Unit History – 6th Alabama Infantry

About 1,400 strong, was organized at Montgomery, Alabama, in May, 1861. Its twelve companies were recruited in the counties of Montgomery, Jackson, Autuaga, Lowndes, Russell, Macon, Henry, and Wilson. Ordered to Virginia, the unit was assigned to Rodes’, O’Neal’s, and Battle’s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was engaged in many conflicts from Williamsburg to Cold Harbor, moved with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and ended the war at Appomattox. In April, 1862, it contained 1,100 effectives. Subsequently, it lost fifty-nine percent of the 632 engaged at Seven Pines and reported 156 casualties at Sharpsburg and 161 at Chancellorsville. Of the 382 in the fight at Gettysburg, more than 50 percent were disabled. The regiment surrendered with 4 officers and 80 men. Its commanders were Colonels John B. Gordon and John L. Seibles; Lieutenant Colonels B. H. Baker, Augustus M. Gordon, George W. Hooper, J. N. Lightfoot, and J. J. Willingham; and Majors J. F. Culver, S. Perry Nesmith, and Walter H. Weems.

From Joseph H. Crute, Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army, p. 8

Unit History – 5th Alabama Infantry

Completed its organization at Montgomery, Alabama, in May, 1861, and proceeded to Virginia. Its companies were from the counties of Barbour, Clarke, Lowndes, Talladega, Dallas, Sumter, Monroe, Greene, and Pickens. At the battle of First Manassas, the 5th was part of General Ewell’s Brigade, but was not actively engaged. During the balance of the war it served under Generals Rodes, O’Neal, and Battle. The unit was prominent in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Cold Haror, then fought with Early in the Shenandoah Valley and the Appomattox operations. During April, 1862, it had a force of 660 men, but lost 27 killed and 128 wounded at Seven Pines and forty-one percent of the 225 at Malvern Hill. The regiment reported 24 killed, 133 wounded and 121 missing at Chancellorsville, and of the 317 at Gettysburg, more than sixty percent were disabled. It surrendered with 4 officers and 53 men. The field officers were Colonels Josephus M. Hall, E. Lafayette Hobson, A. C. Jones, C. C. Pegues, and Robert E. Rodes; Lieutenant Colonel John T. Morgan; and Major Eugene Blackford.

From Joseph H. Crute, Jr., Units of the Confederate States Army, p. 7