Alabama 23rd Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES: The Alabama 23rd Infantry Regiment was organized at Montgomery, Alabama, in November, 1861. Men of this unit were drawn from the counties of Wilcox, Macon, Monroe, Clarke, Conecuh, Marengo, Lowndes, Baldwin, and Choctaw. It moved to Mobile and during the next two months lost 82 men by disease. Later the unit was ordered to Tennessee, was active in Kentucky, then in December, 1862, transferred to Tracy's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It fought at Chickasaw Bayou , Port Gibson , Champion's Hill , Big Black River Bridge , and Vicksburg , where it was captured. Exchanged and reorganized, it was assigned to General Pettus' Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 23rd participated in various conflicts from Chattanooga to Atlanta , saw action in Tennessee under Hood, and ended the war in North Carolina. During December, 1861, it totalled 674 men, sustained 18 casualties at Chattanooga, and had 374 effectives and 282 arms in December, 1863. The regiment contained 202 men in January, 1865, and surrendered with 75 in April.

OFFICERS:

Colonels:
Franklin K. Beck
Joseph B. Bibb
Majors:
James J. Hester
John J. Longmire
Francis McMurray
Felix Tait

ASSIGNMENTS:
Ordered to Tennessee, was active in Kentucky, then in December, 1862, transferred to Tracy's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
Assigned to General Pettus' Brigade, Army of Tennessee. BATTLES:
Kentucky Campaign
• Cumberland Gap Sep - Oct 1862
• Sep 17, 1862
Vicksburg Campaign
• Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi
• Port Gibson, Mississippi
• Champion's Hill, Mississippi
• Big Black Bayou, Mississippi
• Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi Dec 1862 - Jul 1863
• Jan 1, 1863
• May 1, 1863
• May 16, 1863
• May 17, 1863
• May - Jul 1863
1863 Tennessee Campaign
• Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Missionary Ridge, Georgia Nov 1863
• Nov 1863
• Nov 25, 1863
Atlanta Campaign
• Demonstration at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia
• Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia
• Resaca, Georgia
• New Hope Church
• Kolb's Farm
• Siege of Atlanta, Georgia
o Bald Hill
o Ezra Church
o Jonesborough, Georgia
• Demonstration at Resaca, GA May - Sep 1864
• Feb 25, 1864
• May 5 - 11, 1864
• May 14, 1864
• May 25-26, 1864
• Jun 22, 1864
• Jul - Sep 1864
o Jul 22, 1864
o Jul 28, 1864
o Aug 31 - Sep 1, 1864
• Oct 1864
1864 Tennessee Campaign
• Diversion at Columbia, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Rearguard Action at Duck River, Tennessee Nov - Dec 1864
• Nov 29, 1864
• Dec 15-16, 1864
• Dec 17, 1864
Carolinas Campaign
• Orangeburg, South Carolina
• Kinston, North Carolina
• Bentonville, North Carolina Feb - Apr 1865
• Feb 12, 1865
• Mar 8 - 10, 1865
• Mar 19 - 21, 1865
ROSTER:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 2406 men.

• Co. "A" (Wilcox County; paroled as part of Co. "C", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): John J. Longmire (promoted); G. H. Moye (resigned, 13 Nov 63); J. W. Steen (captured, Vicksburg; wounded, Atlanta)
• Co. "B" (Macon County; paroled as part of Co. "I", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): Francis McMurray (wounded, Port Gibson, and captured; promoted; resigned, 21 March 64) F. A. Rutherford (KIA, Jonesboro); Lt. Carnie Leslie
• Co. "C" (Marengo County; paroled finally as part of Co. "I", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): A. L. Norwood (resigned); Amariah C. Roberds (promoted); Robert Chapman; Alfred Bethea (resigned, 2 Sept 62)
• Co. "D" (Conecuh County): D. K. Smith (resigned, 10 Sept 62); James T. Hester (promoted); James M. Anderson
• Co. "E" (Monroe County; paroled as part of Co. "D", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): G. G. Mathews (resigned, 24 Feb 63); H. M. Graham (captured, Vicksburg)
• Co. "F" (Lowndes County; paroled as part of Co. "D", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): Henry P. Reid (resigned, 3 Jan 63); S. Oliver Merriwether (captured, Port Gibson)
• Co. "G" (Choctaw County; paroled as part of Co. "D", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): Alfred Yates (resigned, 13 Sept 62); John Stephens (KIA, Port Gibson); W. W. Johnson (resigned, 13 April 64); M. Butterfield; (KIA, Atlanta); R. F. Campbell
• Co. "H" (Conecuh County; paroled as part of Co. "E", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): Thomas D. McCall (resigned, 29 April 63); B. L. Selman (captured, Vicksburg; wounded, Resaca); 2nd Lt. J. T. McDonald
• Co. "I" (Baldwin County; paroled as part of Co. "E", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): R. Y. Rew (resigned, 9 Feb 63, and 30 March 63); W. H. Myles (captured, Vicksburg)
• Co. "K", King Guards (Wilcox and Clarke counties; paroled as part of Co. "C", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): William E. Powe (resigned, 10 Nov 62); Greene D. McConnell (captured, Vicksburg)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

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