The 22nd Alabama Infantry Regiment was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

that served in the

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fi ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Service

The 22nd Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama. Named for Continental Army major general Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River on the Gulf Coastal Plain. The population was 2 ...

, November, 1861, and armed by private enterprise. It first served in

Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. After a successful vote to annex areas west of the city limits in July 2023, Mobil ...

; from there it was ordered to

Corinth, Mississippi Corinth is a city in and the county seat of Alcorn County, Mississippi, Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,622 at the 2020 census. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835. It lies on the state line with Tennessee. His ...

, and reached

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

in time for the

Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater of the ...

, where it suffered severe loss. It fought at Munfordville, 14 to 16 September 1862; at Perryville, 8 October, and at Murfreesboro, 31 December to 2 January 1863. It took a very brilliant part in the impetuous assault on Rosecrans' army at the

Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 18–20, 1863, between the United States Army and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a U.S. Army offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southe ...

, 20 September, and suffered severely, losing almost two-thirds of its forces, the killed including five color-bearers. It served in the campaign in

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

, losing heavily in the battles around

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, Georgia, July, 1864, and at Jonesboro, 31 August and 1 September. It was also distinguished at Franklin, 30 November; at Nashville, 15 and 16 December; at

Kinston, North Carolina Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States, with a population of 19,900 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. Kinston is located in the ...

, 14 March 1865, and at Bentonville, 19 to 21 March. In April it was consolidated with the Twenty-fifth, Thirty-ninth and Fiftieth, under Colonel Toulmin. Colonel John C. Marrast passed away while still in the military, having achieved great success. At Shiloh, Captain Abner C. Gaines was fatally wounded and Major R. B. Armistead was killed. Lieutenants J. H. and J. N. Smith. Wall fell at Murfreesboro, Lieutenant Colonel John Weedon, Captain James Deas Nott and Lieutenants Waller Mordecai and Renfroe were killed at Chickamauga; Colonel Benjamin R. Hart, Captain Thomas M. Brindley, Lieutenants Leafy and Stackpoole at Atlanta, and Captain Ben. B. Little were killed at Jonesboro. The other field officers were Colonel Zach C. Deas, afterward a noted brigadier-general; Colonel Harry T. Toulmin, later U.S. district judge; Lieutenant Colonels Napoleon D. Rouse and Herbert E. Armistead; Majors Thomas McPrince, Robert D. Armistead and Robert Donnell.

1861

Company D was organized at Dublin, Alabama, and elected officers 17 September 1861 at Montgomery, Alabama. Company D and her sister companies were formed from men who were recruited from Calhoun, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clarke, Mobile, Montgomery, Pike, Randolph, and Walker counties. The 22nd Alabama Infantry Regiment was then organized by Major Z. C. Deas and Major Robert B. Armistead in

, on 6 October 1861. On 25 October 1861, Major Deas was elected and commissioned colonel. Colonel Deas spent $28,000 in gold to equip the regiment with 800

Pattern 1853 Enfield The Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket (also known as the Pattern 1853 Enfield, P53 Enfield, and Enfield rifle-musket) was a .577 calibre Minié-type muzzle-loading rifled musket, used by the British Empire from 1853 to 1867; after which many wer ...

rifles. On 5 November 1861, the 22nd Alabama was ordered to report to General Withers at Mobile, District of Alabama, where it encamped during that winter.

1862

Ordered to west Tennessee in January 1862, Major General Bragg transferred Brigadier General A. H. Gladden (of Louisiana) to Mobile, and created Gladden's Brigade including the 22nd Alabama. On 1 February 1862 the 22nd Alabama and her brigade were in the Department of Alabama and West Florida, in the Army of Mobile under General Withers. On 26 February 1862 the brigade (under Gladden) was ordered to Corinth, Mississippi by General Bragg. The 22nd Alabama was then engaged from 6 to 7 April 1862 in the

, where it operated under the 1st Brigade of Brigadier General Adley H. Gladden who was wounded and died on 12 April 1862. Colonel Deas later assumed command of the 1st Brigade temporarily until wounded himself on 7 Apr. During this engagement the 22nd Alabama and 1st Brigade were under the 2nd Division (commanded by Brigadier General Jones M. Withers) of the 2nd Corps (commanded by Major General Braxton Bragg) under the Army of Mississippi (commanded by General Albert S. Johnston). The 22nd Alabama suffered heavy losses, and reported 123 men fit for duty after the battle. During April 1862 the 1st Brigade (with the 19th, 22nd, 25th, 26th/50th, and 39th Regiments) was placed under Brigadier General Franklin Gardner, who ultimately led this brigade into

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

. The 39th Alabama was absorbed at the railhead in

Tupelo, Mississippi Tupelo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1860, the population was 37,923 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. It is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, 7th-most populous ...

