Thanks for all the replies so quickly.
James Henry Wright (born July 7 1839) joined Company G 16th Alabama on May 10 1861 as a Private. His pension records show he suffered a leg ulcer and was discharged on June 1 1863.
His cousin Miles Franklin Wright (born February 24 1839) joined Company B Stewart's Corp., Loring's Division 27th Alabama Infantry in February 1861. His pension records show he was with them until surrender of Fort Donelson when he transferred briefly to Company G 16th Alabama and then back to the 27th Alabama. His rank was Ordnance Sergeant. His brother, Robert Green Wright, was also in the 27th and his rank was Major.
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Shiloh after battle report:
Report of Lieut. Col. John W. Harris, Sixteenth Alabama Infantry.
HDQRS. SIXTEENTH REGT. ALABAMA VOLUNTEERS, Near
Corinth, Miss., April 8, 1862.
At 4 o'clock on the morning of April 3 I received orders from Gen.
Hindman, through Col. Patterson, commanding First Brigade, to
prepare five days' rations and be ready to march by 6 o'clock, but was
not ordered off until 11 a.m. Owing to indisposition and prostration of
the physical system I was not able to go with the regiment, so Maj.
Helvenston took command and marched in the direction of Pittsburg, on
the Tennessee River.
On Friday morning Gen. Wood rejoined his brigade, and Friday
evening the regiments were halted to rest, when firing was heard in
advance. By orders from Gen. Wood, Maj. Helvenston threw the
regiment into line of battle and awaited the attack of the enemy.
Hence, about dark, Maj. Helvenston marched, under orders, and
formed a new line half a mile to the right, and remained under arms
until 2 o'clock Saturday morning, when the line of march was resumed
and continued until 8 o'clock. Then the regiment was again thrown into
line of battle, with Col. Williams' on its left and Col. McKoin's
on its right, and marched for a short distance and halted. Here I joined
the regiment, having heard a fight was expected and being anxious to be
with my men in the engagement.
They remained under arms at this point until early Sunday morning,
when it was advanced in line of battle, with Maj. Hardcastle's battalion
in front as skirmishers.
Sharp skirmishes were kept up until the camps of the enemy were
reached, at 9 o'clock. My regiment advanced through a thick patch of
briers and then through an open field, while a battery of the enemy over
the crest of a hill on my left played upon the troops advancing
on my right. I was halted in a skirt of woods by the battery, and was
immediately ordered to charge and take it. I threw my regiment into
column by division, left in front, preparatory to making the charge, but
the regiment on my right having fallen back, I was ordered to wheel into
line and engage the advancing foe. I did so, and the enemy were
repulsed. I then advanced about 300 yards, when I was informed by
Lieut. A. Adjutant that I was flanked on my left. I sent him to report
it to Gen. Wood. The general ordered that I change my front and
engage the flankers. I did so promptly, and fired for about twenty-five
or thirty minutes. The enemy being protected by a hill and skirt of
woods in his front, I was ordered to charge. I did so, and the enemy
was driven from the field with considerable loss. I was then ordered to
charge a battery in front. I communicated this to my men. They
advanced firmly and steadily under a galling fire from the supporters off
the battery. I drove the enemy back and took and held the battery.
At this time my ammunition gave out, and I had to retire to obtain a
new supply. I was then separated from the brigade; but being desirous
that my regiment should assist in driving the ruthless invader from our
sacred soil, I advanced to a position on the right, of where I had just
engaged the enemy. While advancing through a thicket of underwood I
suddenly came upon a masked battery directly in front and supported by
a large force. Being overpowered, I was compelled to retreat. The
retreat, however, was conducted in good order, and I awaited the arrival
of Col. Shaver, commanding Gen. Hindman's brigade, and
formed upon the right of Col. McKoin's, who also joined Col.
Shaver and advanced with him until he engaged the enemy, and I was
separated from his command. Thinking I did not have sufficient force
to engage the enemy, I took position in the rear to await orders to join
some command.
