Book Description

The 38th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Mobile in May 1862, and it remained at the defenses in the vicinity of that city until February 1863. It then proceeded to Tullahoma and was there placed in the brigade of General Henry D. Clayton of Barbour, with the 18th, 36th, and 58th Alabama regiments. The regiment was first under fire with slight loss at Hoover's Gap, and lost heavily in killed and wounded at Chickamauga (37% casualties out of 490 engaged). At Missionary Ridge, the 38th was again engaged at close quarters, and a large number were captured. The 38th continued through the Atlanta campaign. From Marietta to the close, General James T. Holtzclaw of Montgomery commanded the brigade. It fought around the latter city, and at Jonesboro. During the Tennessee campaign of General John Bell Hood, the regiment participated at Nashville in December 1864, and it was in the rear guard of the retreat. Placed in the defenses at Mobile, the regiment went through the ordeal at Spanish Fort where it again suffered severely. With the army, it was surrendered at Meridian, Mississippi, about 80 strong. Companies Of The AL 38th Infantry Regiment 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)