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RemoveKebab
10-22-2016, 07:19 PM
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About



The Battalion

The 5th Alabama Infantry Battalion was often confused with the much larger 5th Alabama Regiment of OīNealīs Brigade. The battalion was one of the smallest battalions to serve alongside regiments in the Army of NW. The 5th Alabama wasn't big enough to be a regiment, but made up for its lack of numbers by being efficient, hardened warriors dedicated to the cause of southern independence. Despite being a Battalion the few men felt compelled to fight with the weight of a regiment.

The Battalion organized with three companies near Dumfries, VA, in December 1861 with men from Calhoun, Mobile, and Sumter counties. The unit was designated the 5th Infantry Battalion on 22 October 1862; it was attached to Whiting's Division then was soon transferred to John Bell Hood's. Sent to Richmond, the battalion was placed under the command of Brig. Gen'l James J. Archer and fought at Mechanicsville, 1st Cold Harbor, and Frazier's Farm, with heavy loss. It was engaged at 2nd Manassas with loss, and with like result at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

At the end of June, 1863, General Lee was marching his army north into Pennsylvania. Archer's Brigade (1st, 7th, 14th TN Regients, 13th AL Regiment, and 5th AL Battalion). On the morning of 1 July, the men were moved out along the Chambersburg Pike toward Gettysburg, four abreast, until they came in sight of a squadron of Union cavalry. The men were ordered to cross Marsh Creek and deploy a skirmish line. A shot rang out when the Union troopers spotted the Confederates. The Union cavalry retreated, but their artillery, located at the edge of town, opened. Archer's Brigade, with the 5th Battalion in advance, rushed to a shallow creek, Willoughby run, until the Union resistance began to stiffen. Nonetheless, the Confederates drove the cavalry across the run and started up a hill where they ran into the men of the Iron Brigade where a hard fought and unequal contest began. In the fierce fighting, the battalion lost over 30% of the 135 it had engaged. Reduced to only three companies, the battalion was placed on provost duty in A. P. Hill's 3rd Corps. It remained in Virginia until the end, losing several on the march to Appomattox, where it surrendered 125 men (including 55 in Co. "B").


The Whites Plains Rangers

The Whites Plains Rangers (Co. "C") from Calhoun County, AL, near Dumfries, VA were formed on the December 2nd, 1861. They were combined with Co.A and Co.B to form the "Eighth Infantry Battalion." The official date of the re-designation of the Eighth Infantry Battalion to the Fifth Alabama Infantry Battalion, occurred October 22nd, 1862. Not much information is known about the Rangers as it was quite a small company.


The Fifth Alabama Battalion; or parts thereof participated in the following engagements:


In Wigfall's Brigade:

1st Bull Run, Virginia - (July 21, 1861)

In Archer's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia:

Union occupation of Fredericksburg, Virginia (April 19, 1862)

Seven Days Battles (June 25-July 1, 1862)

Mechanicsville (June 26, 1862)

Gaines' Mill (June 27, 1862)

Cedar Mountain (August 9, 1862)

2nd Bull Run (August 28-30, 1862)

Harpers Ferry (September 12-15, 1862)

Shepherdstown Ford (September 20, 1862)

Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862)

Chancellorsville (May 1-4, 1863)

Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)

Falling Waters (July 14, 1863)

As Provost Guard, III Corps, Army of Northern Virginia:

Bristoe Campaign (October 1863)

Mine Run Campaign (November-December 1863)

The Wilderness (May 5-6, 1864)

Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-2 1, 1864)

North Anna (May 23-26, 1864)

Cold Harbor (June 1-3, 1864)

Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)

Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)

The Whites Plains Rangers are thought to have engaged in all of these conflicts and a number of soldiers survived the war.




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Wildcat
10-22-2016, 08:10 PM
Welcome!

RemoveKebab
10-23-2016, 12:17 AM
Thank you!

A. P. Hill
10-23-2016, 03:22 AM
Congrats!
Welcome to the CSA!

Lance Rawlings
10-23-2016, 07:10 AM
Welcome to the CSA!

yoyo8346
10-23-2016, 07:35 PM
Pleasure having you fellas fighting with the Light Division :)

Grant97
10-25-2016, 10:30 PM
Congrats and welcome! Best of luck to all of you, see u on the battlefield ;)

Karma
10-25-2016, 11:44 PM
Best of luck to you guys and welcome to the CSA! :)

Alexander Greene
10-26-2016, 03:48 AM
Good luck Reb! Hope to shoot at your men at Antietam! ;)

RemoveKebab
06-29-2017, 11:43 AM
Bump