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Lt. Henry B. Dillard, 33rd Alabama Infantry Civil War service fileIncludes his diary and account of being wounded at the Battle of Franklin
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Lt. Henry B. Dillard 33
rd Alabama Infantry
His Civil War service, record, and personal
account
Compiled by
Kraig w mcnutt
The center for the study of the
American civil war January 2012
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Lt. Henry B. Dillard 33
rd Alabama Infantry
March 2012 from Mike Dillard
My great grandfather, Lt. Henry B Dillard was wounded and captured a few days after the Battle of Franklin. He was sent to Ft Delaware as a POW for some time before he was released in a prisoner swap. He kept a diary that he “captured” at Chickamauga and I am fortunate enough to have it in my possession. He corresponded with some residents of Franklin after the war and I have the original letters also. I have several of his documents and letters from that time.
Nov 2012
After my G Grandfather was wounded, he was taken to Dr. Parks’ home for treatment. He continued to correspond with Fannie Park after the war.
My documents include his diary, which I believe he wrote after the war was over. His first entry describes being wounded at the battle of Franklin. I also have several original documents which include the special orders that promoted him to 1st Lt. at Missionary Ridge.
Confederate Order of Battle at Franklin
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33rd Alabama at Franklin Commanded by Mark P. Lowrey (1828-1885) at Franklin
• Part of Lowrey's Brigade at Franklin, took heavy casualties at Spring Hill • Lowrey, a native Tennessean, moved to MS in his early teens. A Mexican
War veteran. • Lowrey was a Baptist minister, age 35 at Franklin. • He helped raise the 32nd MS Infantry and became a BG in 1863. • Commanded these units at Franklin: 16th, 33rd and 45th Alabama; 5th,
8th and 32nd MS; 3rd MS battalion The 33rd at Franklin, fighting near the Carter cotton gin
• In Cleburne's Division; behind Granbury and Govan just east of Columbia Pike.
• Filled the salient between Cotton Gin and Columbia Pike. • Lowrey claimed that his men suffered half their casualties before they
ever got to the Federal line, I surmise due to artillery from 1st KY and 104th Ohio.
• Many of the 33rd engaged in hand to hand fighting by Battery A, 1st Kentucky Artillery (see below).
• The 12th Kentucky Infantry (U.S.) engaged with the 33rd AL. Capt John Brown (12th KY) captured the 33rd's colors.
• BG Lowrey rode to within 30 yards of the Federal line (present location of Cleburne Park, see below) until he had his horse shot out from him.
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Casualties at Franklin
• Eight identified 33rd men are buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery • 129 AL men died at Franklin; 424 MS boys died • Granbury (K) lost 49 men, Govan 43, but Lowrey lost 82 men and they
were behind Granbury/Govan Description of action
“Our first line captured the first line of the Federal works, a ‘temporary.’ You claim that in your front the two lines of works were half a mile apart. In our front I think they were about one hundred yards apart. Our orders were not to stop at the first work, but to cross over the second line. A few of us obeyed orders. How many poor fellows never reached the second line.” [Private Andrew Jackson Batchelor, Co. K, 33rd Alabama, Lowrey’s Brigade]
“I could not see their works until within a few yards of them, the smoke was so dense. When I reached the ditch, it was filled with dead and wounded Confederates. I walked over on dead men. There were five or six of us near our colors, but all fell in the ditch but myself. Our colors were just over the works. I ran up on the works at the corner of the old ginhouse. I threw my gun down on the works at the corner of the ginhouse. Just then I was jerked over the works.” [Private Andrew Jackson Batchelor, Co. K, 33rd Alabama, Lowrey’s Brigade]
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The 33rd Alabama Infantry (Lowrey’s Brigade) at Franklin Confederate Order of Battle at Franklin
16th Alabama
33rd Alabama
45th Alabama
5th Mississippi
8th Mississippi
32nd Mississippi
3rd Mississippi
Battalion
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The 33rd Alabama at Franklin What Lowrey’s Brigade faced at the Battle of Franklin from soldiers’ views -‐ “It is the blackest page in the history of the war of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it. My flesh trembles, and creeps, and crawls when I think of it today. My heart almost ceases to beat at the horrid recollection...The death angel was there to gather its last harvest. It was the grand coronation of death.” [Sam R. Watkins, Co. H, 1st Tennessee] “The next morning, the 30th (of November), we were up early, called the roll, and struck out through woods, across fields, and waded creeks, but we got to Franklin all the same. I suppose it was between three and four o'clock in the afternoon when we formed on the right of the (Columbia) pike, our left extending to the pike. We were the second line (behind Govan’s and Granbury’s Brigades of Cleburne’s Division).” [Private Andrew Jackson Batchelor, Co. K, 33rd Alabama, Lowrey’s Brigade] “Through the woods came the rebel column, and filing off to the