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Fourth Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment
A Brief History
The Fourth Alabama Infantry Regiment, originally raised as a one-year volunteer infantry regiment, was originally organized at Dalton, Georgia on May 2, 1861 and immediately advanced to Virginia, becoming the first regiment from the state to reach the war in Virginia at Harper’s Ferry. The 4th soon fell back to Winchester where it became part of General B. E. Bee’s brigade, of which the 6th North Carolina, 1st Tennessee and 2nd and 11th Mississippi were also mustered.
From there they moved to Manassas Junction and took a significant part in this conflict. Out of approximately 750 active in the battle, 38 were killed and 208 were wounded, including General Bee, who was replaced by General W. H. C. Whiting. The 4th spent the winter at Dumfries where they re-enlisted for three more years in January 1862. After reorganizing in April 1862 they were moved to Norfolk.
The 4th was involved in both days of fighting at Seven Pines (19 wounded and 8 killed). A month later, the brigade was sent to the Valley, but returned to Norfolk a few days later with Jackson’s corps. The 4th played a major part in the battle at Cold Harbor (22 killed and 108 wounded out of about 500), and suffered a slight loss at Malvern Hill. The 4th participated as well at Second Manassas (20 killed and 43 wounded), Boonsboro, Sharpsburg (8 killed and 36 wounded). They were also engaged at Fredericksburg, (5 killed, 17 wounded) and lost slightly in the superb fight at Suffolk. Of all the major campaigns and battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, Chancellorsville is the only battle that the 4th did not take part in.
The 4th later passed into Pennsylvania and participated in the battle at Gettysburg (15 killed, 72 wounded and/or missing) and traveled with Longstreet’s corps where they battled at Chickamauga (14 killed, 54 wounded out of approximately 300 engaged), and took part in the attack on Knoxville (5 killed, 24 wounded). They later rejoined the Army in Virginia and became fiercely engaged at the battle of the Wilderness where they lost about 15 and had 58 wounded. At Spottsylvania, 4 were killed and 11 werew wounded.
The 4th Alabama Volunteer Infantry took part in all of the second Cold Harbor battle where the losses were minimal. For about ten months following, the 4th stayed behind the defenses of Petersburg and took part in the various assaults and skirmishes, losing about 10 and having 30 wounded during that time. The 4th surrendered at Appomattox under the command of General Perry of Macon, Georgia who had been in command for almost a year at this time. Of the 1422 men who served on the 4th’s rolls, about 340 died, about 100 of those from disease and the rest in battle.
For more historical information about the Fourth Alabama, please visit the following links.