The First Alabama infantry was the first in Alabama to
enlist for one year, the first to re-enlist, and has the
distinction of having served, though several times reorganized, from the
beginning to the end of the conflict. Enlisting in March, 1861, it
assembled at Pensacola and immediately began the hardest of work in
preparing for defense. It was assigned to the batteries and soon earned
the title, "Bragg's best artillerists.'' Col. Henry D. Clayton
served during the year 1861; at the end of one year the regiment
reorganized under Col. Isaiah G. W. Steedman. It took part in the battle
of Santa Rosa, and was in the bombardment of Pensacola, where it earned
high renown. Ordered to Memphis, March, 1862, it saw constant service
until at Island No. 10, where a large part of the regiment was captured;
the remainder were in the battle of Corinth.
In September the Island No. 10 prisoners were exchanged and
the regiment was ordered to Port Hudson, where most of them were again
captured. The enlisted men, 610 strong, were exchanged, and under
command of the officers who escaped capture, fought at New Hope and
Kenesaw, where a brilliant record was made; Peach Tree creek, Atlanta,
Franklin, Nashville, Averasboro, and Bentonville. The regiment was
greatly distinguished, suffering many losses in these battles, including
Major Knox, the commander, who fell while leading his troops in the
battle of Franklin.
Vol. VI—(460) Report of General Anderson of battle of Santa
Rosa, October 8, 1861. (492) General Bragg's report of bombardment of
Pensacola, November 22-23, 1861, says: "Col. H. D. Clayton, First
regiment of Alabama volunteers, whose entire regiment served both days
at the batteries, has received the just commendation of the general.
This gallant regiment has toiled for nearly ten months in the
construction and garnishment of the works they almost despaired of
using. Having been the first on the ground, much the largest portion of
the labor fell to their lot. When least expected, the opportunity has
been offered to test their skill, and most nobly have they availed
themselves of it" (784) General Bragg calls it "a well-instructed body
of artillery." (819) In Gen. Sam Jones' brigade, Bragg's army, February
1, 1862. (838) General Jones, Pensacola, March 5, 1863, says: "First
Alabama leaves for Memphis this evening."
Vol. VII—(915) Ordered to Fort Pillow under command of
General Withers. Memorandum of General Beauregard, March 3, 1862.
Vol. VIII—(129) Colonel Steedman's First Alabama regiment
rendered gallant and efficient service on the 17th of March,
1862.—Report of Gen. J. P. McCown. (161) Commended in report of Capt E.
W. Rucker, regarding Madrid Bend and Island No. 10. (174-175) Report of
Col. I. G. W. Steedman, Island No. 10: "Lieutenants Owens and Sanford
acted gallantly as men could act." Lieutenant Clark killed, 5 men
wounded. (778) "I sent you the First Alabama regiment two days ago; they
are Bragg's best artillerists."—Gen. Leonidas Polk, March 13th.
Vol. XV—(276-277) Report of Gen. Frank Gardner, Port Hudson,
March 14, 1863: "Battery served by 4 companies of Colonel Steedman's
regiment; the other companies posted as sharpshooters. Gallant conduct
of men at batteries deserving of highest praise." (278) One ofiicer
wounded, Port Hudson, La., March 14, 1863. (841) Aggregate present for
duty 312—report of Gen. Wm. N. R. Beall, Port Hudson,
October 22, 1862. (1033) Heavy artillery. Colonel Steedman commanding,
March 31, 1863. (1062) Heavy artillery, Lieut.-Col. M. B. Locke commanding.
Vol. XVII, Part 2—(600) Abstract from statement of troops at and about Grenada, Miss., Jnne 14, 1862. Aggregate
169, commanded by General Villepigue. (661) Aggregate 193, with General
Van Dora at Vicksburg, July, 1862. (726) "Steedman's regiment at Port
Hudson."—General Ruggles' letter to Van Dora, October 11, 1862. (815)
With General Pemberton in Mississippi, December, 1862.
No. 38—(6x3) In heavy artillery brigade, department of
Mississippi, General Pemberton. (707) Same assignment, April 20, 1863,
Col. I. G. W. Steedman.
No. 41—(36-37) Report of Lieut. Col. M. B. Locke of
operations near Port Hudson, May 17, 1863: "Capt. J. G. Stubbs, Company
C, held the enemy in check until nearly surrounded." Captain Pruett and
Lieutenant Cregnies mentioned. One man wounded. (143) Paroled at Port
Hudson, July, 1863. (144) Lieut Thomas Frank killed at siege of Port
Hudson. (147) Killed 2, wounded 2. Casualties in General Beall's brigade
up to June 1, 1863. (156) Killed 2, wounded 8. Report of Colonel
Steedman, operations May 25th to July 7th, Port Hudson. (157) Report of
Colonel Steedman, May 26th, mentions Lieutenant-Colonel Locke. (161)
Report of Colonel Steedman, June 10th, mentions Capts. J. F. Whitfield
and James D. Meadows, also Maj. Samuel L. Knox. (156-163) Reports of
Colonel Steedman, June 29th, Major Knox commanding. (163) April 20th,
Colonel Steedman says: "The fine discipline and buoyant spirits of the
regiment were conspicuous during the entire siege. In their exposed
position they were assaulted incessantly, almost every day and night,
but never successfully." (166) Mentioned in Lieut. Col. J. H.
Wingfield's report. (551) Report of Gen. Wm. Dwight, U. S. A., before
Port Hudson, says: "First Alabama is 500 strong."