right and left in plain view they presented one of the grandest pageants we had ever beheld as regiments, brigades and divisions marched out and formed in line, with colors flying, to the blare of trumpet and the rattle of drum, with all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war.” [Private Nelson A. Pinney, Co. D, 104th Ohio] “Just before the charge was ordered, the brigade passed over an elevation from which we beheld the magnificent spectacle the battlefield presented. The bands were playing, general and staff officers were riding in front of and between the lines, a hundred battle flags were waving in the smoke of battle, and bursting shells were wreathing the air in great circles of smoke, while twenty thousand brave men were marching in perfect order against the foe.” [Colonel Ellison Capers, 24th South Carolina] "The salient of our (first) line was near the (Columbia) pike. There the opposing lines met in a hand-‐to-‐hand encounter. Our line, overwhelmed by the weight of numbers, quickly gave way...They were coming on a run, emitting the shrill rebel charging yell and so close that my first impulse was to drop flat on the ground and let them charge over me. But...I shouted to my company: ‘Fall back, Fall back!” and gave (them) an example of how to do it by turning and running for the breastworks...” [Capt. John K. Shellenbarger, 64th Ohio] “How grandly, how swiftly, they swept up that beautiful slope, after the flying fugitives (from our first line) in their breakneck race, and so close upon their heels, that by the time our boys were climbing the breastworks of our main line, many of the ‘Johnnies’ were there with them.” [Private Nelson A. Pinney, Co. D, 104th Ohio] “Our first line captured the first line of the Federal works, a ‘temporary.’ You claim that in your front the two lines of works were half a mile apart. In our front I think they were about one hundred yards apart. Our orders were not to stop at the first work, but to cross over the second line. A few of us obeyed orders. How many poor fellows never reached the second line.” [Private Andrew Jackson Batchelor, Co. K, 33rd Alabama, Lowrey’s Brigade] “As the confused mass of fleeing Federal soldiers approached the Union fortifications, Rebels close behind them, the defenders were in a quandary. They could not shoot at the approaching Confederates without hitting their own men. The Southerners saw the situation and took up the cry: ‘Into the works with them.’ They swept over the breastworks, and surged forward.” [Franklin by Allen Parfitt] “All this time not a gun had been fired from our main line, but now, as soon as our boys had gained the cover of the works, we opened all along the line of attack with the shock of an earthquake...” [Private Nelson A. Pinney, Co.
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D, 104th Ohio] “A sheet of fire was poured into our very faces...(and) the terrible avalanche of shot and shell laid low those brave and gallant heroes...” [Sam R. Watkins, Co. H, 1st Tennessee] “A few rods from our front line General Pat Cleburne fell, pierced by seventeen rifle balls. Finding that they could not take our line, they lay down in the ditch in front, where some of them crawled to the embrasures and began to shoot down the gunners. Noticing this, John Hunt, of company D, crawled under one of the guns, from whence he picked them off as soon as they showed their heads in the embrasure. Lieutenant Wm. F. Kemble, of Company C, was conspicuous for his bravery, throwing axes, hatchets and anything that came to hand into the seething mass of rebels in front, till a rebel bullet laid him cold in death. ‘Remember Utoy Creek’ was our battle cry on that eventful day, and well did the men of the 1st brigade avenge themselves on the enemies. For half an hour we kept up this terrible fire, much of the time amid smoke so dense that we could distinguish nothing at the distance of a rod.” [Private Nelson A. Pinney, Co. D, 104th Ohio] Private Andrew Jackson Batchelor, 33rd Alabama, related his account of the battle: “I could not see their works until within a few yards of them, the smoke was so dense. When I reached the ditch, it was filled with dead and wounded Confederates. I walked over on dead men. There were five or six of us near our colors, but all fell in the ditch but myself. Our colors were just over the works. I ran up on the works at the corner of the old ginhouse. I threw my gun down on the works at the corner of the ginhouse. Just then I was jerked over the works.” [Private Andrew Jackson Batchelor, Co. K, 33rd Alabama, Lowrey’s Brigade] Private Nelson A. Pinney, 104th Ohio, related his account of this part of the battle: “The smoke had lifted but little when we could see rags upon bayonets from the ditch in front, and could hear them calling out, ‘For God’s sake, don’t shoot, and we’ll give up and come in.’ Of course, over a thousand were captured by our brigade, of whom two hundred survivors of the 16th Alabama, and as many more of the others commands, fell into the hands of the 104th (Ohio Volunteer Infantry), as well as eleven rebel battle flags. But it was not by any means a bloodless victory for us. The 104th had sixty killed and wounded, besides, perhaps a dozen of our skirmishers taken prisoners. ”Just at dusk [about 5:00 p.m.] the 104th was ordered to make a reconnaissance in front of the lines. Clambering over the works we formed in a line outside and moved on our slow and tedious way along the ground over which the rebels came in their headlong charge. The sights and sounds which greeted us as we grouped along were enough to shock a heart of stone. Along the front of our line the dead and dying lay piled up promiscuously in the ditch, sometimes eight feet deep, while as we passed over the ground we were often obliged to pick our way most carefully along, to avoid tramping on the bodies with which the ground was strewn. On every hand the wounded men would cry for mercy: ‘O, for God’ s sake, give me water .’ Don’ t kill me for God’ s sake,’ as though they thought we might be brutal enough to harm a dying man. We found no enemy in front except these fallen ones, so we returned to our place on the line.” [Private Nelson A. Pinney, Co. D, 104th Ohio] “Union and Confederate troops, Mississippians, Ohioans, Illinoisans, Indianians, fought hand-‐to-‐hand in the dark for possession of the parapets and their flags...The ditch in front of the works was a mass of gray and brown bodies, a blur of faces and claw like hands. Here and there the dead were piled four and five deep. Dead men who had no more room to fall
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stood upright in the pile still holding their rifles with their faces still set toward the vanished foe. [Steven Cone, reenactor, Company K, 46th Tennessee] The Medal of Honor was awarded to Private John H. Ricksecker, Company E, 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry for capturing the 16th Alabama Infantry Regiment’s battle flag near Carter’s Cotton Gin. This was in the vicinity of where many surviving members of the 16th Alabama had surrendered, probably along with members of the Mississippi 5th, 8th and 32nd Regiments and 3rd Battalion. The commanding officer losses in Lowrey's Brigade and Cleburne's Division, were: Cleburne’s Division: Maj.-‐Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, commanding, killed in first major assault in vicinity of where Gen. Granbury was killed, two horses also killed Lowrey's Brigade: Brig.-‐Gen. Mark P. Lowrey, commanding, survived, horse wounded, assumed division command until Brig.-‐Gen. James A. Smith’s arrival • 16th Alabama, Col. F.A. Ashford, killed • 33rd Alabama, Col. R.F. Crittenden, missing • 45th Alabama, Lieut. Col. R.H. Abercrombie, wounded • 3rd Battl. & 5th Regt. Mississippi (Consolidated), Col. John Weir, wounded • 8th & 32nd Regt’s. Mississippi (Consolidated), Col. W.H.H. Tison, wounded Granbury’s Brigade: Brig.-‐Gen. Hiram B. Granbury, commanding, killed Govan’s Brigade: Brig.-‐Gen. Daniel C. Govan, commanding, survived
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History of the 33rd Alabama Infantry The 33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment was officially organized and outfitted at Pensacola, Florida in April 1862. After dismounting heavy artillery from obsolete Fort McRee, the regiment was sent to Corinth, Mississippi, arriving just after the Battle of Shiloh. It’s baptism under fire occurred at Perryville, Kentucky in October of 1862 where it captured a battery, but suffered heavy casualties, including every field officer.
The next month the Army of Tennessee was organized, and the history of this great army is the history of the 33rd. The regiment was placed in General Patrick Cleburne’s Division, and contributed to his reputation of possessing the best assault troops in the Army of Tennessee. The 33rd drove the enemy before it in Hardee’s dawn assault at Murfreesboro; it prevailed against the 6th Indiana (the Federal unit we portray) at Chickamauga; it helped hold the flank at Missionary Ridge; it helped bring the Federal pursuit to a bloody end at Ringgold Gap; it piled up the enemy dead at Pickett’s Mill and Kennesaw Mountain; it suffered through forced marches in stifling heat; and it charged the numerically superior enemies breastworks in several battles before Atlanta.
The colors of the 33rd, which was one of five different flags carried during the war, waved proudly over all these many battlefields, always with honor, until it was captured amid fierce fighting with gun butts and bayonets at the bloody Battle of Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864. Afterward, and before the Battle of Nashville, the remnants of the 33rd were consolidated with other decimated Alabama regiments to continue the struggle for independence. Only a hand full were left to face the unbearable reality of surrender in North Carolina in 1865. In fact, it is believed that the 33rd Alabama did not participate in General Johnston’s official surrender, but simply disbanded and went home.
Organization
The 33rd was organized at Pensacola, Florida on April 23, 1862. The 18th Infantry Battalion was merged into the 33rd in January, 1863. The 33rd was consolidated with the 16th and 45th Infantry regiments from January to April, 1865. The 33rd was last consolidated with the 1st, 16th, and 45th infantry regiments at Smithfield, North Carolina on April 8, 1865 while serving under the command of General Joseph Johnston. The 33rd disbanded before the official surrender, and was, therefore, not present when General Johnston surrendered his army to General William T. Sherman at Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, 1865.
