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(Created page with "The '''1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry''' was a military unit organized in 1898 for service to the United States in the Spanish-American War. The Birmingham Battalion mustered at Union Station on May 1 and traveled via the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to Mobile. The unit returned to Birmingham on the L & N from Jacksonville, Florida on September 17. Mayor Frank Evans chaired a reception committee that organized their public welcome. Among...")
 
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The '''1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry''' was a military unit organized in [[1898]] for service to the United States in the [[Spanish-American War]].
[[Image:L&N station 1898.jpg|right|thumb|598px|Photograph of soliders massing at the [[L & N Station]] on [[May 1]], 1898 for deployment in the [[Spanish-American War]]; {{BPL permission caption|http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll6/id/1591}}]]
The '''1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry''' was a military regiment organized in [[1898]] for service to the United States in the [[Spanish-American War]]. The unit remained in Florida through the end of the war and did not see action.


The Birmingham Battalion mustered at [[Union Station]] on [[May 1]] and traveled via the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] to Mobile.
The Birmingham Battalion gathered at [[Union Station]] on [[May 1]] and traveled via the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] to Mobile, where the regiment was formally organized into companies. The collected force, under command of Colonel [[E. L. Higdon]], numbered 48 officers and 941 enlisted. It was initially assigned to the Third Brigade of the First Division of the Fourth Army Corps, but transferred to the First Brigade, First Division of the Seventh Army Corps under Major General Fitzhugh Lee on [[June 25]], just as they left Mobile for Miami, Florida. Accompanying the unit as principal musicians were Oscar Wolff of New Orleans, Louisiana; [[Forest Chance]] of Birmingham; and Emmett Craddock of Columbus, Mississippi.


The unit returned to Birmingham on the L & N from Jacksonville, Florida on [[September 17]]. Mayor [[Frank Evans]] chaired a reception committee that organized their public welcome. Among the crowd were [[Civil War]] veterans representing [[Camp Hardee]] and [[Camp Davis]] of the United Confederate Veterans and [[Camp Thomas]] of the Grand Army of the Republic. The ladies on the committee organized a pot-luck of home cooked foods to accompany the returning soldiers to their encampment.
On August 12 the regiment left Miami for Camp Cuba Libre near Jacksonville, Florida. Spain and the United States agreed to an armistice that same day. The 1st Alabama remained in camp until [[September 13]]. The units returned to Alabama beginning on [[September 13]]. The Birmingham units arrived on the L & N via Montgomery on [[September 17]]. Mayor [[Frank Evans]] chaired a reception committee that organized their public welcome. Among the crowd were [[Civil War]] veterans representing [[Camp Hardee]] and [[Camp Davis]] of the United Confederate Veterans and [[Camp Thomas]] of the Grand Army of the Republic. The ladies on the committee organized a pot-luck of home cooked foods to accompany the returning soldiers to their encampment. Higdon was presented with a silver berry bowl with gold inlay by his grateful enlisted men.


After arriving at Union Station each battalion paraded around [[Block 99]], then boarded [[East Lake Railroad]] cars to [[East Lake]] to retrieve their personal belongings from freight cars taken there and make camp before being discharged. A group of physicians assembled to take charge of the sick and wounded.
After arriving at Union Station each battalion paraded around [[Block 99]]. The companies then boarded [[East Lake Railroad]] cars to [[East Lake]] to retrieve their personal belongings from freight cars taken there and make camp before being discharged. A group of physicians assembled to take charge of the sick and wounded. At East Lake the soldiers gratefully received not only the car-load of food, but also their pay. By order of Secretary of War Russell Alger the volunteers were given the option of purchasing their government-issued Springfield-made Krag–Jørgensen .30 Army rifle, knapsack, canteen, cartridge belt and other equipment in exchange for 1 months's pay.


After their return, Higdon was presented with a silver berry bowl with gold inlay by his grateful enlisted men.
During their stay in East Lake, many took advantage of the opportunity to become drunk, and numerous fights and "rampages" were reported, including the [[List of homicides in 1898#Jefferson County|fatal shooting]] of John Slate by fellow Private David McClung on [[September 19]]. Colonel Higdon ordered a 30-day furlough in order to disperse the group, with orders to return on [[October 20]]. 200-300 men remained in camp to secure property left there.
 
The regiment, then consisting of 1,089 enlisted and 49 officers, was mustered out of service on [[October 31]]. It had lost 1 officer and 15 men to disease while 31 others were discharged for disability and 32 deserted. The United States and Spain formally signed the Treaty of Paris on [[December 10]].


