A list of the membership and their disposition:
Vandegraff, A.S.,	captain ............. D
Wade, Ritter,	" captain"............  D
Winston, J.M.,	lieut.....................D
Payne, Richard.,	lieut.....................D
Denison, C. E.,	lieut.....................D
Fulton, W.F.,	lieut......................L
Husted, D.W.,	lieut.....................D
Hutson, W.B.,	lieut.....................D
Smith, B.F.,	lieut.....................D
Roberts,B.L.,	sergeant major.......D
Boyle, J.H.,	sergeant.................D
Wrenn, James.,	sergeant.................D
Browning,J.B.,	sergeant.................D
White, Thomas L.,	sergeant.................D
Holland, M.L.,	sergeant.................D
Hale, W.S.,	sergeant.................D
Long, J.H.,	sergeant.................D
Ormond, L.T.,	sergeant.................D
Samuels, Abraham	corporal.................D
Ormomd, J.F.,	corporal.................D
Bradshaw, Taylor,	corporal................D
McKinley, D.O.,	corporal................D
Branch, Bolling,	corporal................D
Hare, R.T.,	corporal................D
Hayden, E.E.,	corporal................D
Argo, Thomas.,	private...................D
Barnes, J.W.,	private...................D
Boyd, George.,	private...................D
Brawley, M.B.,	private...................D
Bradshaw, James.,	private...................D
Barneycastele, J.,	private...................D
Bowman, C.,	private...................D
Bostick, H.D.,	private...................D
Boyd, J.L.,	private...................D
Clara, L.L.,	private...................D
Clark, Peter.,	private...................D
Crooks, F.M.,	private...................D
Cox, Fletcher.,	private...................D
Carpenter,Jim.,	private...................D
Camber, F.,	private...................D
Dillard, Geo.,	private.....................D
Dunning, C.,	private.....................D
Denton, Geo.,	private.....................D
Denton, I.,	private.....................D
Dunning, Wm.,	private.....................D
Denton, H.,	private.....................D
Drummond, Wm.,	private.....................D
Fargo, Ed.,	private.....................D
Frost, Wm.,	private.....................D
Ferguson, N.,	private.....................D
Ford, J.F.,	private...................D
Gilbert, Tom.,	private...................D
Geiger, A.,	private...................D
Greer,A.,	private...................D
Hadley, J.,	private...................D
Hadley, O.F.,	private...................D
Hare, John.,	private...................D
Harris, Young	private...................D
Holloway, J.W.,	private...................D
Hutchins, Jess.,	private...................D
Hitt, J.N.,	private...................D
Hill, J.C.,	private...................D
Hodges, F.M.,	private...................D
Holloway,Tom.,	private...................D
Houston, E.L.,	private...................D
Howard, R.E.,	private....................D
Ivey, Wm.,	private....................D
Irby, W.,	private....................D
Jones, L.,	private....................D
Jones, Bolivar,	private....................D
Kring, Ed.,	private....................D
Knight, Wm.,	private....................D
Kenon, J.H.,	private....................D
Little, Noah,	private....................D
Little, Ben,	private....................D
Little, Seth,	private....................D
Leveritt, H.,	private....................D
Long, Thomas,	private....................D
Moore, Sam.,	private....................D
Moore, W.T.,	private....................D
Moore, John T.,	private......................D
Mobley, J.B.,	private......................D
Moore, R.H.,	private......................D
Murphy, W.,	private......................D
Newton, Wm.,	private......................D
Nance, Ben,	private......................D
O'Conner, Mike,	private......................D
Peel, Willis,	private......................D
Patton, John,	private......................../D
Pearson, Ike,	private......................D
Pearson, Wm.,	private......................D
Rencher, Dan.,	private......................D
Robertson, Tom.,	private......................D
Ramsey, D.J.	private......................D
Ramsey, Ed.,	private......................D
Seipert, A.,	private........................D
Steele, Wm.,	private........................D
Turman,Jim.,	private........................D
Thompson, James.,	private........................D
Thom, Reuben.,	private........................D
Thompkins, J.,	private........................D
Watt, Debe.,	private........................D
Wayne, Wm.,	private........................D
Whittaker, J..	private........................D

Baymon, C.,	private                    D
Caffee, Pat.,	private                    D
Cashman, Wm.,	private                    D
Clara, Robert,	private                    D
Dandridge, John	private                    D
Dprman, J.,	private                    D
Freeman, J.,	private                    D
Huggins,C. W.,	private                    D
Haney, Jim,	private                    D
Hart, Pete,	private                    D
Kennedy, Wm.,	private                    D
Long, Wm.,	private                    D
Myers, Charles,	private                    D
Mylum,  W.M.,	private                    D
McDevit, Barney,	private                    D
Markham, R.	private                    D
Nowry, Geo.,	private                    D
Robb, Andrew,	private                    D
Smalley, Anthony,	private                    D
Worley, C.L.F.,	private                    D