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Assignments
Hawthorn's Brigade, 3rd Corps, Army of the Mississippi, Department #2 (June - July 1862)
Hawthorn's Brigade, Hardees' Division, Army of the Mississippi, Department #2 (July 1862)
Wood's Brigade, Hardee's Division, Army of the Mississippi, Department #2 (August 1862)
Wood's - Lowery's Brigade, Buckner's - Cleburne's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Tennessee (November 1862 - November 1863)
Lowery's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee (November 1863 - April 1865)
Battles
Munfordville (September 17, 1862)��� Perryville (October 8, 1862) ���Murfreesboro (December 31, 1862 - January 3, 1863) ���Chickamauga (September 19 - 20, 1863) ���Chattanooga Siege (September - November 1863) ���Chattanooga (November 23 - 25, 1863) ���Ringgold Gap (November 27, 1863) ���Atlanta Campaign (May - September 1864) ���New Hope Church (May 25 - June 4, 1864) ���Kennesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864)��� Atlanta Siege (July - September 1864) ���Atlanta (July 22, 1864) ���Ezra Church (July 28, 1864) ���Jonesboro (August 31 - September 1, 1864) ���Franklin (November 30, 1864) ���Nashville (December 15 - 16, 1864) ���Carolinas Campaign (February - April 1865)
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History of the 33rd Alabama The Thirty-‐third, organized at Pensacola, in April, 1862, was sent to Corinth soon after the battle of Shiloh. It took part in the Kentucky campaign at the capture of Munfordville, September 17th, and suffered heavy loss at Perryville, October 8th. It was greatly distinguished at Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863. The brilliant record of the regiment was again established at Chickamauga, September 19th and 20th, where it lost 133 men. The Eighteenth battalion, Major Gibson, had been attached to the regiment and amalgamated with it, so that henceforth their history is identical, and in this battle perished the gallant leader of the battalion. The roll of honor of the organization is a long and creditable one. The regiment was at Lookout Mountain, November 24th, Missionary Ridge, November 25th, and Ringgold, November 27th. Worn, weary, many of the men barefooted, the regiment never lost its spirit, but fought on to the end with the same undaunted bravery. It wintered in Dalton and took part in all the battles and skirmishes from there to Chattanooga, always in the front. Its gallant Colonel Adams was killed at Atlanta, July 22, 1864. With Hood in Tennessee, the regiment lost heavily, its strength of 285 men being reduced to less than 80. T he regiment was transferred to North Carolina and surrendered at Smithfield. Adjutant Stalworth died at Tupelo; Adjt. A. M. Moore and Capt. William S. Sims were killed at Chickamauga; Capt. William E. Dodson at Kenesaw; Capt. J. D. McKee at Perryville; Capts. John C. Norman and W. E. Cooper in a railroad accident. Among the field officers were Col. Samuel Adams, killed at Atlanta, and Col. Robert Crittenden; Lieut.Cols. Daniel H. Horn, and James H. Dunklin, who was wounded at Chickamauga. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 160 *******************************************************************************
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Stone's River after battle report: Report of Col. Samuel Adams, Thirty-‐third Alabama Infantry. ESTILL SPRINGS, TENN., January 7, 1863. SIR: In obedience to circular of this date, headquarters Wood's brigade, I have the honor to report that on 24th ultimo I arrived at Triune, Tenn., at which place my regiment was encamped, doing outpost duty. On 26th of same month I resumed command of it. At 1 p.m. on that day may regiment was ordered forward to meet the advance of the enemy. The regiment, in accordance with orders, moved forward about 2 miles from Triune and halted until about 4 p.m., when it was ordered to form line of battle about half a mile in rear of Triune, in which position it remained until 4 a.m., December 27, when it was ordered to form line of battle on the road leading from Triune to Murfreesborough, about 300 yards form the village. At this place until about 9 a.m., when it was ordered to move across the bridge on the turnpike road leading to Shelbyville, about 2 miles from Triune, and form line of battle on the range of hills immediately south of it. At this place it remained until 3 a.m., when it was ordered by Gen. Wood to fall back in rear of his brigade on the Shelbyville turnpike. On night of December 28, it encamped about 1 miles west of Murfreesborough. On December 29, it formed line of battle near the Nashville turnpike, about 1 1/2 miles from Murfreesborough, about 1,000 yards in rear of the line formed by Gen. Breckinridge's command, on the right wing of the enemy. On the night of December 30, it moved across the river to the west wing of the army, and about 12 p.m. encamped on the banks of Stone's River, about 1 1/2 miles from Murfreesborough. Early on the morning of December 31, it was ordered forward, and about sunset attacked the enemy's lines. The enemy were in a thick cedar thicket. Going down, I ordered my regiment not to fire until the enemy could be plainly seen. The Sixteenth Alabama Regiment, which was on the right of my regiment, fired two or three rounds before the enemy in front of my regiment could be seen. When I first saw the enemy he was about 140 yards off, and I immediately gave the command to my regiment to fire. In about ten minutes after the firing commenced the enemy's lines in front of my regiment commenced giving way. I immediately ordered my regiment forward, which order it promptly obeyed, running at a rapid pace and firing as it advanced. It pursued the enemy for about half a mile, when the line became confused by the regiments, both on the right and left, pressing toward the center; it was halted by Gen. Wood and formed. After being formed in order, it moved forward about half a mile, when it was within 200 yards of one of the enemy's batteries, strongly posted in an open field immediately in my front line, in a secure position. I halted the regiment until I ascertained that the battery could not attack, and then moved my regiment back about 75 yards to support one of our batteries on the right of my regiment. This position I held until the pieces were