, south of Corinth. In May 1862 the brigade was camped a few miles north of Tupelo at the town of Saltillo, Mississippi. During Jun 1862 the brigade formed the 17th Battalion of Sharpshooters. On 30 Jun 1862 Gardner's Brigade was in a Reserve Corps of Bragg's Army. During August 1862 the 1st Brigade (and

Army of Mississippi There were three formations known as the Army of Mississippi in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. This name is contrasted against Army of ''the'' Mississippi, which was a Union Army named for the Mississippi River, no ...

, under Bragg) was loaded into railcars at Saltillo & Tupelo and were transported south by the

Mobile and Ohio Railroad Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ...

to Mobile, changed trains, and transported north to Montgomery, West Point, Atlanta, then Chattanooga. By 18 to 20 August 1862 Gardner's Brigade was with Major General Leonidas Polk at Chattanooga. On 28 August 1862 the Army of Mississippi began its march to Kentucky and arrived at

Munfordville, Kentucky Munfordville is a home rule-class city in, and the county seat of, Hart County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,615 at the 2010 U.S. census. History The settlement was once known as "Big Buffalo Crossing". The current name came f ...

, on 17 September 1862, where it was engaged in the

Battle of Munfordville The Battle of Munfordville (also known as the Battle of Green River) was an engagement in Munfordville, Kentucky during the American Civil War. Victory there allowed the Confederates to temporarily strengthen their hold on the region and impa ...

. Following the battle the 22nd Alabama accompanied Bragg's Army of Mississippi as it continued its march into Kentucky, reaching Hodgenville and Bardstown in October, where on 4 October 1862 the regiment witnessed the inauguration of the Confederate governor of Kentucky at Frankfort. Shortly afterward on 8 October 1862 during the

Battle of Perryville The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive (Kentucky Campaign) during the Ame ...

the 1st Brigade was held in reserve and not involved much in the battle except for some skirmishing. On 9 October 1862 General Bragg reached Knoxville and renamed his army the

Army of Tennessee The Army of Tennessee was a Field army, field army of the Confederate States Army in the Western theater of the American Civil War, Western Theater of the American Civil War. Named for the Confederate States of America, Confederate state of Tenn ...

. The 22nd Alabama stayed in Knoxville for a couple of weeks, until ordered to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. During November 1862 Brigadier General Gardner was promoted to major general and transferred to

Port Hudson, Louisiana Port Hudson is an unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Located about northwest of Baton Rouge, it is known primarily as the location of an American Civil War battle, the siege of Port Hudson, in 1863. ...

. Subsequently, on 13 December 1862, Colonel Deas was promoted to brigadier general. During this period, President Jefferson Davis reviewed the Army of Tennessee at Murfreesboro. Finally on 31 December 1862 Brigadier General Deas formally assumed command of 1st Brigade.

1863

From 31 December to 2 January 1863 the regiment fought fiercely in the

Battle of Murfreesboro The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Ci ...

(also called Stone's River). The 22nd Alabama and the 1st Brigade fought under the 2nd Division (commanded by Major General Jones M. Withers) under Polk's Corps (commanded by

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

Leonidas Polk) under the Army of Tennessee (commanded by General Braxton Bragg). The 22nd Alabama suffered 94 casualties. After ferocious, bloody fighting in the

, ten gallant men from the 22nd Alabama were inscribed into the

Confederate Roll of Honor The Confederate Roll of Honor, officially the Roll of Honor, was an award of the Confederate States Army created by Adjutant and Inspector General Samuel Cooper on October 3, 1863 (authorized by an act of the Confederate States Congress on Octob ...

: * Company A: Sergeant W. D. Sumner * Company B: Private William Sellers * Company C: Corporal J. L. Husbands * Company D: First Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Nelson * Company E: Sergeant P. A. Minton * Company F: Corporal N. B. Walker * Company G: Private J. R. Black * Company H: Corporal W. R. Larry * Company I: Private J. J. McVey * Company K: Private J. N. Eilands Following the battle, 1st Brigade retreated to

Shelbyville, Tennessee Shelbyville is a city in and the county seat, seat of government of Bedford County, Tennessee. The town was laid out in 1810 and incorporated in 1819. Shelbyville had a population of 20,335 at the 2010 census. The town is a hub of the Tennessee Wa ...

, where it was joined later by the rest of the Army of Tennessee. During the first half 1863 the Army of Tennessee occupied a front in southern Tennessee from Shelbyville to Tullahoma. The 1st Brigade now commonly referred to as Deas Brigade, and remained under Wither's Division and Polk's Corps. At the end of July 1863 Deas' Brigade evacuated the Shelbyville and Tullahoma area and pulled back to Chattanooga, Tennessee due to flanking by Union Army, and then during August the Army of Tennessee occupied Chattanooga. From 6 to 7 September 1863 the Army of Tennessee evacuated Chattanooga and marched southward, where it participated from 18 to 20 September in the

