Alabama 35th Infantry Regiment


HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 35th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Lagrange, 12 March 1862, with about 750 men recruited from Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, and Madison counties. Ordered to Corinth, it was there brigaded under Gen'l John C. Breckinridge. It followed that officer to Louisiana and took part in the attack on Baton Rouge, losing 4 k and 21 w. It was part of the force with which Gen'l Earl Van Dorn assaulted Corinth; casualties were heavy. Placed under Gen'l James Buford, the regiment was under fire at the first bombardment of Port Hudson. It passed some time in that vicinity, and in May 1863, the regiment was engaged at Baker's Creek with light loss. Escaping the perils of Vicksburg by following Gen'l William W. Loring out of the battle, the 35th was soon after sent to the Army of Tennessee; but in February 1864 went back to Mississippi to confront Union Gen'l William T. Sherman's advance. The regiment was now in the brigade of Gen'l T. B. Scott of Louisiana, consisting of the 27th, 49th, 55th, and 57th Alabama, and 12th Louisiana. Rejoining the Army of Tennessee, the 35th was part of the resolute column that stood in front of Sherman's army during the struggles in north Georgia and Atlanta. During that time, it lost 65 k and w on 22 July at Atlanta, and 27 k and w on the 28th. The regiment moved into Tennessee with Gen'l John Bell Hood and was in the advance in the attack on the outpost at Decatur, where it lost 35 k and w. At the Battle of Franklin, the 35th lost 150 k and w, one half of its effective force. The loss at Nashville was light, and the remnant of the regiment proceeded eastward to renew their struggle in the Carolinas. The 35th, 55 officers and men, was surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.

This is one of the few Alabama units which have a first hand account available. Rev. Albert Theodore Goodloe, MD served as a 1st Lieutenant in Company D. This book is 338 pages in length. It contains no rosters, but has an excellent account of the war and interesting perspective on the life of the negroes.


Upon the death of our mother, some three years after father died, we were taken from the family home, in Maury County, Tenn., to the home our grandfather, David S. Goodloe, in Tuscumbia, Ala. Here we remained until we were large enough to begin school life, when our guardian took charge of us, and his house became our home. While at grandpa’s, Aunt Milly Sims was our "black mammy," acting under the instructions of our step-grandmother, who was exceedingly kind and attentive to us.

A suitable room in connection with the main building was prepared for us, and a bed put in it also for Aunt Milly, who then was advanced somewhat in years. Sims, her husband, had died, and she never married again. She was not a strong woman, but sufficiently so to give all necessary care to the little orphan boys, whom she loved with the tenderness of a sympathizing mother. She fully realized the importance and sacredness of her charge, and constantly magnified the position which she occupied. She drew us closer and closer to her from day to day, until we came to feel that Aunt Milly was well-nigh all in all to us. She always acted intelligently in her care of us, and was ever patient toward us. Old negro women in the South were called "Aunt."

Aunt Milly (Sims) was of a very religious temperament, and would often talk to brother and me about religion, and urge us to be good children, so that we might go to heaven, where our parents had surely gone, as she testified. She was particularly fond of telling us what good people our parents were, and how fond they were of brother and me. She, among other things concerning their devotion to us, told of an incident in connection with our father’s last sickness which has lingered in my mind ever since. It was this: While Dr. John P. Spindle, the family physician, and some other friends were sitting up with him, expecting him to pass away at any moment, he suddenly turned his face toward the wall. Dr. Spindle, apprehending that it was a death struggle, stepped quickly to his bedside and spoke to him in regard to his condition. Replying to the doctor, he said in a feeble tone: "I do not need anything; I was just giving my children to the Lord."

It was these talks mostly of our black mammy, I have often thought, that created in the minds of my brother and me perhaps our earliest desires to be religious and longings to meet our father and mother in the inheritance of the saints on high. My brother, a devout Christian from early life, has gone to them, and I am sure that I am on the way there. He was a Confederate soldier, was captured at the battle of Helena, Ark., and died a prisoner of war at Alton, Ill., January 5, 1864.



FIELD OFFICERS:
Robertson, James W. - Colonel. from Franklin County. resigned
Goodwin, Edward - Lt. Colonel, Colonel from Franklin County. Died in service
Ives, Samuel S. - Major, Lt. Colonel, Colonel from Lauderdale County. Wounded at battle of Franklin, TN.
Ashford, Alva E. - Major, Lt. Colonel from Lawrence County
Hunt, William H. - Major from Franklin County. Transferred
Dickson, John S. - Major from Madison County. KIA at battle of Franklin, TN.

ASSIGNMENTS:
Gen. John C. Breckenridge's brigade
Army of Tennessee

BATTLES:
Corinth, MS
Baton Rouge, LA
Port Hudson, MS
Baker's Creek, MS
The Atlanta Campaign
Decatur, TN
Franklin, TN
Nashville, TN
The Carolinas Campaign
Bentonville, NC
ROSTER:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 877 men.

  • Lawrence - Richard O. Picket; captured at Corinth; resigned. Ezekiel Johnson.
  • Lauderdale - W.B. Taylor; resigned. J.B. Patton; wounded at Franklin.
  • Lawrence - A.E. Ashford; promoted. . . . . . . Tathem.
  • Lauderdale - Samuel S. Ives; wounded at Baton Rouge; promoted. J.R. Mitchell; wounded at Corinth.
  • Limestone - John West.
  • Limestone - L.N. Martin.
  • Madison - John S. Dickson; promoted. Joseph Brown.
  • Madison - . . . . Peavy; resigned. J.A. Flanagan.
  • Franklin - Thaddeus Felton; killed at Corinth. John Harris; died in the service. Sam'l D. Stewart; killed at Franklin.
  • Franklin - Red Jones.
  • 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.





  • AL 35th Infantry Regiment




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