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removed, when I ordered my regiment to fall back for the purpose of supplying it with ammunition. About 12 m. my regiment, with the brigade, was, by order of Gen. Wood, moved forward for about half a mile, when the regiments on the right of my regiment opened fire; but I not being able to see the enemy, ordered my regiment to move forward. When it had advanced about 25 yards, the enemy, who had been lying down, rose and moved rapidly away. At this time my regiment, by my order, commenced firing. I pursued the enemy for about 400 yards to the edge of the wood. The enemy had taken a position in the open field too strong to be taken. On January 1, 1863, my regiment moved forward through an open field to a hospital, about 200 yards from the enemy's lines. In this position it remained about twenty minutes under the fire of the large and small arms of the enemy, and was then ordered by Gen. Wood back to its original position. On January 2, my regiment during the day remained in line of battle in the same position until about 11 a.m., when it was ordered to cross the river and form line of battle near its original position on the right wing of the army. In this position it remained until about 11 p.m., January 3, at which [time] it was ordered to fall back from Murfreesborough. For nine days my men were continually marching, in line of battle, or actually engaged in fighting; very frequently slept in the rain without tents, and during the whole time not of complaint was heard until they learned that they were to fall back from Murfreesborough. In this battle the regiment, with the exception of a very few men, acted very bravery. Many of them, when the regiment was moving forward, utterly regardless of their safety, were at all times far in advance of the line. When I ordered the regiment forward, it always promptly obeyed, and when it was retiring it as promptly obeyed the command "halt." In these engagements Capt. W. E. Dodson, commanding Company C, and Capt. Thomas Seay, commanding Company K, acted with much coolness and bravery, being in all forward movements in advance of the regiment, cheering their men forward. Near the close of December 31, 1862, Capt. Seay fell, severely wounded. Sergeant Maj. Mizell, at his own request, carried a gun into the action on 31st, and took position near the colors. He fell, mortally wounded, in the first charge, in advance of the regiment, cheering the men forward. Corpl. Isaac R. Smith, Company C; Sergeant Stewart, Company H; Private Byrd, Company I; Private Foster, Company E; Private Riley, Company D, each acted with much coolness and bravery during the engagements. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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SAM. ADAMS, Col., Cmdg. Thirty-‐third Alabama Regt. Capt. O. S. PALMER, Assistant Adjutant-‐Gen. Source: Official Records PAGE 904-‐29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. [Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]
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****************************************************************************** Chickamauga after battle report: Report of Col. Samuel Adams, Thirty-‐third Alabama Infantry, commanding Thirty-‐third Alabama and Gibson's Battalion. HDQRS. THIRTY-‐THIRD ALABAMA REGT., Missionary Ridge, Tenn., October 8, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part that my command acted in the battle of the Chickamauga, on September 19 and 20: Mine was the left regiment of Wood's brigade. On my right was the Sixteenth Alabama Regt.; on my left was Deshler's brigade. Between sundown and dark on the evening of the 19th, I deployed, in accordance with an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Wood, a company of skirmishers (Capt. Hammett's company) about 150 yards distant, covering my front and connecting with a similar line in front of Sixteenth Alabama Regt. Very shortly after this line was formed I received an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Wood, delivered by Capt. Palmer, assistant adjutant-‐general on his staff, to move my regiment forward and keep in line with the Sixteenth Alabama Regt. Capt. Palmer also stated to me that it was Maj.-‐Gen. Cleburne's order that if a battery of the enemy should appear in my front I should immediately charge and take it. Jackson's brigade was in line of battle in front of and about 100 yards from my line of skirmishers. After my skirmishers had passed Jackson's brigade about 75 yards, they engaged the skirmishers of the enemy and immediately drove them back. After my regiment had passed this point about 75 yards it engaged the enemy's main line. At this point the Sixteenth Alabama Regt. halted. I also halted my regiment. After remaining in this position for a very short time-‐-‐not more, I think, than ten minutes-‐-‐I moved my regiment forward and the enemy fell back before it. After moving forward 175 or 200 yards I halted my regiment. At this point Deshler's brigade lapped my regiment by about two companies. I had lost my connection with the regiment on my right. A part of Jackson's brigade had followed closely in my rear and was firing. It was now so dark that his object could be distinguished but a very short distance. My reason for halting was to rectify my line and to avoid being fired into by the Sixteenth Alabama Regt. on my right and Jackson's brigade in my rear. Shortly after halting I perceived from the flash of the arms that there was fire in my front directed toward the enemy. This, I afterward learned from some prisoners taken at this point, was one of the enemy's lines firing into another. While I was investigating this matter some of my center companies fell back about 100 yards. This was caused, as I learned from the officers commanding the companies, by some person giving the command to "fall back," and stating that it was my order. I immediately brought these companies again forward and moved my regiment
