The Alabama 50th Infantry Regiment was organized at Corinth, Mississippi, in March, 1862, by consolidating the 2nd and 5th (Golladay's) Alabama Infantry Battalions which were recently recruited. Originally mustered into Confederate service as the 26th (Coltart's) Regiment, its designation was changed to 50th in June, 1863. The men were raised in the counties of Calhoun, Jackson, Lauderdale, Blount, Limestone, Walker, Fayette, and Tuscaloosa. Ordered to Tennessee, It was in the battle of Bridge Creek, May 28, 1862, with a loss of 2 killed. The unit fought at Shiloh with 440 effectives, but because of casualties, sickness, and exhaustion, the number was fewer than 150 by the 2nd day. It saw light action in KY, and was then placed in Deas', G. D. Johnston's, and Brantley's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The Gardner's (Deas') Brigade consisted of the 17th Sharpshooter Battalion, plus the 19th, 22nd, 25th, 39th, and 50th Alabama Infantry Regiments. The 50th fought with conspicuous gallantry at Murfreesboro, winning the commendation of its division commander, General Withers, and losing 80 men in killed and wounded. It spent the remainder of the winter at Tullahoma; was for a time consolidated with the Thirty-ninth, under command of Col. H. D. Clayton, and in July it was numbered the Fiftieth, and was alternately commanded by Col. J. G. Coltart and Lieut. Col. N. N. Clements. At Chickamauga it lost 100 men, out of 500 engaged, and it also lost heavily at Missionary Ridge. The 59th totaled 289 men and 180 arms in Dec, 63. It wintered at Dalton, and did arduous duty on the retreat to Atlanta, being engaged nearly every day, and losing heavily in the bloody battles around Atlanta during the last week of July, 1864 where it sustained 33 casualties. The regiment moved into Tennessee with Hood, and was badly mutilated at Franklin. It then proceeded to the Carolinas and distinguished itself at Kinston, where a line of skirmishers, 40 strong, under Capt. E. B. Vaughan, captured a stand of colors and 300 men of the Fifteenth Connecticut. After April 9th, it was consolidated with the Twenty-second, Twenty-fifth and Thirty ninth, under Col. Harry T. Toulmin. Few survived to surrender in April, 65. Companies of the Alabama 50th Infantry Regiment Company A, "Calhoun Beauregards", formerly Company A, 2nd Battalion - Calhoun County Company B, formerly Company C, 2nd Battalion - Limestone County Company C, formerly Company F, 2nd Battalion - Jackson County Company D, formerly Company E, 2nd Battalion - Blount County Company E, formerly Companies B/G, 2nd Battalion "Limestone Rebels" - Limestone County Company F, formerly Company D, 2nd Battalion - Tuscaloosa County Company G, formerly Company K, 38th TN Infantry - Walker County and Fayette County Company H, formerly Companies D/B, 2nd Battalion - Lauderdale County Company I, formerly Company H, 38th TN Infantry - Walker County and Fayette County Company K, formerly Co. "?", 5th Battalion - Walker County
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