Alabama 63rd Infantry Regiment
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Alabama 63rd Infantry Regiment was organized at Blakeley, in July 1864, and nearly all of the men except two companies ("A'' and "B") were conscripts from various parts of the State, the officers being mostly veterans. The regiment remained in the defenses of Mobile till ordered to Spanish Fort, three days before the place was invested, March 1865. It was, with the Sixty-second, a part of Gen. Thomas' brigade, and lost several killed and wounded during the first six days' operations at Spanish Fort. Relieved, and sent to Blakeley, the Sixty-third arrived there in time to share in all the privations and perils of that siege. After some loss, it was captured with the fortress, April 9, 1865, about 300 in number, and exchanged just prior to the surrender of the department.
This flag, manufactured by either Jackson O. Belknap or James A. Cameron of le, conforms to the pattern issued to units within the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. The flag bears an appliqued unit designation for the 2nd Alabama Infantry which had been disbanded in 1862. The flag must have been carried by some of the men of the 2nd who later joined the 63rd Infantry. It was captured on April 9, 1865 at Blakeley, Alabama by Sgt. George F. Rebman, Co. B, 119th Illinois Infantry. Sergeant Rebman was recommended for and later received the Congressional Medal of Honor. On April 12, 1865, the flag along with others was forwarded to Lt. Col. C. T. Christensen, Assistant Adjutant General, Army and Division of West Mississippi by Major General A. J. Smith. The flag was eventually sent to the U.S. War Department in Washington where it was assigned Capture Number 449. It was returned to the State of Alabama effective March 25, 1905.
OFFICERS:
Colonels Oland S. Rice; till reorganized. Junius A. Law of Macon; captured at Blakeley.
Lieut. Colonels Junius A. Law; promoted. John H. Echols of Macon; captured at Blakeley.
Majors John H. Echols; promoted. I. W. Suttle of Coosa; captured at Spanish Fort.
Adjutants David Johnston of Macon, (acting); captured at Blakeley
ASSIGNMENTS:
Gen. Thomas' Brigade
SERVICE:
Spanish Fort
Fort Blakeley
ROSTER:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 1808 men.
The following were captains in the regiment: James Armstrong, W. C. Zimmerman, Charles W. Martin, Alto V. Lee, Spottswood Garland, all captured at Blakeley; and I. W. Suttle, promoted, succeeded by ... Johnson, killed at Spanish Fort.
Nearly all of the men except two companies ("A'' and "B") were conscripts from various parts of the State.
Company A – Tallapoosa County
Company C – 14 members were 17 year olds from Tallapoosa County.
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.
This flag, manufactured by either Jackson O. Belknap or James A. Cameron of le, conforms to the pattern issued to units within the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. The flag bears an appliqued unit designation for the 2nd Alabama Infantry which had been disbanded in 1862. The flag must have been carried by some of the men of the 2nd who later joined the 63rd Infantry. It was captured on April 9, 1865 at Blakeley, Alabama by Sgt. George F. Rebman, Co. B, 119th Illinois Infantry. Sergeant Rebman was recommended for and later received the Congressional Medal of Honor. On April 12, 1865, the flag along with others was forwarded to Lt. Col. C. T. Christensen, Assistant Adjutant General, Army and Division of West Mississippi by Major General A. J. Smith. The flag was eventually sent to the U.S. War Department in Washington where it was assigned Capture Number 449. It was returned to the State of Alabama effective March 25, 1905.
Lieut. Colonels Junius A. Law; promoted. John H. Echols of Macon; captured at Blakeley.
Majors John H. Echols; promoted. I. W. Suttle of Coosa; captured at Spanish Fort.
Adjutants David Johnston of Macon, (acting); captured at Blakeley
Fort Blakeley
The following were captains in the regiment: James Armstrong, W. C. Zimmerman, Charles W. Martin, Alto V. Lee, Spottswood Garland, all captured at Blakeley; and I. W. Suttle, promoted, succeeded by ... Johnson, killed at Spanish Fort.
Nearly all of the men except two companies ("A'' and "B") were conscripts from various parts of the State.
Company A – Tallapoosa County
Company C – 14 members were 17 year olds from Tallapoosa County.
AL 4th Cavalry Regiment