3. Alabama Troops.-As Alabama was remote from States that opposed slavery, there was no immediate prospect of invasion by the Federals, and her brave sons marched to the battle-grounds of other States. The first Alabama infantry, under Colonel Henry D. Clayton, remained at Pensacola during 1861, and thenmoved up into Tennessee. It fought at Island Number Ten, Fort Pillow, Corinth, Port Hudson, New Hope, Atlanta, Nashville, and Bentonville. It was present with its thinned ranks at Goldsboro, North Carolina, when General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to General Sherman. The second regiment, under Colonel Harry Maury, protected Fort Morgan, and then became merged into other regiments. Henry D. Clayton The third regiment, organized under Col. Jones M. Withers and Lieut.-Col. Tennent Lomax, took part in the battles of Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, second Cold Harbor, Winchester, and Petersburg, and surrendered with only forty men at Appomattox. At Seven Pines it lost Colonel Lomax, far in advance of his regiment, and also R. B. Johnson, one of its gallant captains. Apr. 6-7, 1862 Oct. 4, 1862 1863 to 1865 It lost heavily in every battle, its brave men moving to the thickest of the fight on every field. And so the history runs with other regiments. From a population of a little more than half a million, Alabama contributed about one hundred and twenty-five thousand soldiers to the Confederate cause, thirty thousand of whom fell before musket, cannon, and disease contracted by military service. Colonel William Henry Fowler, superintendent of army records for Alabama, reported "that Alabama sent more troops in proportion to her population than any other State, and that her loss was heavier than any other, irrespective of population." 4. War in Northern Alabama.-The battle of Shiloh in Tennessee and the battle of Corinth in Mississippi brought defeat to the Confederate arms. The Confederate retreat opened the northern counties of Alabama to Federal troops. Scarcely ever have a brave people suffered greater wrongs than the invaders inflicted upon the defenceless citizens of northern Alabama, where the Federals held almost unbroken sway. So many acts of brutality and cruelty were permitted that General Mitchell, one of the Federal commanders, was removed from office. General Philip Dale Roddy in the fall of 1862 defeated the Federals at Little Bear Creek, in Colbert county, and later at Barton's Station, driving them back to their stronghold at Corinth. On April Apr. 28, 28, 1863, he was holding General Dodge at bay at Town Creek when Forrest came to his assistance. The thunder of Dibrell's cannon on the Federal position at Florence called off Dodge, whose retreat 1863 left behind it all the desolation that fire could work in the beautiful valley. Forrest dashed away to the pursuit and capture of Colonel Streight. Raids and detached engagements kept north Alabama in great anxiety. Marshall county especially suffered. The Federals shelled Guntersville several times without giving warning, and finally burned it. Captain H. F. Smith, of Jackson county, with a daring force of sixty-five Confederates, on the night of March 8, 1864, captured in Claysville sixty-six Mar. 8, Federals and large quantities of stores and provisions. In May following, Colonel Patterson, of Morgan county, assisted by a battalion of artillery, attacked the Federal stockade in Madison county, capturing eighty prisoners and an immense quantity of provisions. In July, 1864, General Rousseau (ru sō') passed down the Coosa river with nearly two thousand Federals, tore up the railroads, and burned the depots about Loach a pō'ka, Auburn, and O pe lī'ka; but the citizens and youths who formed the State reserves drove him away into Georgia. In September, General Forrest captured Athens, with many horses and fourteen hundred Federals under Colonel Campbell. Forrest also defeated the detachment sent for Campbell's relief. Two days later he captured at Sulphur Trestle eight hundred and twenty men and a large number of horses and loaded wagons. 5. Federal Invasion.-At the same time that a Federal force was moving northward against Mobile, General James H. Wilson started south from Lau 1864 July, 1864 Sept 1864 1865 1865 derdale county. He had thirteen thousand five hundred Federal troops in three divisions, under Generals McCook, Long, and Upton. Generals Roddy and Forrest were sent to harass and check him. Several engagements failed to stop the overwhelming Federal forces. The rolling-mills and collieries with much other property about Montevallo were destroyed. Colonel Croxton turned aside to Tuskaloosa, entered it, burnt the University, and destroyed the Apr. 4 foundries and factories and all other public property. He then turned west and was routed by General Wirt Adams at Pleasant Ridge in Greene county. General Adams, being misinformed, proceeded to Columbus, Mississippi, where he hoped again to encounter Croxton. Croxton, however, marched northeast to the capture of Talladega, and then on toward Jacksonville, skirmishing here and there with such straggling forces as the Confederates could muster. Apr. 2, 1865 General Wilson reached Selma and threw his veterans against the city. Forrest was in command of the defenses, but he had less than seven thousand men, and many of these were inexperienced recruits. The Federals overran the forces of Forrest and captured the city. Brave hearts bravely resisted, but to no avail. Twenty-five hundred Confederates were made prisoners. The Federal soldiers were permitted by General Wilson to go into private houses and take whatsoever plunder they pleased. The Confederate arsenal and foundries were destroyed. |