Last Updated 24 February 2009

Able (Abel/Ables), James M
Private/Ensign (Lieutenant)
Company G-Regimental Field & Staff

Adams, J B
Private-Corporal

Alford, James B
Private-Sergeant
Company E

"Rested badly in camp as it was my first night. Arose eat breakfast, drilled 2 hours went over to Auburn staid awhile organized our Regiment by electing Jas. F. Dowdell, Aleck Greene Lieut. Colonel, Capt. Amorine Major. I am well pleased with the organization.";

"Camp at Bluett’s Bridge, Columbus, Miss
    July 9th 1862

To the Adjt & I. General, C.S.A.
    Sir, I would respectfully ask leave of the Hon. Secretary of War to resign the Commission I hold as Major of the 37th Reg. Ala. Vols.
    I am, Your Obet. Srvt.
        John P.W. Amerine
            Maj 37th Regt Ala Vols"

"... Aug. 14th {1862}... Maj. J.W. Amarine left us this evening. We regret losing such a gallant officer. He has resigned and will return to his home in Pike county, Alabama, for the purpose of raising a regiment...";

"Troy, Pike Co. Ala
His Excellency
Jefferson Davis
President

Dear Sir: - I beg leave to call your attention to the subject matter of this letter – assuring your Excellence that I regret the necessity which compels me to tax any portion of your valuable time.

About the 10th of January last charges were preferred by Brig Gen Clanton – a Court Marital was held in Mobile Ala – and this Judgment or finding of said Court was that I be “dismissed the Service” – From this decision I appealed – that is – Complaint was made to your Excellency that injustice had been done me – etc – and you were kind enough to order the Trial papers – etc – from said court martial for you own examination & final decision – I am informed by my council George N. Stewart Esq of Mobile that your Excellency referred the said papers to Maj Chas M. Lee AAIG for inspection & report – which was done and this paper sent to the Executive Department on or about 19th Feby 1864 – Since which time, I have only heard your Excellency has not yet approved or disapproved the judgment of Maj Lee in the case – and here the matters rest. So far as I am concerned – I know the cause of the delay that you have not found time to examine into the case & give your decision – That you are engaged in business of much greater magnitude – that you have no time to devote to so trivial a matter – hence, I am held & kept in the terrible suspence, for the relief of which, I am presuming to address you.

Now, will your Excellency pardon me when I appeal to you as the Chief magistrate & commander in chief of the Army & navy of that government for which I have heretofore imperiled my life and am now willing to offer it up in its defence – when I appeal to you as an old soldier to no longer delay that investigate the case and let me hear your decision –

Your Excellency will not understand me as begging your favorable consideration- your clemency – No! If I am guilty of the charges the sentence of the court ___ is right; and I ought not to murmer –  If innocent I ought not to suffer.  I stand ___ all on the proof – the record on file in your office, as it is. I only ask – Nay, I beg & beseech your Excellency to give my case the necessary attention & your final decision so that I may be restored to my command, else conscripted – I make this appeal for the sake of my character as a soldier and for the sake of my country – I am a solider – I can obey as well as command.

I have done something for this war. I was among the first volunteer Captains – was a Major in the 37th Reg Ala Vols. Resigned this for a place on the staff of Maj Gen Little who fell at the battle of Iuka Mi. – was then ordered to my home in Alabama, to raise a battalion of 'Sharp Shooters' – found that I was able to make a Regiment & did so – by and with the [torn] of Gen. Price – and attach it to Brig Gen Clanton’s Command – and permit me to say that most of my Reg was raised in my own County & those living adjacent –

I beg now to be sent back to my command if I am found not to be unworthy or allowed to enter the ranks anyhow – I make no proclamation of my innocence or guilt – I refer to the proof.

Believing that your Excellency will comply with the request of a good soldier, and give me a speedy hearing in the case I will close by again begging your pardon for this trespass on your time.

Your Obedient Servant
John P.W. Amerine

P.S. I was Col. of the 54th now 57th Reg of Ala Vols at Mobile Ala"

"Obituary / In consequence of the death of Serg't Beverly Amos, a gloom has been cast over us. He was a member of Capt. Leach's Company, 37th Regiment Alabama Volunteers. He was a true patriot, a good soldier and much beloved by all who knew him. In the demise of Serg't Amos, the Regiment lost a prominent member, the Company one of its brightest ornaments. He was mild, kind, honest and just in his dealings with all men. He was untiring in all his duties in military life and performed them with manly dignity. He died at Vicksburg, Mississippi on the 20th day of June 1863 from amputation of the thigh, caused from a wound by the explosion of a shell on the 20th May 1863, aged 24 yrs., 8 months, and 27 days. / May his beloved wife, parents, brothers and sisters bear in remembrance that he lived beloved and died regretted. He had gone to battle in defense of his beloved country, when he met the 'king of terrors, which is more terrible than an army with banners'. He leaves many to mourn his irreparable loss."

"Early in the second week of March 1862, Moses B Green, W E Bradley, Robert L Phipps, J V Perryman and Dr James M Saunders began to enlist men for the company. Green and Bradley worked in Abbeville and west into Dale county getting the larger part of men in that locality. Phipps and Perryman recruited in the eastern portion of the county and Dr James Saunders and Thomas Armstrong worked in the lower end of the county, getting the second largest batch of recruits..."

"... only two left their post unhurt. ... Three men had their heads carried away, 1 had his right shoulder torn off, 1 had both hands carried away, and many had painful wounds in the head, and scarcely any man in the left wing of my regiment escaped unhurt..."

"...the enemy opened a heavy and destructive fire of artillery upon the left of my line, held by the Thirty-seventh Alabama Regiment ... With heroic fortitude did these men for an hour and a half sustain this fire, returning it deliberately with their Austrian rifles, with which they endeavored without effect to silence the enemy's batteries ... The conduct of officers and men in this trying ordeal, and especially of the Thirty-seventh Alabama Regiment, who bore the fire so long, is worthy of all honor, and demonstrates how confidently they may be relied upon in any emergency..."

"... During the 27th the Thirty-seventh Alabama ... suffered severely from the fire of a battery, and with the Fifty-fourth [Alabama], who re-enforced it (both of Baker's brigade), is entitled to special mention for the fortitude with which they endured the ordeal...")

Barber, Alexander ("Alex") M (sic W)
Private
Company I

37th Alabama Regiment of Volunteer Infantry CSA
2300 Cottondale Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
cculpepper@aristotle.net

© Copyright 2007 C.C. (Chip) Culpepper