47th Alabama Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Alabama

1862
May 22 The 47th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Loachapoka, Alabama, under Colonel James McCarthy Oliver and Lieutenant Colonel James W. Jackson
June Sent to Virginia, where it was attached to Taliaferro’s Brigade of Jackson’s Division.
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, as Colonel Oliver was ill. It lost 12 men killed and 76 wounded. Captain Albert C. Menefee was killed and Captain Michael Jefferson Bulger was wounded twice.
August 10 Colonel Oliver resigned and Lieutenant Colonel Jackson was promoted to colonel.
August 23 Captain Michael J. Bulger of Company A was promoted to major.
August 30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment suffered 7 killed and 25 wounded. Adjutant Henry A. Garrett was wounded and Lieutenant William Grimmett was killed.
September 1
Battle of Chantilly
September 12 – 15
Siege of Harpers Ferry

Colonel Jackson took command of the brigade, leaving Captain James McD. Campbell in command of the regiment
September 13 Major Bulger was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The 47th Alabama was commanded by Captain James McD. Campbell whie Colonel  Jackson continued to command the brigade.

The regiment lost 98 of the 115 men engaged. Colonel Jackson and Captain Henry C. Lindsey were wounded, and Lieutenant George W. Gammell was killed. All that could muster on the 18th were 17 men under a sergeant.
September Colonel Jackson was forced to take a long sick leave to recover from his wound. Captain James McD. Campbell of Company E was promoted to major and commanded the regiment.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

Major James M. Campbell commanded the regiment.
1863
January 19 Transferred to Law’s Alabama Brigade in Hood’s Division of Longstreet’s Corps per Lee’s Special Orders No. 19
April 27 Captain Samuel A. Cox died in service
April 11 – May 6
Suffolk Campaign

Colonel Jackson returned from sick leave and resumed command of the regiment.
June 11 Captain John N. McKee died in service
June 23 Colonel Jackson resigned after his health broke down. His resignation was not accepted until after the Gettysburg camaign and he remained with the regiment.
July 1 – 3
Battle of Gettysburg

Although Colonel Jackson remained with the regiment, he remained so far in the rear that it was effectively commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Bulger. The 47th Alabama lost 14 men killed, 26 wounded and 4 captured.

Lieutenant Colonel Bulger was shot through the lung and was left behind, assumed to be dying, when the regiment fell back. He was captured. Captain Joseph Johnston, Jr. was killed. Major J. M. Campbell took over the regiment.

From the report of Major Campbell: “Lieut.-Col. M. J. Bulger fought most nobly. Out of 21 officers, 4 were killed; all of these acted well. The colonel and adjutant are not included in this number. About one-third of the whole number were killed and wounded.”

From the monument to Law’s Brigade at Gettysburg:

July 2. Left New Guilford 25 miles distant at 3 A.M. Arrived and formed line 50 yards west of this about 4 P.M. and advanced against the Union positions. The 4th 15th and 47th Regiments attacked Little Round Top and continued the assault until dark. The 44th and 48th assisted in capturing Devil’s Den and 3 guns of the 4th New York Battery.

July 3. Occupied the breastworks on west slope of Round Top. The 4th and 15th Regiments assisted at 5 P. M. in repulsing cavalry led by Brig. Gen. E. J. Farnsworth in Plum Run Valley.

July 5. About 5 A. M. began the march to Hagerstown Md.
July 10 Colonel James W. Jackson’s resignation due to ill health was accepted and he left the regiment.
July 16 Lieutenant Colonel Bulger was promoted to to colonel while still in a Federal hospital. Bulger acknowledged that “the compassion shown by (Union Colonel James C.) Rice saved his life.” Rice, whose 44th New York had been defending Little Round Top against Bulger’s men, had accepted his surrender and made sure Bulger was taken care of by a Union surgeon.
September 20
Battle of Chickamauga
October 28
Lookout Valley

Commended in a report on the engagement, but suffered no casualties.
September The regiment was transferred to the west with Longstreet and two divisions.
November
Siege of Knoxville

1864
March 10 Colonel Bulger was exchanged after being captured at Gettysburg but never returned to the field.
April The regiment returned to the Eastern Theater with Longstreet’s two divisions.
May 5 – 6
Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 111 casualties, including Captains William Ballard, wounded and captured, and James A. Sanford, killed
May 7 – 12 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Major James McDonald Campbell was killed by a sharpshooter.
June 13 – July 31 The regiment suffered 6 killed and 9 wounded
August 1 – December 31 The regiment lost 7 killed and 27 wounded, including Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Richmond Terrell, killed Oct. 13; and Captain J. A. Gaskin, also killed
November On north side of James River in Law’s (then Perry’s) Brigade
1865
February 14 Colonel Bulger retired to the Invalid Corps.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 47th Alabama Infantry Regiment surrendered about 90 men under the command of Captain Eli Daniel Clower.