Watt's
(Thomas A.) Regiment
A. Barton Avengers/Barton
Rangers/Pinto Battery
D. Cochrane Greys or Rangers
E. Dowdell Rangers
F. Winter Greys
H. Scotland Invincibles
K. Butler True Blues
This regiment was organized at Montgomery in
August 1861. In November it moved to Pensacola, and was present
at the bombardment in that month, and in January after. In March
1862 the regiment was sent to west Tennessee. Brigaded under J.K.
Jackson of Georgia - with the Eighteenth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-fourth
Alabama regiments - the regiment fought at Shiloh, and lost 125
killed and wounded. A month after, it was in the fight at Farmington
with few casualties. In the autumn, when Gen. Bragg moved into
Kentucky, the Seventeenth, much depleted by sickness, was left
at Mobile. It was there drilled as heavy artillery, and had charge
of eight batteries on the shore of the bay. It remained at that
post till March 1864, when it was ordered to Rome, Ga. The brigade
consisted of the Seventeenth and Twenty-ninth Alabama, and the
First and Twenty-sixth Alabama, and Thirty-seventh Mississippi,
were soon after added, the command devolving at different times
on Gen. Cantey of Russell, Col. Murphey of Montgomery, Col. O'Neal
of Lauderdale, and Gen. Shelley of Talladega. It was engaged at
the Oostenaula bridge, and in the three days' battle of Resaca,
with severe loss. The Seventeenth had its full share of the trials
and hardships of the campaign from Dalton to Jonesboro, fighting
almost daily, especially at Cassville, New Hope, Kennesa, Lost
Mountain, and Atlanta. In the battle of Peach-tree Creek it lost
130 killed and wounded, and on the 28th of July 180 killed and
wounded. The entire loss from the Resaca to Lovejoy's Station
was 586, but few of whom were captured. The regiment moved into
Tennessee with Gen. Hood, and lost at least two-thirds of its
forces engaged at Franklin; and a number of the remainder were
captured at Nashville. A remnant moved into North Carolina, and
a part fought at Bentonville. It was then consolidated with the
Twenty-ninth and Thirty-third Alabama regiments, with E.P. Holcombe
of Lowndes as colonel, J.F. Tate of Russell lieutenant colonel,
and Willis J. Milner of Butler major. The regiment surrendered
at Greensboro, N.C. April 1865.