Problem Regiments: Confederate Edition

[SeanMichaelChick]

In my research on Shiloh I have identified a few problem regiments with the Confederates. These are units where we lack primary sources and it can be hard to place where they were, particularly on April 7. I have decided to mention these here in case anyone has any thoughts on where these units were.

55th Tennessee (McKoin's)
Most of what we know comes from Wood's report. The regiment escorted prisoners but marched back to the battlefield with the 3rd Mississippi Battalion. We have a report from the later unit, but not for 55th Tennessee. Where and when they fought on April 7 is a mystery but they might have gone in with the 16th Alabama, another Wood regiment that returned to the battlefield and fought in Cheatham's counterattack at Woolf Field. Both regiments were mentioned being together by Hardcastle, commander of the 3rd Mississippi Battalion on the evening of April 7.

31st Alabama (49th)
The regiment was not fully trained and in their first fight at Shiloh many fled, leading to derision from the Kentucky regiments they served with. They are mentioned as being in the fight on April 7 but disappear once Trabue is forced away from Duncan Field by Rousseau around noon on April 7.

3rd Kentucky
Same as above only they do not seem to have done as badly on April 6. Not much is mentioned, but my guess is they along with the 31st Alabama, 4th Kentucky, and 4th Alabama Battalion were scattered when Trabue was attacked by Rousseau.

Hubbard's Battery (Jackson Light Artillery, Arkansas) and Trigg's Battery (Austin Artillery, Arkansas)
Both of these were under Shoup. He wrote a short article where he states he joined Hardee on April 7, taking part in his rearguard movement towards Rea Field. That said, one of the batteries fought near Shiloh Church and was aided by Stewart, who led 2nd Tennessee and 13th Arkansas on April 7. Question is which battery? They could not be in both locations at once at that point.

Helena Artillery (Calvert's Arkansas)
There is no mention of them anywhere after the morning of April 6. They were part of Shoup's three battery artillery "brigade." Shoup mentions some of his men taking cannon back to Corinth on the afternoon of April 6. Calvert seems like the best candidate as their absence Ruggles-Shoup barrage is odd. but its only an educated guess.

Robert's Battery (Clarke County Light Artillery, Arkansas)
The great mystery battery of Shiloh. All we know is the battery was on the firing line in the great Ruggles-Shoup concentration.

Pettus Flying Artillery (Hudson's Mississippi)
Hudson died on April 6 and all that can be determined is they were on the final firing line in Rea Field. Our only source is the vague account in A Keystone Rebel: The Civil War Diary of Joseph Garey, Hudson's Battery, Mississippi Volunteers.

Smith's Battery (Mississippi)
We know when Smith was engaged morning of April 6 and throughout April 7. We do not know where Smith was on the afternoon of April 6. The were not at Duncan Field or Jones Field, which is where all rest of the Rebel artillery was engaged.

Company A 1st Tennessee Light Artillery (McClung's Tennessee)
McClung might have been engaged at Jones Field on April 6 based on a comment in History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, from October, 1861, to August, 1865. That they were not at Duncan Field for the Ruggles-Shoup barrage adds credence. I do wonder what they did after helping shred the 15th and 16th Iowa. We do know where they were on April 7.


Thank you and I am happy to be here.

 

[danny]

31st Ala later 49th Ala

49th Ala [aka 31 Ala]

The Regt was originally mustered into service at Camp Lookout near Chattanooga as the 31st (Hale's) Ala Infy Regt, but its designation was changed in the spring of 1862. It was also called the 52nd Ala Regt. The 49th Ala Infy Regt was organized at Nashville, in Jan 1862 with men from Blount, Colbert, DeKalb, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, & Morgan counties. It was attached to the Kentucky Bgde of Gen John C. Breckinridge.
It took part in the Battle of Shiloh on April 6 & 7, 1862 where it lost 113 men (killed & wounded).
A few weeks later, the unit was reorganized as the 49th Regt on 8 May 1862 & was sent to Vicksburg, with Breckinridge's Bgde, & was engaged in the defense of the place when it was bombarded in 1862.
On Aug 6, 1862, the Regt fought at Baton Rouge with a loss of 45 (killed & wounded).
Joining the army of Gen Earl Van Dorn, the 49th was engaged in the assault on Corinth (Oct 3rd & 4th, 1862) & suffered very severely there.
Consolidated with the 27th Infy & 6th Bn from Oct 1862 through Jan 1863, the Regt was ordered to Port Hudson to pass the winter. The Regt was brigaded with the 27th & 35th Ala, & two Miss Regts under Gen Abraham Buford, who was soon succeeded by Gen William Beall. The 49th shared the dangers & hardships of the 42 days siege of Port Hudson, losing 55 men k & w with the reminder captured, 8 July 1863. Exchanged three months later, the 49th was re-organized at Cahaba & attached to the Bgde of Gen Thomas M. Scott of La, with the 12th La, & 27th, 35th, 55th, & 57th Ala Regts.
Joining the main army at Dalton, the Bgde was assigned to Loring's Div, Stewart's Corps. Having wintered at Dalton, the 49th participated in the Dalton-Atlanta Campaign, doing much arduous service, but losing inconsiderably. Around Atlanta, it was again fully engaged & suffered severely. It moved with Gen John Bell Hood into Tenn & came out of the battles of Franklin & Nashville with a long list of casualties & captured men. Transferred to the Carolinas, the 49th took part in the operations there. Reduced to a skeleton & consolidated with the 27th, 35th, 55th & 57th Regts, it was surrendered at Smithfield, NC, 9 April 1865.
Field & Staff Officers: Col's Smith D. Hale (Madison; retired); Jeptha Edwards (DeKalb; captured, Port Hudson); Lt Col's Montgomery Gilbreath (Marshall; resigned); William N. Crump (Blount; retired); John D. Weeden (Madison; wounded, Nashville, & captured); Maj's B. C. Johnston (Marshall; retired); John D. Weeden (promoted); Thomas A. Street (Marshall; captured, Port Hudson); Adjt's John D. Weeden (promoted); C. E. Merrill (Dallas; wounded, Corinth, Franklin)

