Hilliard's Legion

Hilliard's Legion or Hilliard's Alabama Legion was an Confederate unit which fought in the American Civil War. Unlike most Civil War formations, it was a combined arms force, with infantry, cavalry and artillery components.

On April 24, 1862, Henry Washington Hilliard was made a colonel and authorized to raise a legion, consisting of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions (infantry), 4th Battalion (artillery) and 5th Battalion (cavalry).[1] It was organized in Montgomery, Alabama, on June 25 of that year, with a strength of almost 3000 men.[2] The cavalry and artillery units were eventually detached; the former was soon assigned to the 10th Confederate Cavalry Regiment, and the latter was made a separate unit, the Barbour Light Artillery.[2]

The Legion was sent to eastern Tennessee to participate in the ultimately successful siege of Cumberland Gap.[2][3] Hilliard resigned on December 1, 1862.[1] Lieutenant Colonel Jack Thorington, commander of the 1st Battalion, was promoted to colonel and placed in charge.[1] In April 1863, the unit was attached to General Gracie's Brigade and fought in the Battle of Chickamauga, where it suffered heavy losses: 45% of its 902 men.[2] In the 1st Battalion alone, 169 of 239 soldiers were either killed or wounded.[3] On November 25, the Legion was disbanded at Charleston, Tennessee, and the remaining men reassigned to the 59th and 60th Alabama Regiments.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hilliard's Legion: 1862 ~ 1863". Ohio State University. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Hilliard's Legion, Alabama Volunteers". National Park Service. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Dedmondt, Glenn. The Flags of Civil War Alabama. Pelican Publishing. p. 110. ISBN 9781455604319.
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