Alabama 42nd Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Alabama 42nd Infantry Regiment was assembled during May, 1862, at Columbus, Mississippi. It was principally a reorganization of other regiments whos twelve month term of service was complete. Some of the men had served in the 2nd Alabama Regiment. Its members were from the counties of Monroe, Pickens, Wilcox, Mobile, Conecuh, Fayette, Talladega, and Marion. The unit was on provost duty at Tupelo until October when it was assigned to J.C. Moore's command. It fought at Corinth and later became part of the forces defending Vicksburg . On July 4, 1863, the regiment was captured. Exchanged and reorganized, it was attached to A.Baker's, Gibson's, Brantley's Brigade, fought at Chattanooga and Atlanta , moved to Mobile, then rejoined the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina. The unit lost fifty percent of the 700 engaged at Corinth, reported 46 casualtes at Chattanooga, and totalled 311 men and 247 arms in December, 1863. At Resaca it had about 300 effectives, but its number was greatly reduced at the surrender. OFFICERS:
Colonels:
John W. Portis (Clarke; wounded, Corinth; resigned)
Thomas C. Lanier (Pickens; wounded, New Hope)
Lieutenant Colonel:
Thomas C. Lanier (wounded, Corinth; promoted)
Major:
W. C. Fergus (Mobile; captured, Missionary Ridge)
Adjutants:
Thomas J. Portis (Dallas; resigned)
Thomas Gaillard (Mobile)
ASSIGNMENTS:
Aug. 1, 1862 Provost Duty, Tupelo, Mississippi, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
Oct. 1, 1862 Moore's Brigade, Maury's Division, Price's Corps, "Army of the West", Army of West Tennessee
Jan 31, 1863 Moore's Brigade, Maury's Division, Second Military District, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
April 1, 1863 Second Brigade, Maury's Division, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
July 4, 1863 Moore's Brigade, Forney's Division, Army of Vicksburg
Aug. 29, 1863 "Exchange Camp, Demopolis, Alabama" Moore's Brigade, Forney's Division, Army of Vicksburg
Sept. 30, 1863 Moore's Brigade, Cheatham's Division, Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee
March 19, 1864 Baker's Brigade, Stewart's Division, Hood's Corps, Army of Tennessee

July 1,. 1864 Gibson's Brigade, Clayton's Division, Hood's Corps, Army of Tennessee
July 18, 1864 Gibson's Brigade, Clayton's Division, Lee's Corps, Army of Tennessee
Aug. 15, 1864 Baker's Brigade, Liddell's Division, District of the Gulf, Department Of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana
March 15, 1865 Baker's Brigade, Clayton's Division, Lee's Corps, Army of Tennessee
SERVICE:
Battle, Corinth, MS Oct. 3-4, 1862

Engagement, Hatchie Bridge "Davis Bridge", Big Hatchie, Metamora, TN Oct. 5, 1862

Retreat to the Hatchie River, MS Oct. 5-12, 1862

Operations on the Mississippi Central R.R. from Bolivar, TN to Coffeeville, MS "Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign" Oct. 31, 1862-Jan. 10, 1863

Vs. Yazoo Pass Expedition – February 3-April 10, 1863

Skirmishes, Forty Hills and Hankinson's Ferry, MS May 3-4, 1863

Port Gibson, MS – May 1, 1863

Champion Hill – May 16, 1863.

Siege, Vicksburg, MS May 18-July 4, 1863

Assault, Vicksburg, MS May 19, 1863

Assault, Vicksburg, MS May 22, 1863

Surrender, Vicksburg, MS July 4, 1863

Siege, Chattanooga, TN Sept. 24 - Nov. 23, 1863

Campaign, Chattanooga, TN and Ringgold, GA Nov. 23-27, 1863

Engagement, Orchard Knob, Indian Hill, TN Nov. 23, 1863

Assault and Capture, Missionary Ridge, TN Nov. 24-25, 1863

Atlanta Campaign May 1-Aug. ?, 1864

Demonstration against Rocky Faced Ridge, GA May 8-11, 1864

Combat, Buzzard's Roost Gap (Mill Creek), GA May 8-9, 1864

Battle, Resaca, GA May 14-15, 1864

Engagement, Adairsville, GA May 17, 1864

Operations on the line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills, GA May 25-June 5, 1864

Combat, New Hope Church, GA May 25, 1864

Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain, GA June 10 - July 2, 1864

Combats about Pine Hill, GA June 11-14, 1864

Combats about Lost Mountain, GA June 15-17 1864

Combat Noyes' Creek, GA June 19, 1864

Combat, Kolb's Farm, GA June 22, 1864

Assault, Kenesaw Mountain, GA June 27, 1864

Operations on the line of the Chattahoochee River, GA July 5-10, 1864

Battle, Peach Tree Creek, GA July 19-20, 1864

Battle, Atlanta, GA July 22, 1864

Siege, Atlanta, GA - July 23 - Aug. 1, 1864

Battle, Ezra's Chapel, GA July 28, 1864

Operations in Mobile Bay against Fort Morgan and Gaines, AL Aug. ?-23, 1864

Campaign of the Carolinas Jan. 26 - April 26, 1865

Battle, Averysborough "Taylor's Hole Creek), NC March 16, 1865

Battle, Bentonville, NC March 19 - 21, 1865

Surrender, Bennett's House, Durham Station, NC April 26, 1865
ROSTER:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 2153 men.

Co.A......from Monroe County

Co. B......from Pickens County

Co. C..Johnson's Avengers from Wilcox

Co. D.....from Pickens County

Co. E.....McCulloch Avengers from Conecuh County

Co. F....From Fayette County

Co. G...From Talladega County

Co. H...From Monroe County

Co. I...Hinson Guards from Mobile County

Co. K...Bull Mountain Invincibles From Marion County

SOURCE:
Brewer, William Brief Historical Sketches of Military Organizations Raised in Alabama During the Civil War
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Rigdon, John C. A Guide to Alabama Civil War Research, Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.