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4/6 Shiloh-1st battle for regt. Col Trabue [cdg Bgde] says 'The Regt acted with praiseworthy gallantry in this action.'

8/5 Fought at Baton Rouge

10/3-4 Fought Corinth battle

10/12 [August 30 to October 12, 1862] Rust's Bgde, Army of the West, at battle of Corinth

Oct 62-Jan 63--Consolidated with the 27th Infy & 6th Battalion

10/30-post hospital ledger Port Hudson
Houston, A. W. Pvt. Co. B, 31st Ala 10-30-1862; returned to duty 11-3-1862.

Walker, J., Pvt. Co. G, 31st Ala 10-30-1862; pneumonia; returned to duty 12-8-1862.

11/21 27 Ala-31[49] Ala ref with Beall

11/22 Request for leave of absence for man in 31[49] Ala forwarded to Beall

Winter-At Port Hudson in Beall's Bgde then in Buford Bgde
Jan - The unit was back in La where because of heavy losses, was consol with the 27th, 6th Bn & 49th Ala-Col Edwards cdg the consol Regt
7/8 Surrendered at Port Hudson
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Vol. XVII, Part 1, (375) Rust's Bgde, Army of the West, Van Dorn cdg, at battle of Corinth, Aug 30 to Oct 12, 1862-(407-409) Mentioned in Gen Rust's report.
No. 38, (613) Beall's Bgde, Jan 31, 1863, district of La, Pemberton (707) Buford's Bgde, April, 1863, Stevenson's Div; Col Jeptha Edwards cdg Regt

Houston, A. W. Pvt. Co. B, 31st Ala 10-30-1862; returned to duty 11-3-1862.

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Co J Edwards-The unit was back in La in Jan 62 where because of heavy losses consol with the 27ty, 6th Bn & 49th Ala-Col Edwards cdg the Regt

At Port Hudson under Gen Beall then Buford

31[49] Ala
Post hospital ledger Port Hudson
Houston, A. W. Pvt. Co. B, 31st Ala 10-30-1862; returned to duty 11-3-1862.

Walker, J., Pvt. Co. G, 31st Ala 10-30-1862; pneumonia; returned to duty 12-8-1862.

MILITARY: "William Berry was a Capt in the Civil War. I'll have to dig my records out, but he was captured in Port Hudson in 1862/63 & sent to prison at Johnson's Island, OH & then transferred to Point Lookout, MD for the duration of the war.
It is amazing he didn't become a casualty of the disease that killed more soldiers than the actual combat. My Dad commented that "Pop" (Sam) would say that his Mama thought she would never see her husband again." (Notes - Linda Roholt - 1-31-2000)
Civil War File, National Archives, Washington D. C. Capt Bain's Co of Marshall Co, AL. Pvt. Roll dated Jan 13, 1862. Part of Co F, 31st AL Infy-Camped near Vicksburg-Then became 49th Regt AL Infy. Appears as Capt & 1st Lt on Roll of Prisoners of War- Captured at Port Hudson on July 7, 1863, transported on the steamer "Planet" on July 16, 1863, transported to Johnson's Island, OH & transferred to Point Lookout, MD for exchange on Mar 21, 1865- Received at Fort Delaware (undated roll) Oath of allegiance subscribed to at Fort Delaware, DE; Place of residence, Marshall Co, AL; Complexion, dark; hair, dark; eyes, blue; height, 6'2".
'The Regt [49th Ala] acted with praiseworthy gallantry in this action.'
Col Robert Trabue, the Battle of Shiloh, April 6 & 7, 1862.