==Companies==
==Companies==
* 1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel [[E. L. Higdon]]
* 1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel [[E. L. Higdon]]
** Birmingham Battalion, commanded by Major [[T. O. Smith]]
** Birmingham Battalion, commanded by Major [[Thomas O. Smith]]
*** Company A: [[Woodlawn Light Infantry]]  
*** Company A: [[Woodlawn Light Infantry]] , commanded by Captain [[William Parks]]
*** Company G: [[Jefferson Volunteers]]
*** Company G: [[Jefferson Volunteers]], commanded by Captain [[Hugh Kennedy]]
*** Company K: [[Birmingham Rifles]]
*** Company K: [[Birmingham Rifles]], commanded by Captain [[Charles Ledbetter]]
*** Company L: [[Huey Guards]]
*** Company L: [[Huey Guards]] ([[East Lake]]), commanded by Captain [[George Hart]], succeeded at his death by Captain [[Newman Lacy]]
** Second Battalion, commanded by Major [[D. D. McLeod]]
** Second Battalion, commanded by Major [[Daniel McLeod]]
*** Company C: [[Etowah Rifles]]
*** Company C: [[Etowah Rifles]], commanded by Captain [[Nelson Canning]]
*** Company E: [[Joe Johnston Rifles]] (Decatur)
*** Company E: [[Joe Johnston Rifles]] (Decatur), commanded by Captain [[William E. Wallace]]
*** Company H: [[Bessemer Rifles]]
*** Company H: [[Bessemer Rifles]], commanded by Captain [[Thomas Huey]]
*** Company I: [[Oxford Guards]]
*** Company I: [[Oxford Guards]], commanded by Captain [[Arthur Harrison]]
** Third Battalion, commanded by Major [[O. Kyle]]
** Third Battalion, commanded by Major [[Osceola Kyle]]
*** Company B: [[Wheeler Rifles]] (Florence)
*** Company B: [[Wheeler Rifles]] (Florence), commanded by Captain [[William M. Martin]]
*** Company D: [[Anniston Rifles]]
*** Company D: [[Anniston Rifles]], commanded by Captain [[George Tumlin]]
*** Company F: [[Huntsville Rifles]]
*** Company F: [[Huntsville Rifles]], commanded by Captain [[Humes Laughlin]]
*** Company M: [[Clark Rifles]] ([[Pratt City]] and [[Talladega]])
*** Company M: [[Clark Rifles]] ([[Pratt City]] and [[Talladega]]), commanded by Captain [[Romain Boyd]]


==References==
==References==
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-gray-veterans-and/148488160/ Gray Veterans and Pretty Girls]" (September 17, 1898) {{BAH}}, p. 5
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-gray-veterans-and/148488160/ Gray Veterans and Pretty Girls]" (September 17, 1898) {{BAH}}, p. 5
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-fatal-affray-in-the/148492391/ Fatal Affray in the First Alabama Yesterday Afternoon]" (September 20, 1898) {{BN}}, p. 5
* "Alabama Volunteers in the Spanish American War" (1899) Alabama Adjutant Generals Office
* "Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into Service During the War with Spain; with Losses from All Causes." (1899) Government Printing Office
* Wright, Marcus J. (1900) ''Wright's Official History of the Spanish American War.'' War Records Office, p. 237
[[Category: Military units]]
[[Category: Spanish-American War]]
[[Category: 1898 establishments]]
[[Category: 1898 disestablishments]]

Latest revision as of 11:50, 1 June 2024

Photograph of soliders massing at the L & N Station on May 1, 1898 for deployment in the Spanish-American War; courtesy BPL Archives

The 1st Alabama Volunteer Infantry was a military regiment organized in 1898 for service to the United States in the Spanish-American War. The unit remained in Florida through the end of the war and did not see action.

The Birmingham Battalion gathered at Union Station on May 1 and traveled via the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to Mobile, where the regiment was formally organized into companies. The collected force, under command of Colonel E. L. Higdon, numbered 48 officers and 941 enlisted. It was initially assigned to the Third Brigade of the First Division of the Fourth Army Corps, but transferred to the First Brigade, First Division of the Seventh Army Corps under Major General Fitzhugh Lee on June 25, just as they left Mobile for Miami, Florida. Accompanying the unit as principal musicians were Oscar Wolff of New Orleans, Louisiana; Forest Chance of Birmingham; and Emmett Craddock of Columbus, Mississippi.

On August 12 the regiment left Miami for Camp Cuba Libre near Jacksonville, Florida. Spain and the United States agreed to an armistice that same day. The 1st Alabama remained in camp until September 13. The units returned to Alabama beginning on September 13. The Birmingham units arrived on the L & N via Montgomery on September 17. Mayor Frank Evans chaired a reception committee that organized their public welcome. Among the crowd were Civil War veterans representing Camp Hardee and Camp Davis of the United Confederate Veterans and Camp Thomas of the Grand Army of the Republic. The ladies on the committee organized a pot-luck of home cooked foods to accompany the returning soldiers to their encampment. Higdon was presented with a silver berry bowl with gold inlay by his grateful enlisted men.

After arriving at Union Station each battalion paraded around Block 99. The companies then boarded East Lake Railroad cars to East Lake to retrieve their personal belongings from freight cars taken there and make camp before being discharged. A group of physicians assembled to take charge of the sick and wounded. At East Lake the soldiers gratefully received not only the car-load of food, but also their pay. By order of Secretary of War Russell Alger the volunteers were given the option of purchasing their government-issued Springfield-made Krag–Jørgensen .30 Army rifle, knapsack, canteen, cartridge belt and other equipment in exchange for 1 months's pay.

During their stay in East Lake, many took advantage of the opportunity to become drunk, and numerous fights and "rampages" were reported, including the fatal shooting of John Slate by fellow Private David McClung on September 19. Colonel Higdon ordered a 30-day furlough in order to disperse the group, with orders to return on October 20. 200-300 men remained in camp to secure property left there.

The regiment, then consisting of 1,089 enlisted and 49 officers, was mustered out of service on October 31. It had lost 1 officer and 15 men to disease while 31 others were discharged for disability and 32 deserted. The United States and Spain formally signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10.

Companies

References

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