the officers did their duty nobly, and exerted themselves in rallying their men and urging them forward to the charge. Among the non-commissioned officers and privates I would mention the following as having behaved with great gallantry during the entire day: Sergeant Neil and Private Crevillan, Company A; Sergeants Wylie (killed) and Moody, Company D; Sergeant Bumpers and Private Hall, Company E; Corporal Sweat and Private Boswell, Company F; Privates J. M. Ragland and C. P. Hurtel, Company G; Corporal Tatum and Private Smith, Company H; Sergeant New and Private Walters, Company I; Sergeant Tally, Privates Wilson, Carter, Scott, Love, Eubank, and Fulmer-in fact all of this company [K]. J. B. Hall, a youth of seventeen years of age, joined his brother's company (Company K) as an independent volunteers, and fell mortally wounded while gallantly fighting the enemy some distance in advance of the regiment. The regiment went into action with an aggregate of 381, and lost in killed, wounded, and missing as follows: Killed, 22; wounded, 91; missing, 3. Total, 116. Respectfully submitted. N. N. DAVIS, Col., Twenty-fourth Alabama Regt. Capt. C. I. WALKER, Assictant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records PAGE 345-51 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII. [Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]

Alabama 24th Infantry (Confederate)

Related Records