@Georgia: I hope that you read this before it is pulled for its length. However, if not, message me and I'll repeat.
Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 106
The Sixteenth Alabama infantry was organized at Courtland,August,
1861.
It was assigned to General Zollicoffer's brigade, and its first
battle was at Fishing Creek or Mill Spring, Ky., January 19 and
20, 1862. It was at Shiloh, April 6th and 7th; Triune, December
27th; Murfreesboro, December 31 to January 2, 1863; in the
retreat from Tullahoma to Chattanooga, June 23rd to July 4th;
Chickamauga, September 19th and 20th; Missionary Ridge, November
23rd to 25th; Ringgold, November 27th; in all the great battles
under Johnston and Hood during the eventful campaign in 1864, and
was particularly distinguished at Jonesboro, August 31st and
September 1st, where it met with very severe loss.
It participated in the fights at Buzzard Roost, Tunnel Hill and
Rocky Face Ridge, February 25 to 27, 1864; around Dalton, May 8th
to 12th; Resaca, May 13th to 16th; Adairsville, May 17th;
Cassville, May 19th to 22nd; Pickett's Mill, May 27th; Kenesaw
Mountain, June 9th to 30th; Peachtree Creek, July 20th; Atlanta,
July 22nd, where it carried the enemy's works by assault and
captured two stands of colors.
It was also prominent in the battle of Franklin, November 30th,
and of Nashville, December 15th and 16th.
Among the distinguished killed were its very gallant colonels,
Fred A. Ashford and Brice Wilson at Franklin, Maj. J. H.
McGaughey at Chickamauga, Capt. Robert M. Gregor at Nashville,
Lieut. Wm. A. Patton at Shiloh, Lieuts. David E. Bentley, R. W.
Garland, Lewis E. Jackson, Robt. W. Roebuck and Benj. H. Russell
at Murfreesboro. Col. William B. Wood, who afterward became
eminent on the bench as circuit judge, was the first colonel. He
was succeeded by Cols. Alexander H. Helvenston and Frederick A.
Ashford. I ts lieutenant colonels were John H. McGaughey, Joseph
J. May and John W. Harris.
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Shiloh after battle report:
Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10
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.