Soon I was ordered by Lieut. L. A. McClung to go as a guard with
Federal prisoners just taken. I guarded them 5 miles, and was relieved
on the morning of the 7th instant, and ordered back by Gen. Wood
to the battle field to rejoin him on the left. On my way Gen.
Cheatham's aide-de-camp came to me and reported that they were
flanked on the right and the general ordered me to that position. He
urged the necessity of the case in such strong terms that I obeyed his
order. I took position and fired upon the enemy a few moments, when
a charge was ordered. My regiment charged with Gen. Cheatham's
command, and the enemy was driven back. A flank movement on the
right compelled our troops to retire from the field. I halted, after
retreating about 300 yards, formed my regiment, and engaged the enemy
again until an overwhelming force flanked me on the right and forced
me to retreat. This was the last of the engagement in which my regiment
participated.
Gen., I must say, in conclusion, that my men fought gallantly,
bravely, and with a determination that insures certain victory. They
stood firm and fought like veterans to the last. I was greatly assisted by
Maj. Helvenston on the right, and I am indebted to him for many noble
acts of daring and intrepidity-always at his post and at all times cheering
on the soldiers. While gallantly charging a battery, at the head of the
column, he received a wound in the left thigh, which disabled him for
the remained of the day. His horse fell under him at the same time.
Capt. Ashford, Company B, also acted nobly. At one time, when our
forces were driven back, one piece of a battery was left by the gunners
and drivers, the lead horse having been shot; Capt. Ashford
went to the piece, under the enemy's fire, cut the traces of the dead
horse, ordered two men near by to assist him, and drove it away,
preventing its capture by the enemy.
Lieut. William A. Patton, Company C, while at his post and
encouraging his men to their duty, fell, facing the foe. His untimely fate
is deeply deplored.
Respectfully,
J. W. HARRIS,
Lieut. Col., Cmdg. Sixteenth Regt. Alabama Vols.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10
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Stone's River after battle report:
Report of Col. William B. Wood, Sixteenth Alabama Infantry,
including skirmish at Triune, December 27.
- -, 1863.
CAPT.: In pursuance of the order to report the movements and
operations of this regiment in the battles at Triune and
Murfreesborough, on the 27th and 31st ultimo, I beg to submit the
following:
On the 26th ultimo we were ordered to the front of Triune, to support
Gen. Wharton and repel the advance of the enemy, who was reported
to be moving in that direction with a large force. We remained under
arms until late in the evening, when we were ordered to return and
strike our camps, send the wagons to the rear, and take position on the
hill near the Franklin pike.
At 4 o'clock on the 27th we were under arms and moved forward to
take position on the hills in front of Triune. We remained in that
position, deployed as skirmishers, until 9 o'clock, when we were ordered
back to our position in rear of the town. My regiment was deployed as
skirmishers just behind brow of the hill and awaited the approach of the
enemy. Capt. Darden occupied the hill with his battery. The enemy
an attempt to turn our left flank with cavalry, which was repulsed by the
artillery and my skirmishers on the left, the enemy fleeing in confusion.
About 1 o'clock a heavy rain commenced and continued for nearly an
hour. As soon as it ceased, and we were able to see a few hundred
yards to the front, we discovered the enemy advanced nearly up to our
lines. We immediately opened fire upon him and held him in check until
the artillery was drawn off, when we were ordered to fall back. As we
were retreating, I discovered the enemy moving up on our right flank,
but we were enabled to gain the turn in the road before they could cut
us off. A piece of artillery opened on them from this point and checked
their advance. Our lines was then formed on the pike and brought off
without loss. Our casualties were 2 men slightly wounded.
We reached Murfreesborough Sunday night, and Monday morning were
ordered to take position in the line of battle on the right wing near the
Lebanon pike. We remained in this position until Tuesday night, when
we were ordered across the river and bivouacked for the night on the
river bank in an open field.
