Battle of Seven Pines

The regiment was in reserve on the first day. On June 1 Colonel Lomax and 37 other men were killed and 122 men were wounded. Lt. Colonel Cullen A. Battle was wounded. He was promoted to colonel shortly after the battle but would be on convalescent leave due to his wound until September.

Battle of Malvern Hill

The 2rd Alabama made it to within 200 yards of the Federal lines in the attack up Malvern Hill. It lost 197 men killed and wounded out of 345 engaged. Six color bearers were lost and Captain Richard Holmes was wounded.

September 15

Battle of Boonesboro (South Mountain)

Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Colonel Battle was lightly wounded. General Rodes praised the Third Alabama for its admirable conduct.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Colonel Battle was injured when his horse fell on him. He stayed with the regiment in an ambulance, but when he tried to mount a horse to lead an attack he was unable to stay mounted and General Rodes sent him back to an ambulance. Mortified, Battle offered to resign but Rodes refused to hear of it.

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was commanded by Captain Malachai F. Bonham. It suffered 24 killed and 125 wounded, and captured two stand of Federal artillery colors. Captain Powell was captured.

From the report by Colonel O’Neal, brigade commander:

The Third Alabama, under the command of Capts. M. F. Bonham, John W. Chester and Watkins Phelan (and other regiments), though passing through a dense and tangled forest for a mile, all the regiments moved in a regular, unbroken line, the officers exhibiting the greatest coolness and daring, cheering on their men by both voice and example. Capt. Watkins Phelan was wounded in this charge. He, with Captain Bonham, who commanded the regiment, and Captain Chester, commanding the right wing of the Third Alabama, acted most gallantly. Each regiment did its whole duty. I am also greatly indebted to Adjts. A. H. Pickett and Samuel H. Moore, of the Third and Twenty-sixth Alabama regiments, who acted as aides, for valuable services in fearlessly carrying and delivering orders.

(OR, Vol. XXI No. 39)

Nicholas Weeks of the 3rd Alabama is quoted on a wayside marker on the Chancellorsville battlefield:

“…our line melted away as if swallowed up by the earth…. Every man went on his own hook, crawling over and under everything before us… The woods were afire, and … there was a rush for the clearings and road, and then we stood huddled together under the pitiless rain of canister and shell till the flames swept by…[The Yankees’] charred bodies dotted the ground and we could see by the ashes where they had scratched the leaves away in a vain attempt to save themselves from the more awful fate of burning alive.”

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment fought on Oak Ridge on July 1 and at Culp’s Hill on July 2 and 3. It was commanded by Colonel Cullen A. Battle and brought 27 officers and 323 men to the field. It suffered 17 killed and 74 wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Forsyth was wounded in the ankle, and Major Robert Sands was wounded in the knee. Lieutenant Albert Wilcox was killed, and Lieutenant William N. Kedyard was wounded and captured. Generals Ramseur and Early both commended Colonel Battle for his leadership.

From the monument to O’Neal’s Brigade at Gettysburg:

July 1. Soon after arriving at this position three regiments attacked the Union flank, the 5th Regiment being ordered to guard the wide interval between the Brigade and Doles’s Brigade in the valley on the left and the 3rd Regiment joining Daniel’s and afterwards Ramseur’s Brigade. The three regiments were repulsed with heavy loss but the entire Brigade took part in the general attack soon made by the Confederates which finally dislodged the Union forces from Seminary Ridge.

July 2. The Brigade in position all day in or near the town but not engaged.

July 3. The 5th Regiment lay in the southern borders of the town firing upon the Union artillery with their long range rifles. The other regiments moved to Culp’s Hill to reinforce Johnson’s Division.

July 4. Moved to Seminary Ridge. At night began the march to Hagerstown.

Bristoe Campaign

The regiment suffered 1 killed and 1 wounded.

Mine Run

The regiment suffered 5 casualties.

Battle of the Wilderness

Commanded by Colonel Forsyth.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Colonel Forsyth was wounded in the thigh and Major Powell was wounded in the calf.

Battle of Lynchburg

Battle of Monocacy

Second Battle of Kernstown

Battle of Winchester

Battle of Cedar Creek

The regiment was attached to Battle’s Brigade, Ramseur’s Division, Army of the Valley

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Sands retired.

Appomattox Court House

The 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment surrendered 9 officers and 93 men under the command of Captain Cornelius Robinson, Jr.