In the spring of 1861, a company was organized in Gainesville, AL from boys and men from Gainesville and the Warsaw area. Sab Vanderfraaf was elected Captain, Jas. Winston, 1st, Husted, 2nd and Wade Ritter 3rd Lieutenants.   The company procured tents and went into camp in an old field a few miles northwest of Gainesville.  Two cadets from the Univerasity of Tennessee came to perfect the in the manual of arms and drill.   Shortly after war was declared, the company recieved orders to Manassas. The company was paraded in full equipment in front of Col. McMahon's big hotel, "The American" armed mostly withghuns brought from home. Their banner was of silk with a strutting gamecock in the center.  This was a gift froma Miss Lucy Reavis, daighter of Judge Reavis of Gainesville.  After marching from Gaionesville to Sccoba, Miss., they boarded the M & O train for Virginia and history. From Sccoba they went to Corinth Miss which was the rallying point for all troops from Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama. Upon reaching Lynchburg they we placed in bivouc at the fairgrounds. From there they went directlt to Manassas and encamped near the railroad junction there. Two companies from Calhoun County, Ala. and one from Mobile along with the North Sumter Rifles were organized into a batallion and  named the Fifth Alabama Batallion of Infantry and placed under  Captain, now Major Vandergraaf.  They were soon placed into their line of battle along the Bull Head Creek. They were to see no cobat in this battle and were soon ordered to take up position at " Cock Pit Point" on the Potomac to man some artillery with a coimmanding view of the Potomac. They were expected to prevent river traffic.in either direction. A very cold, hungry and  uneventfull Winter and Spring passed while the 5th Ala.was encamped on the shores of the Potomac. In April of 1862, they were marched directly to Fredericksburg, Va. When Gen, McClellans army neard Mechanicsville on 26 June, Gen Archer's Tennessee brigade and Gen A.P. Hills brigade of which the 5th Alabma was a part, turned to meet them. The fighting was joined resulting in heavy losses on both sides. The Yanks withdrew during the night after Gen Jackson's troops advanced on their flank and forced a retreat. They were pusued and met again at Cold Harbor.

At Cold Harbor, Archer’s Brigade of which the 5th Alabama was a part, was tasked with the highly dangerous role of attacking the front of a well dug in, barricaded enemy in order for Gen. Long streets’ brigades including Hood’s to attack the exposed right side of McClellan's forces.  Heavy casualties were suffered including Corp. Frank Camber and Sgt. James Wrenn .  The 5th Ala., under the command of Gen. A. P. Hill was attached to Gen “ Stonewall” Jackson and was sent back to the Valley of Virginia where they vigorously attacked Banks Corp at Cedar Run, putting them to flight.  Following Gen. Lee’s orders, the 5th Alabama marched in pursuit of Gen Pope and on August 26th, passed through the mountains at Thoroughfare Gap and were positioned squarely between Gen Pope and Washington City.    They pressed on towards Manassas and captured all of Gen. Pope’s stores without a struggle. There were huge quantities of meat, rations and crackers present, but the vast majority could only be burned to deprive Gen Polk’s command of their use.  As a side note, there were a lot of barrels of whiskey captured along with the stores.  Gen Jackson sent to Gen  A. P. Hill for a guard that could be implicitly trusted to knock the heads off each whiskey barrel and spill  all the whiskey on the ground!.  Gen. Jackson said “ I fear that whiskey more than I fear Gen. Pope’s whole army”! Once again the conflict was joined as Gen. Taylor with a New Jersey command was sent from Washington City to oppose Gen. Jackson at Manassas Junction. They came by train and detrained above Manassas, and hoisting his flag moved toward the junction.  The brigade, which included the 5th Ala., was placed squarely in hi8s path and stood as immovable as a rock right in his path.  Having been ordered to stand and not fire, they remained immovable as Gen Taylor’s forces pressed onward.  A battery of artillery at their side was the first to fire and delivered a broadside into that blue line. The enemy broke and proceeded to run every man for himself with the Confederates right behind, firing as they ran. Gen. Jackson continued his march toward Centerville and established a fortification line at an old railroad cut.  There they repulsed several attempts by Pope’s Corp to dislodge them and they held until Gen. Longstreet could pass through Thoroughfare Gap and rejoin.  They immediately set out to cross the Potomac and threaten Washington City, which would draw the Federals from the South to protect it and relieve some of the pressure on the South. They waded across the Potomac and rested several days near Frederick, MD.  Gen. Lee sent Gen. Jackson, ET. Al. to capture Harper’s Ferry along with other troops.  The garrison capitulated without a fight and surrendered en masse.  Eleven thousand men with immense supplies and seventy-three artillery pieces were captured. Having secured Harper’s Ferry, Gen. Jackson again crossed the Potomac to rejoin Gen. Lee at Sharpsburg on Antietam Creek.  A battalion of A. P. Hill’s division was detached and ordered to deliver the captured supplies and artillery to Richmond.  They then retired to Winchester, Va. to rest and recuperate and there remained until October 18th. When they were ordered to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  After completing this task, the were sent to Fredericksburg, Va. where they went into camp on the extreme right of Lee’s line near “ Hamilton’s Crossing”. There they made preparations to winter. This was not to be a peaceful winter as they were probed by artillery and on one occasion had their line penetrate but a large force under Gen Franklin.  