. During the battle the 22nd was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Weedon, assisted by Captain Harry T. Toulmin, under Deas' Brigade (Brigadier General Zachariah C. Deas), under Hindman's Division (Major General Thomas C. Hindman), under the Left Wing (Lieutenant General James Longstreet), under the Army of Tennessee (General Braxton Bragg). On 19 September, Deas' Brigade was placed in a line of battle (Saturday morning) near Lee and Gordon's Mill, on southern end of Confederate line, and formed a line of log breastworks. The 22nd Alabama was in the line of battle which moved to assault Union Major General William Rosecrans at Chickamauga, where it lost 5 color bearers and 175 killed and wounded out of about 400 engaged. The 22nd Alabama lost lightly in November 1863 at the

Battle of Missionary Ridge The Battle of Missionary Ridge, also known as the Battle of Chattanooga, was fought on November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union Army, Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on ...

and wintered at Dalton, Georgia, where weather and sickness claimed 272 men.

1864

The 22nd Alabama under the command of General George D. Johnston of Perry County, participated in the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, losing gradually by the constant fighting. At Atlanta, from 22 to 28 July, the loss in the regiment was high, as it was at Jonesboro. It moved into Tennessee with General John Bell Hood and suffered severely at Franklin and lightly at Nashville.

1865

The 22nd Alabama was transferred beyond the Edisto and moved into North Carolina, skirmishing with the advance of Union Major General George Thomas' army. The loss at Kinston and Bentonville was light, with Colonel Harry Toulmin leading the brigade. The regiment was consolidated with the 25th Infantry in the field in early 1865 and then it was also consolidated with the 25th, 39th, and 26/50th at Smithfield, 9 April 1865, with H. T. Toulmin as colonel, N. B. Rouse (Butler) as lieutenant colonel, and Robert Donald (Limestone) as major, and then surrendered at

Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the List of municipalitie ...

, on 26 April 1865.The History of 22nd Alabama Infantry Regiment
/ref>

Total strength and casualties

Commanders

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Zachariah Cantey Deas * Colonel John Calhoun Marrast * Colonel Benjamin R. Hart * Colonel Harry Theophilus Toulmin

Field and Staff Officers

Field and staff officers included: *Colonels: Zachariah Cantey Deas (wounded, Shiloh, promoted to BGen), John Calhoun Marrast (died in service, 1863), Benjamin R. Hart (KIA, Atlanta, Jan., 1864), and Harry Theophilus Toulmin *Lieutenant Colonels: John Calhoun Marrast (promoted), John Weedon (KIA, Chickamauga), Benjamin R. Hart (promoted), Harry Theophilus Toulmin (promoted), and E. Herbert Armistead (KIA, Franklin) *Majors: Robert Burbage Armistead (KIA, Shiloh), John Weeden (promoted), Benjamin R. Hart (wounded, Chickamauga, promoted), Thomas McCarroll Prince (wounded, Franklin); *Adjutants: Elias F. Travis (wounded, Shiloh, and transferred), William G. Smith (resigned), J. L. Lockwood (wounded, Jonesboro).

Company commanders

*Co. "A" (Walker): John Weedon (promoted to major); Isaac M. Whitney *Co. "B", Frank Lyon Rifles (Clarke): James Deas Nott (KIA, Chickamauga); Joseph R. Cowan (wounded, near Marietta) *Co. "C", Brownrigg Warriors (Choctaw): Abner C. Gaines (KIA, Shiloh); Thomas McCarroll Prince (wounded, Chickamauga; promoted to major); Joseph R. Cowan (wounded near Mobile) *Co. "D" (Cherokee): Stephen R. Hood (resigned, 10 January 62); Edward Herbert Armistead (promoted); T. C. Hagood; Thomas M. Brindley (KIA, near Atlanta, July 64) *Co. "E" (Calhoun): John R. Northcutt (resigned, 13 June 62); Jacob G. Mordecai *Co. "F" (Randolph): O. W. Shepherd (wounded, near Shiloh; resigned, 27 May 62); James B. Martin; Hures Austill *Co. "G" (Randolph): R. G. Roberts (dismissed, 25 June 63); S. H. Pairs (deserted, 27 October 62); Benjamin B. Little (KIA, Jonesboro); William O. Baldwin (KIA, Franklin) *Co. "H", Sam Cooper Rifles (Mobile): Wilton L. Young (promoted to major, 10th Bn.); Harry T. Toulmin (wounded, Shiloh; promoted to major); Simon Franklin Preston *Co. "I" (Pike): Andrew P. Love (wounded, Shiloh; resigned, 1 July 62; transferred to Jeff Davis' Cavalry); Willis C. Wood (wounded, Murfreesboro; resigned, 31 October 64); Willis H. Henderson (wounded, Kinston) *Co. "K" (Montgomery and Pike): Benjamin R. Hart (promoted to major); Hugh W. Henry.

References

External links

22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry – Battle Unit Details
''NPS'' Units and formations of the Confederate States Army from Alabama 1861 establishments in Alabama Military units and formations established in 1861