Company K, First Alabama Regiment; or, Three Years in the Confederate Service

The First Alabama Regiment’s story unfolds from the moment local volunteers gathered in 1861 to answer Alabama’s call for soldiers. Men from Barbour, Pike, Wilcox and other counties formed a patchwork of companies that quickly learned to dig trenches, load heavy guns and march as infantry. Early assignments placed them in the forts guarding Pensacola, where they helped erect batteries and saw their first combat on Santa Rosa Island and during the November bombardments that earned General Bragg’s commendation.

Written by a former member of Company K, the narrative weaves official reports with personal memories of camp life, recruitment drives, and the challenges of frontier cuisine. It captures the camaraderie that kept the men together as they re‑enlisted, reorganized under new officers, and prepared for the next phase of the war. Listeners will feel the rhythm of drill, the clang of artillery, and the steady determination of these Southern volunteers.