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forward about 75 yards. Here I received an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Wood, by Capt. Palmer, to move my regiment to the right and connect with the Sixteenth Alabama Regt. After doing this I received an order from same officer to deploy a company as pickets, about 300 yards distant from my line, so as to cover my front and connect with a similar line in front of the regiment on my right. This line I afterward doubled, and rested for the night. My loss had been 3 killed and 33 wounded. I took 33 prisoners. On the morning of 20th, my position in the brigade was not changed. Deshler's brigade was on my left. About 10 a. m. I received an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Wood to move my regiment forward and keep it in line with the Sixteenth Alabama Regt. After advancing about a half mile obliquely, most of the time to the right in to the left, the Sixteenth Alabama Regt., under a heavy fire of grape and canister and shell, halted. Ten or 15 paces in advance of this position I moved my regiment before halting it. During most of the time that I remained in this position my regiment was under a very heavy fire of grape, canister, and shell. I had here 7 men wounded. After I had remained here an hour or an hour and a half, I received an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Wood to move forward and keep in line with Sixteenth Alabama Regt. Previous to this time Deshler's brigade had moved to the right. Brown's brigade was near me on the left. After moving forward about 200 yards I received a general volley of small-‐arms from the enemy's line. At this point the Sixteenth Alabama Regt. halted. On a line with it halted my regiment. Here my company of skirmishers that had covered my front in the whole advance came in, having driven the enemy's line of skirmishers back to the main line. Near my line in front was a fence covering my whole regiment except the right company. The enemy's line of battle was distant about 275 yards behind barricades. In this position I was subjected to a very severe enfilading fire from the right. In front a low hill protected me. Shortly after I halted, Brown's brigade came up on my left, and supporting it and very near in its rear was Clayton's brigade, the right regiment of which lapped my whole regiment. I moved forward my regiment with these two brigades about 100 yards to the crest of the hill in my front. At this point most of both brigades fell back, carrying with them many of my men. I continued to advance until I reached a house on the western side of the Chattanooga road, about 75 yards from the enemy's line. This house caught fire about the close of the engagement and burned down. At this point I found myself with but 60 or 70 of my own men and but very few, if any, of the other two brigades. With this squad of men and my colors I fell back to the ravine where I had previously halted. After I had remained here half an hour engaged in collecting my stragglers, I received an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Wood to rejoin the brigade, which was 700 or 800 yards farther in the rear. In this engagement I lost 16 killed and 133 [wounded].
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About an hour before sundown I was ordered by Brig.-‐Gen. Wood to support Semple's battery. In this position I remained until dark, and during this time I was not under fire. In both of these engagements both my men and officers, with a few exceptions, acted well. Some, both of officers and men, acted very gallantly. I desire to mention the names of Capt. Dodson, Company C, and Capt. Hammett, Company D, among those who were most distinguished for coolness and bravery. The adjutant of my regiment (A. M. Moore) was killed on the 19th, and Maj. J. H. Gibson, Gibson's battalion, was mortally wounded on 20th, and has since died. Both of these were brave and efficient officers, and in their death the country has sustained much loss. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SAM. ADAMS, Col., Comdg. 33d Alabama Regt. and Gibson's Batt. [Capt.] O. S. PALMER, Assistant Adjutant-‐Gen. Source: Official Records PAGE 165-‐51 KY., SW. VA. TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII. [Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.] *******************************************************************************
