Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Derby and brought 130 men to the field. It lost Captains Thomas C. Daniel, William T. King and 3 other men killed and Lieutenant Colonel Derby and 22 enlisted men wounded.

Siege of Harpers Ferry

Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Colonel Derby, Captains D. L. Bozeman and John W. Purifoy and 11 other men were killed and 65 were wounded of the 113 men engaged in fighting in the Sunken Lane. Major William F. Perry took command of the regiment after Derby’s death.

From the division tablet along Hagerstown Pike:

Anderson’s Division crossed the Potomac at Blackford’s Ford about sunrise on the 17th and, marching through the fields west and north of Sharpsburg reached this road about 9 A.M. Armistead’s Brigade was sent to the support of McLaws on the left. Parham’s Brigade, reduced to 40 men, was consolidated with Pryor’s. The Division formed line perpendicular to this road. Its left at this point, its right in the ravine about 300 yards east of Piper’s stone barn. It advanced in support of D. H. Hill’s Division to the cornfield northeast of this and, after a stubborn contest, in which it suffered severely, was obliged to retire to the cover of the stone walls on the road. Late in the day it resumed a part of its original position and checked the advance of the enemy.“

From the division tablet in the Sunken Lane:

Anderson’s Division comprising the Brigades of Cumming, Wright, Pryor, Mahone, Featherstone and Armistead crossed the Potomac at Blackford’s Ford about daybreak and between 8 and 10 A. M. arrived upon this part of the field. Armistead’s Brigade was sent to the support of McLaws in the Dunkard Church Woods and the other five Brigades were disposed in the Apple Orchard and on open ground either side of it, between this and Piper’s Lane. The Division advanced in support of a part of D.H. Hill’s Division, then heavily engaged and after a stubborn contest in which portions of the Division reached this point, it was repulsed with heavy loss and fell back to Piper’s Lane and the Hagerstown Pike.

The 44th lost its colors in the Sunken Lane, captured by the 61st New York Infantry. The flag was returned to the State of Alabama in 2001 and is in the collection of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost one man killed

Suffolk Campaign

Companies A and B were captured at Hills Point on April 18

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Perry and brought 363 men to the field. Captains John M. Teague and William T. Dunklin and 22 other men were killed and 64 men were wounded. The regiment captured two Federal artillery pieces.

From the brigade marker on the Gettysburg battlefield:

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.

From Colonel Perry’s report:

“General Law informed me that he expected my men to take a battery. Such was their extreme exhaustion, having marched without interruption twenty-four miles to reach the battlefield, and advanced at a double-quick step fully a mile to engage the enemy, that I hesitated for an instant to order them immediately forward …. However, I rushed forward, shouting to them to advance. It was with the greatest difficulty that I could make myself heard or understood above the din of battle. The order was, however, extended along the line, and was promptly obeyed. The men sprang forward, over the rocks, swept the position and took possession of the heights, capturing 40 or 50 prisoners around the battery and among the cliffs.. The conflict continued to rage with great fury until dark. Again and again the enemy with great force attempted to dislodge us from our position and retake the battery, in each case with signal failure and great loss. Lieut.-Col. John A. Jones, Maj. Geo. W. Cary and Lieut. W. P. Becker, acting adjutant, behaved with great coolness and courage. I abstain from mentioning by name others who deserve special commendation, because the list would be so long as to confer little distinction on any single individual, and because injustice might be done to others whose good conduct escaped my observation. The regiment lost 24 killed and 66 wounded.”

Captains William N. Greene and Joseph T. Johnston were wounded. Colonel Perry was mentioned for bravery.

1864

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 27 killed and 112 wonded, including Captain John D. Adrian, who was wounded

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Captains D. A. Bozeman and John H. Neilson were killed

Appomattox Court House

The regiment surrendered 17 officers and 192 men