Twenty-Third Alabama Infantry Regiment Battle Flag

The 23rd Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized in Montgomery, Alabama on November 19, 1861, recruiting men from Wilcox, Macon, Monroe, Clarke, Conecuh, Marengo, Lowndes, Baldwin, and Choctaw counties. Shortly thereafter it was ordered to Mobile, and attached to General Gladden’s brigade. It stayed there through the following February losing 82 men to disease. The regiment moved into eastern Tennessee and was first brigaded with General Leadbetter of Mobile, then under General Barton of Tennessee. Then in June of 1862, the regiment was assigned to Colonel Taylor of Kentucky. In December of 1862, they were transferred to Tracy’s Brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The 23rd was engaged in combat at Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson, Champion’s Hill, Big Black River Bridge, and Vicksburg, where many were captured. After being paroled, exchanged, and reorganized. The reorganized regiment was assigned to General Pettus’ Brigade in the Army of Tennessee. The regiment then participated in several battles and skirmishes from Chattanooga to Atlanta. It was constantly in front of Sherman down the bloody road to Atlanta and Jonesboro, thus suffering heavy losses the entire way. It fought in Tennessee under Hood and ended the war in Salisbury North Carolina where they surrendered in April 1865. In December of 1861, the regiment totaled 674 men. It had 374 effective soldiers in December of 1863 and contained 202 men in January of 1865. At the time of surrender, the regiment totaled only 75.

The flag of the 23rd Alabama

Mr. D. C. Byrne of Bay Minette, Alabama donated this flag to the Alabama Department of Archives and History on June 11, 1903. Mr. Byrne served as Adjutant of the 23rd Alabama Infantry. On May 16, 1905, Robert H. G. Gaines who had served in Company “K” of the 23rd Alabama Infantry, as the regiment’s last flag bearer wrote the director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, Thomas Owen giving him the history of the flag. According to Gaines, the flag was made by the ladies of Camden and surrounding areas using their antebellum ball dresses as material. It was presented to the 23rd Alabama by George Moye of Wilcox County in early March of 1864.

This is a reproduction of the 23rd Alabama Infantry battle flag. The dimensions and materials are different from those of the original flag. The artwork is visible on both sides, and the lettering reads correctly from one side only.