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Report of Col. Samuel Adams, Thirty-‐third Alabama Infantry, commanding Thirty-‐third Alabama Infantry and Gibson's battalion. HDQRS. THIRTY-‐THIRD ALABAMA REGIMENT, Near Tunnel Hill, Ga., December 3, 1863. SIR: I respectfully report that in the battle of Taylor's Ridge, November 27, mine was next to the left regiment of Lowrey's brigade. On my left was Forty-‐fifth Alabama Regiment; on my right was Thirty-‐second and Forty-‐fifth Mississippi Regiments. About 8.30 a.m. my regiment was formed in line of battle in the gap east of Ringgold, Ga., on the side of the hill, north of the railroad and about 40 paces from it. My orders from Brig.-‐Gen. Lowrey were to follow the movements of the regiment on my right. After remaining in this position a short time, I moved to the right, following the movements of the regiment on my right about 250 yards. After remaining in this position a short time, I moved to the right about 600 yards, following the direction of the ridge. Immediately after halting, my regiment was formed in line of battle. In my front, near the foot of the hill, 200 or 300 yards distant, the enemy had a strong line of skirmishers. A column of the enemy, about 600 yards distant, was moving forward to make an attack, inclining to my right. I advanced a line of skirmishers, about 50 yards, to engage that of the enemy. As the attacking column inclined to the right, the regiment on my right moved in that direction, and I followed its movements. When the column reached the base of the ridge, about 300 yards distant, I moved my regiment to the right until I lapped about half of the regiment on my right, as is seemed at that time that the main attack would be made at that point. The vacant space on my left I covered with a company of skirmishers. The attacking column still inclined to the right, and, after advancing a short distance up the side of the ridge, broke and retired. My regiment fired but 2 or 3 rounds at the main line. My line of skirmishers, placed in advance, I have good reason to believe did much execution. My men have never gone into a fight so eagerly as they did in this. They moved with the greatest promptness to any position that they were ordered. They fired with the greatest deliberation. I lost 2 killed and 9 wounded. About 1 p.m. I received an order from Brig.-‐Gen. Lowrey to follow the movements of the regiment on my right and retire from the position. I had several men engaged in the fight who had marched from Missionary Ridge to that place entirely barefooted. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SAM. ADAMS, Col., Comdg. 33d Alabama Regt. and Gibson's Battn. Capt. O. S. PALMER, Assistant Adjutant-‐Gen. Source: Official Records CHAP. XLIII.] THE CHATTANOOGA-‐RINGGOLD CAMPAIGN. PAGE 770-‐55 [Series I. Vol. 31. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 55.]
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Drawings and content from Henry B. Dillard’s Civil War diary
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Dr. James Spry Park (1819-‐1907)
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Fannie Park Wallis (1842-1894) (daughter) Fannie Park married 17 May 1866 to Dr. James D. Wallis (1829-1904). Dr. J.D. Wallis was the son-in-law of Dr. J.S. Park of Franklin and is buried at Rest Haven Cemetery in the Park Lot. Wallis was surgeon, 1st TN Heavy Artillery.
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The Franklin home of Dr. J.S. Parks, corner of 3rd Ave and South Margin
Lt. Henry B. Dillard was carried to the Park home on the even of the Battle of Franklin where he was cared for by Dr. Parks and his daughter Fannie.
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Present location on 3rd Ave and South Margin, where the original Park’s home stood.
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Lt. Henry B. Dillard, 33rd Alabama, served as a POW at Fort Delaware.
Fort Delaware is a harbor defense facility, designed by Chief Engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten, and located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and privateer officers. A three-‐gun concrete battery, later named Battery Torbert, was built inside the fort in the 1890s and designed by Maj. Charles W. Raymond.
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Military service records and info from Fold3.com Enlisted in Company G, March 26, 1861 at Huntsville, AL. for a period of three years.
Captured Dec 17th, 1864 at Franklin (during Hood’s retreat), sent to prison in Louisville.
February 1, 1865 was sent to Fort Delaware.
Aug 24, 1864 reported “absent sick” at Atlanta
Sept 14, 1864 reported “sick and sent to hospital” near Jonesboro, GA (may have originally bent sent on June 23, 1864)
January 27, 1865 was listed as a patient at Hospital #1 in Nashville. Diagnosis: simple fracture of left leg.
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March 4, 1865 he was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #3 in Richmond. Diagnosis something about his right arm
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Alabama Dept of Archives and History
Capt. Samuel Adams, 33rd Alabama Infantry, C.S.A.
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33rd Alabama Infantry flag (Hardee pattern)
33rd Alabama Infantry (Hardee, Company H)
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Resources Alto Loftin Jackson [ed.] So mourns the dove : Letters of a Confederate Infantryman and his family. (New York : Exposition Press, 1965) Fort Delaware by Laura M. Lee and Brendan Mackie (Arcadia Publishing, 2010). Softcover, illustrations, bibliography. 128 pages. ISBN:978-‐0-‐7385-‐8590-‐1 $21.99] Heritage Foundation of Williamson County Tennessee archives found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefoundationfranklin/ L. B. Williams. A sketch of the 33rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment and its role in Cleburne's elite division of the Army of Tennessee, 1862-1865 (Auburn, AL : L.B. Williams, 1990) (revised ed., 1998) Web site -‐ http://www.33rdalabama.org/33hist.htm
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Additional Henry B. Dillard research 33rd Alabama, Co G/ K
33rd Alabama Infantry Primary sources Alabama Dept of Archives and History
1. Sketches, including those by Brewer and Evans
2. Account by R. F. Crittenden, colonel, originally captain in Co. I
3. Transcript "Recollections of Dr. Eugene Allen Smith as a member of Co. K, 33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A."