No. 42—(18) Letter of Lieutenant-Colonel Locke, commanding.
May 25, 1863. (104) Letter of Capt. J. P. Jones, Port Hudson, July5th,
states: "First Alabama 585 strong." (431) Letter of Gen. Dabney H.
Maury, Mobile, November 21 st, speaks of expected arrival of First
Alabama.
No. 56—(630) Ordered to Meridian, Miss., November 4,
1863.
No. 58—(563) Asked for by General Maury, January 15, 1864.
(583) January 20, 1864, aggregate, 745. (703) General Maury asks General
Polk, February 10th: "Please send me Colonel Steedman's regiment to
serve as heavy artillery.'* (734) "I shall send you the
First Alabama regiment. General."—Polk to Maury, February 13th. (769)
"First Alabama has arrived."—Maury to Polk, February 19th.
No. 59—(861) Major Knox commanding, with troops in district
of the Gulf, April 30, 1864.
No. 65—(425) Mentioned by General Ashboth, U. S. A., affair
at Bayou Grand, August 7, 1864. Spoken of as First Alabama artillery,
number 400.
No. 66—(89) General Ashboth, U. S. A., Barrancas, May 9,
1864, says: "First Alabama infantry is at Pollard."
No. 74—(646) In General Cantey's division, Second brigade,
army of Mississippi, July 10, 1864. (653) Walthall's division, June
30th, Major Knox commanding. (660) Same assignment. (665) In Quarles'
brigade, General Walthall's division, Stewart's corps, army of
Tennessee, July 31st. (671) Assignment as above, August 31, 1864. (894)
Gen. D. H. Reynolds, of Walthall's division, in front or Atlanta, July
19th, says: "Major Knox arrived with his regiment. (923) General
Walthall, September 3d, says: "Major Knox in command of the First
Alabama regiment, a fine officer and veteran regiment, reports that the
enemy came within 30 yards of his lines at almost all points," battle of
Kenesaw, June 27th.
No. 74—(930) Gen. William A. Quarles, writing July 1, 1864,
of the same operations, says: "To the First Alabama is due the whole
credit of the most brilliant affair it has ever been my fortune to
witness. I respectfully and most earnestly recommend the promotion of
Major Knox. He has exhibited his capacity for higher rank on the field
where commissions are most worthily won." (932) August 6th, General
Quarles says: "Colonel (Major) Knox, of the First Alabama, well known as
one of the most promising officers in the army, was severely and
dangerously wounded in the early part of the action. It is
praise enough of him to say that up to the time of his fall he sustained
his former reputation." (933) "And to Lieutenant Neal, acting
assistant-surgeon, First Alabama, I am much indebted for the zeal and
promptness of [his] conduct" (934) Major Knox in report of same
operations says: We captured 18 prisoners, one of them Captain
Wakefield, of the Fifty-third Indiana. We lost 1 sergeant killed and 5
privates wounded." (937) Mentioned by Gen. D. H. Reynolds in his
report of same.
No. 78—(855) September 20, 1864, same assignment, regiment
commanded by Maj. Samuel L. Knox; inspection report gives Acting
Lieut.-Col. Richard Williams.
Vol. XCIII—(666) Same assignment in army of Tennessee, Gen.
S. D. Lee; Lieut. Charles M. McRae commanding regiment December 20,
1864. (685) Maj. S. L. Knox wounded and captured at Franklin. (725)
Colors of First Alabama among others lost, color-bearers either killed
or captured at Franklin.—General Walthall's report of battle.
Vol. XCVIII—(1063) Shelley's brigade, Stewart's corps. Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston, as constituted after April 9, 1865(consolidated with
Sixteenth, Thirty-third and Forty-fifth Alabama), under Col. Robert H.
Abercrombie.
Vol. C— (735) Quarles' brigade with
Seventeenth and Twenty-ninth, commanded by Capt. Benjamin H. Screws,
March 31, 1865. (773) Assignment as above. [Source:
Confederate Military History; 1899, Transcribed by C.
Anthony]
Soldiers Who Served In The First Alabama
Infantry Regiment
GREEN PINKHAM DEFEE - Died 20 Jan 1906 in Hunt Co, Texas. He
was in Easy Co, 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment. Buried in
Kingston Cemetery, Hunt Co, Texas. Submitted
by Descendant
- Bill Sweeney
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HARMON PRATT DEFEE - (Brother of Green Pinkham
Defee) Died 5 April 1907 in Palo Pinto Co, Texas. Harmon was first
in Easy Company and later transfered to Alpha Company.
The "Harrison DeFee" one sees on the
1st Alabama Infantry Regiment roster is Harmon Pratt DeFee. The
name was probably misread as Harrison. (Not unusual for old
documents) Harmon as I previously stated was in both
Companies. Harmon is buried in McWright Cemetery, Hunt
County, Texas. Submitted
by Descendant - Bill
Sweeney
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JAMES MCCULLOUCH DEFEE - (Older brother of Green Pinkham
Defee and Harmon Pratt Defee) Died 27 November 1865
in Pike County, Ala. He was in Easy Company and a
Corporal. Unk. where buried but believe on DeFee
land. Believe also that their father, John L. DeFee, John's 1st
wife, Isabella DeFee nee Baygents, James M, and John's 3rd wife
Elizabeth M. Carr DeFee are all buried together. Submitted by Descendant - Bill Sweeney
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