The 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry unit raised by the state of Alabama for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Organization and early service
- The regiment was organized at Montgomery, Alabama, and mustered into Confederate service on May 11, 1861.
- It was composed primarily of men from central and western Alabama counties, organized into ten companies designated A through K (with the letter J omitted).
Commanders
- Colonel Thomas H. Watts was the regiment’s first commanding officer; he later served as Alabama’s attorney general and as the Confederate Secretary of the Treasury.
- Subsequent commanders included Colonel John H. Dickson and Lieutenant Colonel William H. Harcourt, among others.
Major engagements
The 3rd Alabama Infantry participated in a number of major battles in the Eastern Theater, most notably:
| Year | Campaign / Battle | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) | Engaged in the Confederate assault on the Union left flank. |
| 1862 | Peninsula Campaign (Seven Pines, Fair Oaks) | Defended Confederate positions near Richmond. |
| 1862 | Battle of Antietam | Fought in the fighting around the Sunken Road (Bloody Lane). |
| 1862 | Battle of Fredericksburg | Held the line on the Confederate right. |
| 1863 | Battle of Chancellorsville | Participated in the flank maneuver that forced Union retreat. |
| 1863 | Battle of Gettysburg | Engaged on July 2 – 3 in the assault on the Union center. |
| 1864 | Overland Campaign (The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor) | Conducted continuous fighting in the series of brutal engagements. |
| 1864 | Siege of Petersburg | Served in defensive works until the Confederate evacuation. |
| 1865 | Appomattox Campaign | Surrendered with the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865. |
Casualties and strength
- At organization the regiment numbered approximately 1,000 men.
- Cumulative battlefield casualties (killed, wounded, captured, or missing) totaled over 600 throughout the war, reflecting the high attrition rates typical of Confederate infantry units.
Disbandment
- Following the surrender of General Robert E. Lee’s army at Appomattox Court House, the remnants of the 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment were formally disbanded. Surviving veterans returned to civilian life in Alabama and other Southern states.
Historical significance
The 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment is noted for its continuous service from the war’s outset to its conclusion, involvement in many of the war’s pivotal battles, and for the notable commanders who later assumed prominent political roles within the Confederacy.
Legacy
The regiment is commemorated on several Civil War monument sites in Alabama, and its service record is preserved in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion and state archival collections.