4. Account of "The Train Wreck" by Marvin L. Wheeler, private in Co. A
5. Manuscript history of unit by Willis J. Milner, adjutant, originally first lieutenant in Co. K
6. "A Sketch of the 33rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment" by L. B. Williams, 1990
7. Typescript history of unit by W. E. Preston, private in Co. B
8. DuBose manuscript
9. Directors' correspondence
10. Deceased soldier accounts
11. Diary kept by Charles Jacob Armstrong in 1863, while serving in Company C of the 33rd Alabama Infantry (part of the Army of Tennessee). http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/voices/id/3895/rec/20
12. T.E. Matthews, 33rd Alabama Memoir, Alabama State Archives.
Auburn University archives
Bigbie, Thomas Papers (1862-1864) - RG 10 [33rd Alabama Infantry, Company G] Bigbie enlisted in Co. G, 33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment, Army of Tennessee, in May 1862. He was captured near Peachtree Creek at Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois, where he died October 17, 1864.
Finding Aid: http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/find-aid/010.htm
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Emory University
Rabb, Hezekiah; letters (photocopies with typescripts), from Rabb, to his wife and family, May 24, 1862-June 26, 1864; 21 items. Rabb served in Company E of the 33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment was stationed in Florida (May 1862), Tennessee (Wartrace and Chattanooga, February-November 1863), and Georgia (December 1863-June 1864). Also includes a copy of his service record and an extract from Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History telling about the involvement of the 33rd Alabama.
Stones River National Park
Alabama regimental Files (http://www.nps.gov/stri/historyculture/regfalabama.htm)
Anderson, Rosa May. ND. Green beans and an ear of corn.
Fillingim, Jan. 1985. H. Jack Dyess's family sheet.
Preston, W. E. ND. Memoirs of the war 1861-65, Company B, 33rd Alabama.
Ramsay, David Whitson. 1923. In memorium of Guilford Ramsay.
"Selma Morning Reporter." Report of the Battle of Stones River. January 27, 1863.
State Of Alabama - Confederate Governement. 1911. J. A. Gregory's application for the relief of Confederate Soldiers And Sailors.
State of Alabama - Confederate Government. 1862-1863. H.J. Dyess's Military Records.
Unknown. ND. Spurling family history.
James Earl Best Jr. Gillman, Ambrose Ira, military records with photo, 1899 pension application with cover letter and muster rolls. 2012
University of North Carolina University Libraries Milner Family papers, 1820-1920. Coll # 02420-z
The Milner family included Willis Julian Milner (1842-1921), Confederate lieutenant with the 33rd Alabama Regiment and engineer of Birmingham, Ala. The collection chiefly includes writings and correspondence of Milner, including
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his autobiography and reminiscences of Confederate battles, life at his homes in Georgia and in Birmingham, Ala., and the building of a railroad, 1854-1860, from Montgomery, Ala., to Pensacola, Fla.; copies of letters to other Confederate veterans discussing the war; postwar speeches; and a short Civil War diary, 1862-1864. http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/m/Milner_Family.html
Williams, L.B. A revised history of the 33rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Cleburne's elite division, Army of Tennessee, 1862-1865
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U.S. Army Military History Institute 950 Soldiers Drive Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5021
20 Apr 2012
33rd Alabama Infantry Regiment
Brewer, Willis. Brief Historical Sketches of Military Organizations Raised in Alabama during the Civil War. Montgomery, AL: AL Civil War Centennial Commission, 1962. pp. 641-42. E551.4.B74. (Brief history and roster of officers).
Confederate Military History, Extended Edition. Vol. 8: Alabama. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot, 1987. pp. 160-64. E484.C65.1987v8. (Brief unit history).
Crute, Joseph H., Jr. Units of the Confederate States Army. Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987. p. 24. E546.C78. (Concise summary of the regiment's service).
Jackson, Alto L., editor. So Mourns the Dove: Letters of a Confederate Infantryman and his Family. [Martha & Benjamin Franklin Jackson] NY: Exposition, 1965. 92 p. E605.J22.
Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Alabama. NY: Facts on File, 1992. p. 102. E551.S53. (Unit organizational history).
The following pertinent personal papers are in the Institute's Manuscript Archive: Rabb, Hezekiah - MusickColl (Enlisted man's letters, May 24, 1862-May 29, 1864)
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