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Tennessee Archives & Library

49 Ala

Reel #19

Taylor diary-elected Captain [Co K]

Tells of Vicksburg & Port Hudson

PH ref to 200 men selected from 18 Ark & 49 Ala & Abbey Btry sent out-Miles Leg & 6 gun Btry provided diversion

In siege ref to Col Johnson [15 Ark]

Col Steedman with 1st Miss, 1st Ala & 10th Ark on right of 49 Ala

On 28th Col Edwards [49th Ala] sent to extreme left

39th Miss came in support

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Posted By: George Martin Date: Sunday, 4 May 2008 in Response To: James A. Williams 49 Ala Infy (Michelle)
James Anderson Williams
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted as a Private (date unknown).
"B" Co. AL 49th Infy
His service record file contains only two cards revealing little information:
Private James Anderson Williams enlisted in Capt. Haralson Co., DeKalb Rifles, from DeKalb County, Ala., first recorded present at Chattanooga, Jan 3, 1862. This Co subsequently became Co B, 49th Regt Ala Infy, subsequently successively designated as 52d Regt (Hale's) Ala Infy, 31st Regt (Edwards') Ala Infy, & 49th Regt Ala Infy. Died Feb 20, 1862, no cause or location recorded.
49th Infy Regt [also called 52nd Regt] was organized at Nashville in Feb, 1862. Originally mustered into service as the 31st (Hale's) Ala Infy, its designation was changed to 49th during the spring of 1863. The men were recruited in the counties of De Kalb, Jackson, Marshall, Madison, Limestone, Lawrence, Colbert, Lauderdale, Blount, & Morgan. It took an active part in the conflicts at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, & Corinth. Later the unit was assigned to Beall's & Buford's Bgde, Dept of Miss & East La, & on July 9, 1863, about 500 men were captured at Port Hudson. Exchanged & reorganized at Cahaba, the 49th was attached to Gen Scott's & Shelley's Bgde, & fought with the Army of Tenn from Resaca to Bentonville. The Regt sustained 113 casualties at Shiloh & many were disabled at Franklin & Nashville. Only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865. Its cdrs were Col Jeptha Edwards, Lt Co's William N. Crump & John D. Weeden, & Maj Thomas A. Street.

 

[Gary Morgan]

I'm not good at specific regiments, but you might want to try looking online for Confederate Veteran magazine and the name(s) of the regiment you're looking for. Sometimes you'll come across articles written by the veterans of the regiment in question.

 

[UCVRelics]

I think that @Ole Miss can help with some info.

 

[lelliott19]

Hi Sean. Welcome aboard. Thank you for doing the fantastic zoom program for us a couple of weeks ago on your new Beauregard book - Dreams of Victory: General P. G. T. Beauregard in the Civil War. It was awesome and I can't wait to read the book!

There are some members here who are quite knowledgeable about the battle. @ucvrelics has "tagged" one of them who will hopefully see your post and weigh in. And I'll tag another who may be able to help @TomP

 

[Ole Miss]

@SeanMichaelChick I would be delighted to assist if I could in your search.
As it is late I am not of much help tonight but perhap these 2 might be of assistance
I will try to get back tomorrow
Regards
David

1) Shiloh National Monument Search is a National Park Service web site that provides some information for locations of the 55th Tennessee for example (1)
Position Marker #442: 16th Alabama & 55th Tennessee Infantry[/H2]

Inscription Reads:
C. S.
16th ALABAMA, 55th TENNESSEE,
Wood's (3d) Brigade, Hardee's Corps,
ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
These regiments were engaged here at 11.30 a.m.
April 6, 1862 in connection with Shaver's Brigade.

Overall Image
Unit Commander: LTC John W. Harris
Brigade: 3rd Brigade
Division: Hindman's
Corps: 3RD CORPS
Army: Army of the Mississippi
Grid Location: E08 *
Location: 35.13478333,-88.34111667
Location Description: 150 yards SE from SW corner of DUNCAN FIELD

2) David Reed's The Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged (2)

(1) https://www.nps.gov/shil/learn/historyculture/monument-search.htm#sort=score+desc

(2) https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=utk_utpress

 

[SeanMichaelChick]

Thanks Ole Miss. I am very well acquainted with the monument search. In some cases its the only source we have for where a regiment was located, although it cannot always be trusted, particularly on April 7 with the Confederates.

I went through every issue of Confederate Veteran and searched for Shiloh. I found some stuff not in Smith and Daniel, but not as much as one would hope for.

 

[Ole Miss]

I might suggest you contact @TomP a Shiloh Ranger who may be able to assist you further in your search. He is very knowledgeable and willing to assist all who are seeking information about the Battle of Shiloh and its participants.
Regards
David