Alabama 58th Infantry Regiment

This flag was issued to the AL 58th Infantry Regiment sometime after the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, (February 25, 1864) but prior to the Battle of Resaca (May 15, 1864). Flags of this pattern were manufactured in Mobile and issued within the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. The 32nd and 58th Alabama Infantry were consolidated in November 1863 yet, at the time the flag was issued, it bore an appliqued regimental designation for the 58th only. This was rectified after the flag was issued by the addition of a crudely applied "32nd". The flag was carried by the consolidated regiment through the rest of the war. When the regiment surrendered at Meridian, Mississippi in May 1865, flag bearer James Freeman removed the flag from its staff and concealed it in the leg of his boot. Freeman retained the flag after the war and eventually moved north. Upon Freeman's death, his son advertised in an attempt to find veterans who had served with his father. As a result of his efforts, former Lt. Colonel John Washington Inzer of Asheville, St. Clair County, Alabama eventually acquired the flag. On May 31, 1906, Inzer donated the flag to the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The flag was loaned to Inzer for a veteran's reunion at Odenville, Alabama on July 4, 1911 and was returned to the Department following the reunion. HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Ninth Alabama (eight companies) battalion was organized at Newbern, in Greene, November 1861, and proceeded to Corinth the spring following. It was engaged at Shiloh, Farmington, and a number of skirmishes near Corinth, all with light loss; but at Blackland the battalion lost about 20 men killed and wounded, besides a large number by disease at Corinth and Tupelo. In the summer of 1862 the battalion was sent to Mobile and remained there till April 1863. At that time it proceeded to Tullahoma, and was placed in Clayton's brigade. The battalion was in several small engagements, especially at Hoover's Gap. In July 1863 at Tallahoma, two additional companies were attached, and the Fifty-eighth regiment was thus formed. Placed in Bate's brigade, a few weeks later the regiment was in the great battle of Chickamauga. On the first day it captured four pieces of artillery, and on the second was in a desperate charge which broke the enemy's line; but its loss in killed and wounded was 148 out of 254 men. A few weeks later, the regiment was consolidated with the Thirty-second Alabama, the field officers of the Fifty-eighth being retained, and placed in Clayton's brigade. The consolidated regiment had 400 present at Missionary Ridge, and lost 250 in casualties and prisoners. The regiment wintered at Dalton. At Resaca, within a few minutes, it lost 95 killed and wounded out of 300 engaged. It was engaged in numerous skirmishes during the retreat, and fought at the battles of New Hope and Kennesaw, losing a number in each. The Thirty-second-Fifty-eighth was also in the bloody battles around Atlanta and a long list of casualties told the story of its conduct. Moving with Hood into Tennessee, the regiment was warmly engaged at Columbia, Franklin, and Nashville, and again at Franklin on the retreat. Ordered to Spanish Fort, the regiment was in garrison there during the siege, losing considerably in casualties. It surrendered at Meridian, under Col. Jones. OFFICERS:
Colonels Bush Jones of Perry.
Lieut. Colonels John W. Inzer of St. Clair; wounded at Chicamauga; captured at Mission Ridge.
Majors Harry I. Thornton of Greene; wounded at Resaca and Atlanta.
Adjutants Robert T. Harris of Marengo; wounded at Chicamauga; retired. John Clow of Scotland; killed at Chicamauga. Albert T. Goodwyn of Autauga; captured at Mission Ridge. Walter Hungerford of Perry (acting); killed at Atlanta. Wiley Spruill of St. Clair.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Clayton's brigade.
Bate's brigade
SERVICE:
As the AL 9th Infantry Battalion:
Shiloh
Farmington
A number of skirmishes near Corinth
Blackland
Hoover's Gap
As the AL 58th Infantry Regiment
Chickamauga
Missionary Ridge
Resaca
New Hope
Kennesaw Mountain
The Atlanta Campaign
Columbia
Franklin
Spanish Fort
ROSTER:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 1239 men.

Co. "A" (Clarke County): William Jefferson Hearin (promoted); Daniel Lee
Co. "B" (Wilcox County): William R. Welsh (KIA, Chickamauga); George W. Welch
Co. "C", Dixie Rifles (Washington County): James L. Lenoir (resigned, 13 Aug 186?); A. G. Moore (resigned, 12 Dec 1863); B. F. Crowell (resigned, 25 Oct 1864); Lt. E. A. Holt
Co. "D" [also called Co. "G"] (Clarke County): G. W. Files (resigned, 29 Oct 1862); John J. R. Jenkins (resigned); Benjamin Anderson (wounded, Missionary Ridge)
Co. "E" (Conecuh County): E. W. Martin (retired, 20 July 1864); Lt. Samuel W. Landrum
Co. "F" (Fayette County): John J. Winston (promoted, Adjutant, 18th AL Regt); Albert Embree (died in service, 19 March 1864); W. H. Wright (wounded, Missionary Ridge, and captured)
Co. "G" (Mobile County): John B. Perkins (KIA, Chickamauga); George H. Cleveland (resigned, 5 April 1864)
Co. "H" (Wilcox County): John A. Jackson (captured, Missionary Ridge; died as POW, 25 Dec 1863); Robert J. Young
Co. "I" (Clarke County): Augustus R. Lankford (promoted); Charles E. Bussey (wounded, Chickamauga)
Co. "K" (Mobile County): Ben Lane Posey (captured, Missionary Ridge; wounded, Kennesaw; dropped from roll, 17 Feb 1865)
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.