Adjustments were made; Franklin was repulsed and quite resumed for a time. On April 30th, 1863, Gen. Hooker sent Gen. Sedgewick and his corp across the Rappahannock below Fredricksburg and took the main force across and fortified a strong position.  This prompted the much discussed rapid, unexpected splitting of forces which Lee accomplished that allowed him to meet and defeat forces at Chancellorsville, further spit his troops and with a forced march, joined with Gen. Early to oppose and defeat Ge, Sedgewicks’ forces. Gen. Lee immediately set his armies in motion toward Gettysburg. On 30 June, 1863, Archer’s Brigade of which the 5th Alabama was a part was in Cashtown, Pa., and at 5 AM on 1 July left in skirmish line to drive the Union Cavalry pickets from Gettysburg.  The 5th Alabama led the skirmish line and fired the first shots of the battle of Gettysburg. A general battle soon commenced between Gen. A. P. Hill and Gen. Reynolds. He was killed and his troops severely routed and almost destroyed.  They were driven into and through and beyond Gettysburg.  There has always been a question as to why the confederates, when in full control, did not push on and occupy the heights above and beyond Gettysburg. On the third day of the battle, the 5th Ala. was sent to attack Cemetery Ridge, a particularly bloody battle. From Gettysburg, the corps retreated to Hagerstown and occupied a very strong defensive line and remained there for several days, expecting Gen. Mead to follow up on his victory.  It seems that everyone had had enough for the time being. From there, they recrossed the Potomac and marched to Martinsburg where they went into camp.  They then went to Culpepper Court House where they remained quite a while and then to Orange Court House.  They again saw action at Bristol Station where Gen. Hill had attacked Gen. Warren’s troops.  The pursuit of Gen. Meade was abandoned and Gen. Lee withdrew along the Rappahannock River destroying the railroad from Cub Run to the Rappahannock to embarrass any movement of Gen. Meade’s forces. Gen. Lee, not wanting to be drawn into a general engagement, withdrew beyond the Rapidan and went into winter quarters.  Not willing to let them rest in quiet for awhile thought he saw an opening whereby he could inflict a blow that would crush Lee’s army by crossing the steam at the lower ford and thrust his army between Gen. Ewell and Hills armies thus crushing both. On November 26, Meade began his movements, but Lee had already planned for this eventuality and once Meade’s movements were ascertained, Gen. Ewell’s command was placed directly across his front and Gen Hill’s command was placed to his left.  After careful reconnaisance, Gen. Meade wisely decided to withdraw to the north side of the Rapidan and hostilities ceased for 1863. On April 4th 1864 the 5th Alabama broke camp and moved out toward the wilderness and the beginning of the campaign that would continue almost without cessation down to Appomattox Court House in April, 1865.  This was a particularly costly battle for the South and although Hill and Longstreet’s troops gave good accounting, the final wars od attrition had started.  Gen. Grant was able to refresh bis supply of troops but Lee was unable to. From the Wilderness, Grant withdrew toward Spotsylvania courthouse where Cofederate Cavalry was the first to arrive and did heroic service to hold the ground until Lee’s invincibles had time to come up a join the fray. The 12th of May 1864 at Spotsylvania is considered the pivotal day in this great battle and the “ Bloody Angle” was the spot where the fire of musketry has never been surpassed anywhere. After the battle at Spotsylvania, the 5th Ala. moved to Cold Harbor for the second time during the war.  They were in line of battle from June 1 to June 12, but the climax of the struggle was short duration and most sanguinary. The federals left 13,000 men on the field after several attempts to overrun the Confederates while the South suffered 1300 Never again would Grant spend his men on frontal assaults of this magnitude.  He moved his troops across the James River to Petersburg, endeavoring to reach Richmond from that side. The 5th Alabama wintered at Petersburg 1864-1865 and fortified their positions in anticipation of a visit from their friends.  The infamous Crater at Petersburg though spectacular had limited results.   Exhaustion, meager rations, dilapidated equipment and disease caused the majority of the casualties on the southern side.  Lee failed in an attempt to block Grant from capturing the last remaining railroad that could re-supply his forces. This was at the battle of Five Forks and the depletion of his forces so weakened his entire lines at Peterburg that they were overrun and Lee was forced to start a retreat and evacuation of Petersburg.  Gen. A. P. Hill was killed during this retreat which was the end of the struggle.  Out numbered, out gunned and without any chance of escape, the Confederacy capitulated at Appomattox on 10 April 1865. In a last poignant foot note to this epoch, on the night of the surrender, the 5th Alabama was on detached duty from their brigade and were lying in an open field beside small fires attempting to get some sleep and rest.  A squadron of Sheridan’s cavalry descended on them demanding immediate surrender.  The boys of the 5th Alabama decided to fight instead of surrendering and put the cavalry to flight.  During the chase through Appomattox Court House,  Jess Hutchins of the North Sumter Rifles was killed.

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