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The Civil War in the East
47th Alabama Infantry
1862:
May 22 Organized at Loachapoka, Alabama, under Colonel James McCarthy Oliver and Lieutenant Colonel James W. Jackson June Sent to Virginia, where it was attached to Taliaferro’s Brigade of Jackson’s Division.
August 9 Battle of Cedar Mountain
The regiment lost 12 men killed and 76 wounded. Captain Albert C. Menefee was killed and Captain Michael Jefferson Bulger was wounded twice.
August Lt. Colonel Jackson was promoted to colonel.
August 23 Captain Michael J. Bulger of Company A was promoted to major.
August 30 Second Battle of Manasses
The regiment suffered 7 killed and 25 wounded. Adjutant Henry A. Garrett was wounded and Lieutenant William Grimmett was killed.
September 1 Battle of Chantilly
September 12 – 15 Siege of Harpers Ferry
September 13 Major Bulger was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)
The regiment was commanded by Colonel James W. Jackson, who took command of the brigade at the begnning of the battle. Captain James McD. Campbell commanded the regiment.
The regiment lost 98 of the 115 men engaged. Colonel James W. Jackson and Captain Henry C. Lindsey were wounded, and Lieutenant George W. Gammell was killed. Seventeen men under a sergeant were all that could muster on the 18th.
September Captain James McD. Campbell of Company E was promoted to major.
December 13 Battle of Fredericksburg
Major James M. Campbell commanded the regiment.
1863:
January 19 Transferred to Law’s Alabama Brigade in Hood’s Division of Longstreet’s Corps per Lee’s Special Orders No. 19
Aptil 27 Captain Samuel A. Cox died in service
April 11 – May 6 Suffolk Campaign
June 11 Captain John N. McKee died in service
July 1 – 3 Battle of Gettysburg
The regiment was commanded by Lt. Colonel Michael J. Bulger. It lost 14 men killed, 26 wounded and 4 captured.
Lt. Colonel Bulger was shot through the lung and left behind, presumably dying, when the regiment fell back, and was captured. Captain Joseph Johnston, Jr. was killed. Major J. M. Campbell took over the regiment.
From the report of Maj. Campbell: “Lieut.-Col. M. J. Bulger fought most nobly. Out of 21 officers, 4 were killed; all the 21 acted well. About one-third of the whole number were killed and wounded.”
From the brigade monument at Gettysburg:
July 2. Left New Guilford 25 miles distant at 3 A.M. Arrived and formed line 50 yards west of this about 4 P.M. and advanced against the Union positions. The 4th 15th and 47th Regiments attacked Little Round Top and continued the assault until dark. The 44th and 48th assisted in capturing Devil’s Den and 3 guns of the 4th New York Battery.
July 3. Occupied the breastworks on west slope of Round Top. The 4th and 15th Regiments assisted at 5 P. M. in repulsing cavalry led by Brig. Gen. E. J. Farnsworth in Plum Run Valley.
July 5. About 5 A. M. began the march to Hagerstown Md.
July 10 Colonel James W. Jackson resigned due to ill health.
July 16 Lt. Colonel Bulger was promoted to to colonel while still in a Federal hospital. Bulger acknowledged that “the compassion shown by (Union Colonel James C.) Rice saved his life.” Rice, whose 44th New York had been defending Little Round Top against Bulger’s men, had accepted his surrender and made sure Bulger was taken care of by a Union surgeon.
September 20 Battle of Chickamauga
October 28 Lookout Valley
Commended in a report on the engagement, but suffered no casualties.
September The regiment was transferred to the west with Longstreet and two divisions.
November Siege of Knoxville
1864:
March 10 Colonel Bulger was exchanged after being captured at Gettysburg but never returned to the field.
April The regiment returned to the Eastern Theater with Longstreet’s two divisions.
May 5 – 6 Battle of the Wilderness
The regiment lost 111 casualties, including Captains William Ballard, wounded and captured, and James A. Sanford, killed
May 7 – 12 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Major James McDonald Campbell was killed by a sharpshooter.
June 13 – July 31 The regiment suffered 6 killed and 9 wounded
August 1 – December 31 The regiment lost 7 killed and 27 wounded, including Lt. Colonel Leigh Richmond Terrell, killed Oct. 13; and and Captain J. A. Gaskin, also killed November On north side of James River in Law’s (then Perry’s) Brigade
1865:
February 14 Colonel Bulger retired to the Invalid Corps.
April 9 Appomattox Court House
Surrendered about 90 men under Captain Eli Daniel Clower.
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