At daylight on the morning of the 31st, we were in line of battle and
moved forward across the field. Before we had advanced 100 yards the
enemy opened upon us with shells. Our line was pushed forward across
the fields to the woods, where we discovered the enemy in a dense
cedar glade, lying down behind the rocks. We commenced firing as
soon as the skirmishers fell back, and continued firing for nearly half an
hour, neither party yielding any ground. The general gave the order to
"charge," and the men, with a yell, made a charge in gallant style,
dislodging the enemy form their strong position and killing scores of
them as they fled. We continued to push on for more than half a mile,
when we came upon another line of the enemy. Again a fierce and
stubborn resistance was made. Again the general ordered a charge,
which was made with like results, the enemy being driven for more than
half a mile until they fell behind a battery planted near a large frame
house used as a hospital. Our line was reformed, and, with Gen.
Polk's brigade, moved up to charge the battery. As we approached, a
few rounds were fired, and the battery was drawn off. We pursued as
rapidly a possible, driving the enemy through the woods, across a
corn-field, and beyond the Nolensville pike. As we approached the field
another battery to our right opened upon us. We charged across this
open field more than a quarter of mile to capture the battery. About the
time we reached another house used as a hospital, another battery
(planted on the pike) opened a cross-fire upon us, and at the same time
a heavy infantry force, supporting the battery, opened its fire. Our
ammunition here gave out, and we were compelled to fall back to the
woods to obtain a supply. It was now about 11 o'clock. Our line was
again formed and moved forward across the pike and into the woods,
where we again encountered
the enemy and opened fire upon him. We continued to move forward
and charge them whenever they made a stand, until they were driven
nearly 2 miles. The fighting in the afternoon continued for about three
hours. Our ammunition being again exhausted, we fell back out of the
reach of the enemy's guns and obtained da fresh supply. The fighting
now ceased on the left wing, and night soon coming on we bivouacked
on the field.
The morning of [January] 1 we moved to our position and remained in
it until the afternoon, when we were moved forward to make a
reconnaissance of the position of the enemy. Being found in large force
and our position very much exposed to the enemy's artillery, we were
ordered back to our original position.
We were again in line of battle on the morning of the 2d, and remained
so all day without any engagement with the enemy. That night we were
ordered to recross the river and occupy our formed position on the right
wing, which we did, and remained there until 11 o'clock that night,
when ordered on the retreat.
I lost in the battle of the 31st ultimo 24 killed, of whom 4 were
lieutenants, and 142 wounded, among whom were Lieut.-Col.
Helvenston, Maj. [J. H.] McGaughy, and Adjutant [B. A.] Wilson, and
6 lieutenants. A list* of the killed and wounded is herewith forwarded.
My regiment encountered the One hundred and first Ohio Regiment,
commanded by Col. [Leander] Stem, at the beginning of the fight.
We wounded and captured the colonel and killed the
lieutenant-colonel. We next fought the Twenty-fifth [Thirty-eighth] and
Twenty-first Illinois, and Eighty-first Indiana, and Fifteenth Wisconsin
Regiments, killing and wounding a number of the officers and men.
I feel proud in being able to report that most of my officers and men
behaved with signal courage and unflinching bravery during the whole
action. There were some instances of peculiar gallantry displayed which
came under my notice, and no doubt others equally creditable occurred
which I may not have observed. I mention Adjt. B. A. Wilson, who, after
Lieut.-Col. Helvenston and Maj. McGuarghy were wounded,
rendered efficient services in leading the left wing of the regiment in
the charges which were made, until he fell, severely wounded.
Serg. Maj. Robert [H.] Cherry, finding Company I without an officer
during the action, assumed command, and gallantly led them through the
fight. Private Harvey G. Sergeant, of Company H, is reported as having
behaved very gallantly; he lost an arm, and deserves promotion.
Privates William Boyce and James Peeden, of Company C;
Color-Sergt.[William] Drury Bowen, of Company H;
Serg. H. W. Rutland, of Company A; Private Peter White, of Company
F, and Private Robert Williams, of Company B, acted with courage and
bravery. Private H. D. Smith, of Company A, received a wound in one
leg, but contained on the field, fighting, until he was wounded in the
other leg. He is a young man deserving consideration.
Among the officers who displayed signal gallantry I noticed Capt.
