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~~ 6th Alabama
Infantry Unit History
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General
Richard S. Ewell
In the late spring of 1861, Lincoln, seeing that his ninety-day volunteers' terms of enlistments would soon be expiring, placed Brigadier General Irvin McDowell at the head of the 30,00 men then in Washington and ordered an advance toward the Confederate capital. McDowell was not happy with the untrained state of his troops but proposed moving against the most immediate threat to Washington in the person of Confederate General Beauregard and his 22,000 troops just a few miles south of Washington near Manassas, Virginia.
June 16, 1861, Letter from Private Micheal Holmes home shows Company A 6th Alabama arriving at Manassas Junction, Virginia.
June 20, 1861, Manassas Junction, Virginia, Here the 6th was brigaded under just promoted Brigadier General Richard S. Ewell, Second Brigade, First Corp Army of the Potomac. The Brigade consisted of Rodes' 5th Alabama, Seibels' 6thAlabama, Seymour's 6th Louisiana, a 4 gun battery of 12 pound howitzers under Captain Rosser of Walton's battery, and Harrison's, Green and Cabell's companies of Virginia Calvary under Lieutenant-Colonel Jenifer. (OR)
June 30, 1861 - Payroll Fairfax Station, Virginia - (Hawkins, WA)
Thursday July 11, 1861, The 6th was at Fairfax Station where they received Payroll. Fairfax is just a few miles north of Manassas junction. Manassas Junction being where the Manassas Gap Railroad from the Shenandoah Valley intersected the Orange & Alexandra Railroad on its way to Washington DC.
Friday, July 19, 1961 -
O. R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 2 [S# 2] -- CHAPTER IX.
JULY 16-22, 1861.--The Bull Run, or Manassas, Campaign, Virginia.
No. 64 -- Reports of General G. T. Beauregard, commanding Confederate Army of the Potomac, of operations from July 17 to 20."As prescribed in the first and second sections of the paper herewith, marked A, on the morning of the 18th of July, my troops, resting on Bull Run from Union Mills Ford to the stone bridge, a distance of about eight miles, were posted as follows:
Ewell’s brigade occupied a position in vicinity of the Union Mills Ford. It consisted of Rodes' Fifth and Seibels' Sixth Regiments of Alabama, and Seymour's Sixth Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, with four 12-pounder howitzers of Walton's battery, and Harrison's, Green's, and Cabell's companies of Virginia Cavalry."
"Of the topographical features of the country thus occupied it must suffice to say that Bull Run is a small stream, running in this locality nearly from west to east to its confluence with the Occoquan River, about twelve miles from the Potomac, and draining a considerable scope of country from its source in Bull Run Mountain to a short distance of the Potomac at Occoquan. At this season habitually low and sluggish, it is, however, rapidly and frequently swollen by the summer rains until unfordable. The banks for the most part are rocky and steep, but abound in long-used fords. The country on either side, much broken and thickly wooded, becomes gently rolling and open as it recedes from the stream. On the northern side the ground is much the highest, and commands the other bank completely. Roads traverse and intersect the surrounding country in almost every direction. Finally, at Mitchell's Ford the stream is about-equidistant between Centreville and Manassas, some six miles apart."
July 21, 1861 - First Battle of Manassas or 1st Bull Run
On July 21,1861, a hot, dusty, Sunday afternoon, these two amateur armies clashed across Bull Run Creek in the battle of the 1st Manassas/Bull Run. General Beauregard (CSA) had already sent word to General Johnston in the Shenandoah Valley for reinforcements. The day began slowly. General McDowell (Union) had trouble getting his army up moving and out of Washington and the battle did not begin until the afternoon. Initially, the Federal Army with its shear numbers of men was winning the battle. Manassas would have been lost without the stubborn stand of the brigade commanded by General Thomas J. ("Stonewall") Jackson and the arrival of the 9,000 experienced troops under General Johnston from the Shenandoah Valley. Johnston had slipped away from the troops that were sent to hold him in the valley and brought his troops by rail to Manassas. It wasn't long before McDowell could see that the day was lost and ordered a retreat, which soon became a rout. The Federal army, now more a disorganized mob retreated back to Washington, sweeping along with it the ladies and gents that had come with their picnic baskets to watch the battle and the defeat of the Rebel army. The inexperienced Confederates however, were in no shape to the purse the beaten Federals.
Sunday, July 21, 1861, The 6th Alabama was station with its brigade at Union Mills Virginia with orders to be ready to move at a moments notice. General Ewell's Report of the days action. Major John B. Gordon was in attendance at General Ewell's Headquarters as an aide.
O. R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 2 [S# 2] -- CHAPTER IX.
JULY 16-22, 1861.--The Bull Run, or Manassas, Campaign, Virginia.
No. 95. -- Report of Brig. Gen. Richard S. Ewell, commanding Second Brigade, First Corps.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE,
Union Mills, July 24, 1861.
SIR: In conformity with Special Orders, No. 145, headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to report that upon the morning of July 21, 1861, I first received orders to hold myself in readiness to advance at a moment's notice. I next received a copy of an order sent to General Jones and furnished me by him, in which it was stated I had been ordered at once to proceed to his support.
