The 5th Alabama Infantry

5th Alabama Infantry Regiment

The Fifth Alabama Infantry was organized at Montgomery, 5 May 1861, with recruits from the counties of Barbour, Clarke, Dallas, Greene, Lowndes, Monroe, Pickens, Sumter, and Talladega. It moved to Pensacola and a few days after, it proceeded to Virginia and took post near Manassas Junction in the brigade of Gen'l Richard Ewell. It was in the skirmish at Farr's Cross Roads and was on the field (but not engaged) at 1st Manassas. It remained in the vicinity of Manassas during the fall and winter, and Gen'l Robert E. Rodes became the brigade commander in October -- the 6th and 12th Alabama, and 12th Mississippi being the other regiments in the brigade. Moving with the army to Yorktown in March 1862, it there reenlisted and reorganized. It was under fire at Yorktown and was on the field at Williamsburg. At Seven Pines, the regiment engaged for the first time, losing 27 k and 128 w our of 660 men present. The 5th was hotly engaged at Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, losing 15 k and 58 w. It was not at 2nd Manassas but moved into Maryland and fought at Boonsboro and Sharpsburg, losing 11 k and 39 w. It was in line of battle on the crest and witnessed Union Gen'l Ambrose Burnside's repulse at Fredericksburg. At Chancellorsville, it was in the line under Gen'l Rodes that swept everything before it (but lost 24 k, 133 w, and 121 missing). It moved into Maryland and Pennsylvania in the Gettysburg campaign, and its loss was severe in that battle (60% casualties among 317 present). Having wintered at Orange Court House, the 5th, now reduced to a skeleton, participated in the battles of The Wilderness and Spotsylvania without severe loss. It took part in the subsequent operations as the lines began to be drawn around Petersburg, losing slightly at 2nd Cold Harbor. It went with Gen'l Jubal Early into the Valley and across the Potomac, taking part in numerous engagements with the enemy and losing severely at Winchester. It soon after took its place in the trenches of Petersburg and wintered there. Only 4 officers and 53 men were at the final surrender at Appomattox, under Capt. T. J. Riley. Of 1719 names on the rolls, nearly 300 died in battle; 240 others died in the service, and 507 were discharged or transferred.

Field and staff Officers: Cols. Robert E. Rodes (Tuscaloosa, promoted); Allen C. Jones (Breene, until reorganized); Cristopher C. Pegues (Dallas, KIA, 1st Cold Harbor); Josephus Hall (Clarke, wounded, Spotsylvania, and resigned); Edwin LaFayette Hobson (Greene); Lt. Cols. Allen C. Jones (promoted); John T. Morgan (Dallas, resigned); Josephus Hall (promoted); Edwin L. Hobson (promoted); Eugene Blackford (Barbour); and Majors John T. Morgan (promoted); H. A. Whiting (Tuscaloosa, transferred); E. L. Hobson (promoted); Eugene Blackford (promoted); and Adjutants H. A. Whiting (promoted); Robert I. Smith (Mobile; until reorganized); and Charles J. Pegues (Dallas).

Captains, and counties from which the companies came:

• Tuscaloosa: William H. Fowler (company transferred to artillery after 1 year)
• Greene: E. L. Hobson (promoted); J. W. Williams (captured, Boonsboro)
• Pickens: Sydney H. Ferguson (until reorganization); T. C. Belsher (wounded)
• Sumter: John H. Dent (until reorganization); N. R. E. Ferguson (KIA, The Wilderness); James H. Holmes
• Sumter: Robert P. Blount (resigned); James V. Tutt (wounded, Seven Pines); George Reed (KIA, Winchester)
• Dallas: C. C. Pegues (promoted); E. B. Moseley
• Clarke: Josephus Hall (promoted); S. M. Woodward
• Monroe: Giles Goode (died in service); T. J. Riley
• Talladega: Charles M. Shelley (resigned); William T. Renfro (KIA, Chancellorsville); N. S. McAfee
• Barbour: Eugene Blackford (promoted); L. S. Chitwood
• Lowndes (1862): D. W. Johnson (KIA, Cold Harbor); Thomas S. Herbert (resigned); John M. Gilchrist (KIA, 2nd Cold Harbor)

History: Anna M. Gayle Fry, "'Cahaba Rifles,' Company F, Fifth Alabama Regiment," in Memories of Old Cahaba (1908), pp. 104-22 [partial roster]

• Battle of Wilderness, 1864 Wildernes Battle Field