[William] Hodges, of Company F; Lieut. [C.] Davis, of Company
B; Lieut. [G. W. W.] Jones, of Company G; Lieut. [G.] Pride,
of Company A, and Lieut. [C. F.] Carson, of Company C, who
remained on the field after was wounded; Lieut. [T. J.] Salter, of
Company D, who was wounded and left the field, had his wound
dressed, returned again to his duties, and remained until compelled by
suffering to leave. Lieut.'s [D. W.] Alexander and [D. C.] Warren,
of Company F,
were with their command from the beginning to the end of the battle.
Lieut.'s [William S.] Humphries and [J. N.] Watson, of Company K,
were also with their command throughout the whole engagement. The
gallant dead and wounded fully discharged their duties until they fell.
I mention with pleasure the efficient services of Capt. T. A. Kimball,
chaplain of the regiment, who took charge of the infirmary corps, and
followed close behind the regiment, removing the wounded as soon as
they fell, himself dressing many of the wounds.
Surg. F. S. McMahon and Assistant Surgeon [William M.] Mayes were
at their posts, discharging their duties faithfully, promptly, and
efficiently.
Respectfully submitted.
W. B. WOOD,
Col., Cmdg. Sixteenth Alabama Regt.
[Capt.] O. S. PALMER,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN. PAGE 901-29
[Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]
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Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Capt. Frederick A. Ashford, Sixteenth Alabama
Infantry.
HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ALABAMA REGT.,
October 8, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to forward the following report of the part
taken by my command in the battle of Chickamauga on
September 19 and 20:
At about 5 o'clock on the evening of September 19, the Sixteenth
Alabama Regt., with 32 officers and 382 effective men Maj.
John H. McGaughy commanding, being a part of Wood's
brigade, was formed, in line of battle as the left center regiment
of that brigade, the Forty-fifth and Thirty-third Alabama Regt.'s
being on the right and left, respectively. As soon as the line of
battle was formed, each regiment was ordered to throw forward
a company of skirmishers of sufficient strength to cover its
front. As soon as our skirmishers had been deployed, we were
ordered to advance with a caution from officers of Gen. Wood's
staff that a part of Liddell's division was in our front, and that
we would pass them lying in line of battle before we
commenced firing. We moved forward with our skirmishers
about 100 yards in our front, who soon encountered the
skirmishers of the enemy and drove them back. Still expecting to
pass a line of our own men, we withheld our fire until we had
advanced close on the enemy's line of battle, when passing our
skirmishers, we charged their line, our right wing closing with
them, capturing about 40 prisoners and driving them back, and
after a severe struggle for a few minutes longer on our left, we
drove back in confusion their whole line in our front.
About this time Maj. McGaughy gave the command to "march
in retreat." which was obeyed in bad order, the regiment
retreating in confusion to where Jackson's brigade was lying in
line of battle, where it rallied, forming first on the right of this
brigade and then dressing on the Forty-fifth [Alabama] Regt. I
then asked Maj. McGaughy why he gave the order to retreat. He
replied that the Forty-fifth Alabama Regt., the battalion of
direction was falling back and that he had been ordered to be
guided by the movements of that regiment. As soon as the men
had been rallied and formed, Maj. McGaughy again gave the
command to advance, when we moved forward to the position
from which we had first driven the enemy, and, re-entering the
fight, after an engagement for half an hour, were left in
possession of the field.
I will here state that Companies E and G acted badly, except
First Lieut. Guy, Sergeant Jennings, and 2 or 3 privates from
Company E, and First Lieut. Jones and Second Lieut. Stanley
and a few privates from Company G, who remained with the
regiment until the close of the fight. Lieut. Roberts, Corporal
Armstrong, and Privates Curry and Jones, of Company D, left
he field and did not return until Monday (21st) after the battle.
Capt. Archer, Company G, while in my presence made no effort
to rally his men when ordered to halt, but led them in the
retreat. I attribute the confusion in our retreat to a want of the
proper command over their men on the part of the officers of
Companies E and G; to the darkness of the night; to the failure
of the left wing to hear the command "retreat", they believing
that the right wing was being driven back, and to the fact that
just previous to receiving the order to retreat our line was fired
into several times from the rear. After moving forward the
second time, our left was subjected to a heavy enfilading fire and
suffered heavy loss from the enemy, who was posted behind
breastworks of logs to our left.