I immediately commenced crossing my brigade over Bull Run, but whilst so doing received an order to fall back to my former position, which I did, and a short time afterwards received another order, brought by Colonel Terry, aide-de-camp, to cross again, proceed up the run, and attack a battery of the enemy upon its flank and rear, regulating my movements upon the brigades of Generals Jones and Longstreet. I again crossed the stream, and had proceeded about a mile and a half in execution of the order when I was stopped by an order to march at once to stone bridge, following General Holmes' brigade, which had already been ordered to proceed to that point.
I deem it proper to state that the courier said he had been accompanied by all aide-de-camp whose horse had given out before reaching me. I countermarched and marched at once to headquarters in the field, remained in reserve at that point until ordered back to Union Mills, which I reached after a long and fatiguing march the same night.
My brigade consisted of Rodes' Fifth Alabama, Seibels' Sixth Alabama, Seymour's Sixth Louisiana, a battery under Captain Rosser, the Washington Artillery, and four companies of cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jenifer. The infantry would hardly have got back that night, but for the excitement of hearing that the enemy were in possession of the ford. As connected with this, I send a report of a skirmish on the 17th, of Colonel Rodes' regiment becoming engaged and checking the enemy, owing to the non-reception of the order to fall back on their appearance.(*)
Very respectfully,
R. S. EWELL,
Brigadier-GeneralCol.. THOMAS JORDAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General
August 1,1861. - Payroll Camp Jones, Virginia (Hawkins, WA)
Friday August 30th 1861, A Pay Roll slip placed the 6th Alabama at Sangster Cross Roads on Sangster Branch near the town of Fairfax, Fairfax County, Virginia. Latitude 384529N, Longitude 0771622W
"The Confederate army under General Joseph E. Johnston, was occupied during the remaining months of summer and fall, mainly in drilling, recruiting it ranks, doing picket duty, and as winter approached, in gathering supplies and preparing as far as possible, for protection against Virginia freezes and snows." John B. Gordon, Reminiscences of the Civil War.
Sunday, October 13, 1861, Sangster Cross Roads Fairfax County Virginia
October 29, 1861, Payroll at Union Mills, Virginia
November 2, 1861 - Brigadier General Robert Rodes (Rodes Brigade)
General Robert Rodes succeeded General Richard Ewell in command of the brigade and it then became Rodes' Brigade. The Brigade consisted of the, 5th Alabama Infantry, 6th Alabama Infantry, 12th Alabama Infantry, 12th Mississippi Infantry, 4th Virginia Heavy Artillery Battalion (as infantry), and King William (Virginia) Artillery.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 480
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, A.
P.,
Near Centreville, November 2, 1861.
The following disposition of officers and troops will
take effect immediately, namely:
I. Brig. Gen. Charles Clark will turn over the command
of the Fourth Brigade to the senior colonel; then repair to Leesburg, Va., and
assume command of the Seventh Brigade, relieving Brig. Gen. N. G. Evans, who
will report in person at these headquarters. Brigadier-General Clark will report
in person to the commanding general of the Army of the Potomac for special
instructions.
II. Brigadier-General Ewell will
turn over the command of the Second Brigade to Brig. Gen. R. E. Rodes, and will
report in person for orders to Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith, commanding Second
Corps.
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By command of General Beauregard:
THOMAS
JORDAN,
Assistant
Adjutant-General.
December 25, 1861 - January 7, 1862, a Pinkerton report places the 6th Alabama in winter quarters near the confluence of Bull Run and Occoquan Run. (MAP)
"My men were winter-quartered in the dense pine thickets on the rough hills that bordered the Occoquan. Christmas came, and was to be made as joyous as our surrounding would permit, by a genuine Southern eggnog with our friends. The country was scoured far and near for eggs, which were exceedingly scarce. Of Sugar we still had at that time a reasonable supply, but our small store of eggs and the other ingredients could not be increased in all the country round about. Mrs. Gordon superintended the preparation of this favorite Christmas beverage, and at last the delicious potion was ready. All stood anxiously waiting with camp cups in hand. The servant started toward the company with full and foaming bowl, holding it out before him with almost painful care. He had taken but a few steps when he struck his toe against the uneven floor of the rude quarters and stumbled. The scattered fragments of crockery and the aroma of the wasted nectar marked the melancholy wreck of our Christmas cheer."
"The winter was a severe one and the men suffered greatly, not only for want of sufficient preparation, but because those from farther South were unaccustomed to so cold a climate. There was much sickness in camp. It was amazing to see the large number of country boys who had never had the measles. Indeed, it seemed to me that they ran through the whole catalogue of complaints to which boyhood and even babyhood are subjected. They had everything almost except teething, nettle-rash, and whooping-cough. I rather think some of them were afflicted with this later disease." John B. Gordon, Reminiscences of the Civil War.
On Feb. 5, 2003, James D. Allen, creator of this website passed away
There is no doubt that he would want the work on the
6th Alabama Infantry to go on.
With that in mind, this site is dedicated to him.
We miss you, Jimmy.
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Last Updated: Tuesday, February 14, 2006