5th Alabama Regiment

[5thAlabamaInfantry]

This is my great-great-great grandfather, Isaac Levi Davis, who supposedly served in the 5th Alabama Regiment. I love the Civil War but I rarely delve into the details of military history so I don't know much about specific regiments like this. I'm looking into it on my own, but I was wondering if anyone has any information/sources about this regiment?

 

[lelliott19]

This is my great-great-great grandfather, Isaac Levi Davis, who supposedly served in the 5th Alabama Regiment.

Do you know if Isaac enlisted March 24, 1862 into Company H, under Captain Ferguson, at Pickensville, AL? Pickensville is a small town in Pickens County, about mid state on the Mississippi state line. If so, I believe his carded records are listed under "J.L. Davis." Transcribing an "I" as a "J" is a fairly common transcription error.

EDIT TO ADD: Welcome to CivilWarTalk - the best place on the internet for Civil War discussion. Happy to welcome you aboard.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

View attachment 310155 This is my great-great-great grandfather, Isaac Levi Davis, who supposedly served in the 5th Alabama Regiment. I love the Civil War but I rarely delve into the details of military history so I don't know much about specific regiments like this. I'm looking into it on my own, but I was wondering if anyone has any information/sources about this regiment?

Welcome !

THE FIFTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


The Fifth Alabama regiment was organized at Montgomery, May 5,
1861.

Its first duty was at Pensacola, Fla. In August it was
ordered to report to the commending officer of the army of
Northern Virginia.

Its first colonel was the renowned Robert E. Rodes, who was
promoted to brigadier-general, October 21, 1861, and to the
rank of major-general, May 2, 1863. He was distinguished in
all the battles of Northern Virginia and was wounded and
disabled at Seven Pines, but recovered sufficiently to resume
command of the brigade at the battles of Boonsboro and
Sharpsburg. He was then placed in command of a division,
which he led in its brilliant charge on Hooker's line at
Chancellorsville, and it was for his gallantry in this battle
that he received the commission of major-general.

He was greatly distinguished at Gettysburg, The Wilderness,
Spottsylvania, the second battle of Cold Harbor, Castleman's
Ferry, Kernstown and Winchester. In the latter battle, while
triumphantly leading his division, he received a mortal wound,
lamented by his commanders and the entire army of Northern
Virginia, toward whose great victories he had largely
contributed.

Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson spoke of him in terms of
highest commendation, and at Gettysburg his gallantry and
skillful conduct elicited from General Lee his admiration and
special thanks.

The next commander of this regiment was Christopher C. Pegues,
who, like General Rodes, also reached great distinction, and
after winning the encomiums of his commander for his gallantry
in many battles, was killed while leading his regiment in the
bloody charge at Cold Harbor.

Allen T. Jones, Lafayette Hobson and Josephus M. Hall
afterward succeeded in command of this regiment. John T.
Morgan, afterward a brigadier-general, was at one time its
lieutenant-colonel, and Eugene Blackford its major.

Its first severe engagement was at Seven Pines, May 31 and
June 1, 1862, where it lost 27 killed and 128 wounded. It
also earned a well-merited meed of honor at Gaines' Mill and
Cold Harbor, June 27th and 28th; Malvern Hill, July 1st to
5th; Second Manassas, August 30th; Boonsboro, September 15th;
Sharpsburg, September 17, 1862; Chancellorsville, May 1 and 4,
1863; Gettysburg, July 1 to 3, 1863; the Wilderness, May 5, 6
and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 8 to 18, 1864; Second Cold
Harbor, June 1 to 12, 1864; advance upon Washington, July,
1864; battle of Winchester, July 24, 1864, and the terrible
conflict in the trenches around Petersburg, September, 1864,
to April, 1865.

Among the other officers who were killed in battle were Capt.
G. W. Johnson at Cold Harbor, Capt. William T. Renfro at
Chancellorsville, Capt. N. R. E. Ferguson at the Wilderness,
Capt. George Reed near Winchester, Capt. J. N. Gilchrist at
Second Cold Harbor, Lieut. L. D. Wiley at Seven Pines,
Lieutenant Ramsey at Gaines' Mill, and Lieut. Albert J. Wilcox
at Gettysburg.

Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 66

********************************************************************************

 

[5thAlabamaInfantry]

Do you know if Isaac enlisted March 24, 1862 into Company H, under Captain Ferguson, at Pickensville, AL? Pickensville is a small town in Pickens County, about mid state on the Mississippi state line. If so, I believe his carded records are listed under "J.L. Davis." Transcribing an "I" as a "J" is a fairly common transcription error.

EDIT TO ADD: Welcome to CivilWarTalk - the best place on the internet for Civil War discussion. Happy to welcome you aboard.

I've done some searching and found additional information, but I'm not sure how accurate it is. Apparently, he enlisted
into Company K on September 2, 1862.
He was wounded at Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863, and was discharged due to disability on July 12, 1864.
I found a picture of his tombstone, where his name is written as simply "Levi Davis" - I was able to find a Levi Davis serving in Company K in that regiment so I think that may be him.
Edit: I also found out he was from Samson, Alabama - forgot to add that in

 

[5thAlabamaInfantry]

Welcome !

THE FIFTH ALABAMA INFANTRY.


The Fifth Alabama regiment was organized at Montgomery, May 5,
1861.

Its first duty was at...

Thank you so much for the information, I greatly appreciate it

 

[AUG]

@Miles Krisman is very knowledgeable on the 5th Alabama.

Also recommend looking into Robert E. Rodes and his Alabama brigade (aka O'Neal's or Battle's brigade). Darrell Collins' biography is a good read. Rodes' service pretty much follows that of the 5th Alabama.

 

[AUG]

Also, Sharpshooter: The Selected Letters and Papers of Maj. Eugene Blackford, C.S.A. edited by Fred L. Ray.

Voices from Company D: Diaries by the Greensboro Guards, Fifth Alabama Infantry Regiment edited by G. Ward Hubbs.

 

[lelliott19]

I've done some searching and found additional information, but I'm not sure how accurate it is. Apparently, he enlisted into Company K on September 2, 1862. He was wounded at Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863, and was discharged due to disability on July 12, 1864. I found a picture of his tombstone, where his name is written as simply "Levi Davis" - I was able to find a Levi Davis serving in Company K in that regiment so I think that may be him. Edit: I also found out he was from Samson, Alabama - forgot to add that in

Ahhh, yes. Levi Davis. I found him now. Wounded right thigh at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; that wound ulcerated a year later (there's a note saying "grape shot" but I cant tell which wound it references); admitted May 4, 1864 (age 24) for Vuls Sclop (GSW) to CSA General Hospital at Farmville, Va.; discharged July 26, 1864.

The entire file of his carded records (23 pages including the index card) is attached, but you may want to review all the "J" files for additional records that might belong to him - I believe I saw a few that were for Co K when the man whose file they were in served in other Co's.

EDIT TO ADD: His discharge papers (page 23 of the attached file) describe him as born in Lounds [sic Lowndes] County Alabama; 24 years of age; 6 feet 1 1/2 inches tall; dark complexion; blue eyes; black hair; and by occupation, a farmer.

And the wound situation is clarified a bit on page 21 of the attached file:
"G S Wound rec'd May 3, 1863, Grapeshots disabling all the muscles on the posterior and upper part of thigh & buttocks, right limb, causing permanent lameness." A note on the bottom of the form states: "Prefers a discharge to being placed in "Invalid Corps"

 

[rpkennedy]

"Prefers a discharge to being placed in "Invalid Corps"

Who wouldn't? Especially with a bum leg.

Ryan

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

View attachment 310155 This is my great-great-great grandfather, Isaac Levi Davis, who supposedly served in the 5th Alabama Regiment. I love the Civil War but I rarely delve into the details of military history so I don't know much about specific regiments like this. I'm looking into it on my own, but I was wondering if anyone has any information/sources about this regiment?

http://archives.state.al.us/civilwar/results.cfm

Don't know what happened to this link. Try this and type in his name: http://archives.state.al.us/civilwar/search.cfm

 

[Zella]

Welcome--looks like you're already getting some great information!

 

[5thAlabamaInfantry]

Ahhh, yes. Levi Davis. I found him now...

Thank you so much! My mom and I went looking for the records, but they were stuck behind a paywall, so they're very appreciated.

 

[Miles Krisman]

Thank you so much! My mom and I went looking for the records, but they were stuck behind a paywall, so they're very appreciated.

The following is an account of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville. (It is quite lengthy!)