The 8th Alabama Infantry Regiment was the first Alabama command that enlisted "for the war." It was organized by the War Department at Richmond on 10 June 1861, with men recruited from Butler, Coosa, Dallas, Mobile, and Perry counties. The regiment lay at Yorktown, Virginia, for the first eleven months of its service, and a detachment of it was engaged in a skirmish near Wynn's Mill. Placed in General Roger Pryor's Brigade, the regiment fell back with the army until it was overtaken at Williamsburg and lost about 100 men. It continued throughout the war in Virginia. At Appomattox, the remnant denied the first rumors of surrender and indignantly tore their battle-flag into shreds to retain as mementos. Of 1377 men on its roll, the 8th lost 300 killed or mortally wounded, over 170 died of disease, and 236 were discharged or transferred; 16 officers and 153 men surrendered. COMPANIES OF THE AL 8th INFANTRY REGIMENT Co. "A", Alabama Rangers (Perry): Young Lea Royston (promoted); Thomas Phelan (KIA, Gaines' Mill); Thomas Heard (wounded, The Wilderness) Co. "B", Governor's Guards (Coosa): Thomas W. W. Davies (promoted to major, 28th AL Regt, 20 March 62); G. W. Hannon (KIA, Gaines' Mill); M. G. McWilliams (died in service, 10 Jan 64); George T. L. Robison (wounded, Petersburg) Co. "C", Alex Stephens' Guards (Mobile): Charles Thomas Ketchum (resigned, 8 Nov 61); Leonard F. Summers (KIA, Seven Pines); W. Benjamin Briggs (resigned, 15 Oct 62); H. C. Lea; Henry McHugh (KIA, The Crater) Co. "D", Independent Blues (Dallas): James Kent (resigned, 1 Nov 61); Robert A. McCrary (KIA, Salem Church); William R. Knox (wounded, Petersburg) Co. "E", Hamp Smith Rifles (Mobile): William Thomas Smith (resigned, 20 Dec 61); Crawford E. Blackwood (wounded, Frazier's Farm; resigned, 30 Sept 62); A. H. Ravesies (wounded, Sharpsburg; retired, 19 Oct 64) Co. "F" (Butler): Hillary Abner Herbert (promoted, 5 May 62); Lewis A. Livingston (wounded, Gettysburg, and died as a POW); Ira W. Stott (retired, 19 Oct 64); George Hatch Co. "G" (Mobile): John P. Emrich (promoted, 16 June 62); Anthony Kohler (wounded, Gettysburg, and captured) Co. "H", Mobile Independent Scouts (Mobile): William F. Cleveland (resigned, 24 Oct 62); William W. Mordecai (wounded, Petersburg) Co. "I", Emerald Guards (Mobile): Patrick C. Loughry (KIA, Seven Pines); C. P. B. Branegan (KIA, Gettysburg); John McGrath (wounded, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania; retired, 27 Dec 64) Co. "K", Southern Guards (Perry): Duke Nall (wounded, Sharpsburg; promoted, 2 Nov 64); William Long Fagan
About the Author: John Rigdon has authored a number of books on the Civil War and is the manager of the web site, Research OnLine, (www.researchonline.net) the premier site for researching Civil War ancestors in the Civil War. His titles include the Historical Sketch and Roster Volumes (1100 plus titles) and a dozen volumes in the "We Fought" series focusing on particular battles and commanders. Additionally John works in translation of materials for Haitian Creole and several languages of West Africa including French, Mòoré, Bambara, and Dioula (Jula). John resides in the foothills of the Appalachians outside Cartersville, GA. where he enjoys gardening and aquaponics. You may reach him at jrigdon@researchonline.net