In the last attack both officers and men discharged their duties
gallantly, never for a moment faltering until the enemy had been
driven from the field. This being accomplished, we advanced a
short distance and were ordered to send out a company of
skirmishers as a picket guard and encamp as we were for the
night.
It is due the officers and men who failed to return and participate
in the second engagement to say that they were formed, looking
for
the command, before the firing ceased, but owing to the
darkness of the night failed to come up in time. It is also due
Lieut. Cox, Company E, to state that he was on detailed duty on
September 19.
In the morning of September 20, the regiment, with an effective
strength of 28 officers and 257 men, Maj. McGaughy still
commanding, was, as had been ordered, under arms at 4 o'clock,
and os remained until about 10 o'clock, when we were ordered
forward and advanced nearly a mile and within a short distance
of the enemy, who held a very strong position and were
protected by breastworks built of logs. Here we were ordered to
lie down, and remained an hour under a heavy fire of shell,
grape, and canister shot. When moved from this position we
advanced about 200 yards through open woods, and then about
125 yard through an old field covered with a small undergrowth,
to the edge of an open field in front of and about 150 yards
distant form the enemy's works. Here we commenced firing, and
continued to fire for at least and hour before I discord that we
had no regiment on our right and could see none on our left, and
that, so far as I could ascertain, ours was the only regiment that
had advanced as far as the open field.
About this time the Fifteenth Tennessee Regt. came up form the
rear to our assistance, when we again commenced advancing; but
this regiment, firing one volley, retired from the field, leaving
its flag behind, the color bearer having been killed. Private J. J.
Alexander, Company H, of this regiment, went out under a
heavy fire recovered, and brought off the flag, and, when this
regiment fell back, returned it to them. After the Fifteenth
Tennessee left us we remained about half an hour, when, finding
that we were supported neither in flank nor rear, and that over
two-thirds of my men had already fallen, and seeing that the
enemy was preparing to advance upon me, I withdrew (Maj.
McGaughy having fallen) what remained of the regiment and fell
back to the line from which we advanced in the morning, where
I found the rest of Wood's brigade and formed with it. The
brigade being formed, we again advanced to the support of
Polk's brigade, which was then engaging the enemy, but were
not again in the fight.
I am proud to say that in the engagement on Sunday (20th) there
was no confusion in the regiment, and that both officers and men
(with the exceptions hereafter reported), though subjected to
almost galling fire from both artillery and small-arms, behaved
in the most gallant manner, several receiving as many as four
and five wounds before leaving the field; others, after having
fired their last round of ammunition, remained in line until
ordered to retreat. Capt. Archer, Company G, and Sergeant
Scruggs, Company I, failed to go into the engagement on
Sunday, and were absent from their companies until after the
close of the battle.
I would be pleased to mention several officers and men who
behaved with distinguished gallantry, but cannot do so without
possibly neglecting some, and will close by saying that the
regiment, both officers and men (with above-mentioned
exceptions), gave the most perfect satisfaction, and, under the
circumstances, did all that men could do.
In our loss of 25 killed and 218 wounded is embraced the loss of
several of our most gallant and chivalrous officers and the best
soldiers of the regiment.
In this connection, I may be permitted to allude particularly to
the noble bearing and fearlessness in discharge of duty of First
Lieut.
Isaac C. Madding, Company B; Second Lieut. Robert H.
Cherry, Company I, First Lieut. G. W. W. Jones, Company G;
Second Lieut. John D. Oglesby, Company F, and our gallant
commander, Maj. J. H. McGaughy, all of whom (except the last
mentioned, who lies dangerously wounded) fill patriots' graves
on the banks of the Chickamauga.
Respectfully, &c., your obedient servant.
F. A. ASHFORD,
Capt., Comdg. Regt.
Capt. O. S. PALMER,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 162-51
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]
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