Alabama in the American Civil War facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alabama |
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| Nickname(s): "Yellowhammer State", "Heart of Dixie", "Cotton State" | |||||
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| Capital | Montgomery | ||||
| Largest City | Mobile | ||||
| Admission to confederacy | March 13, 1861 (1st) | ||||
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| Governor | Andrew B. Moore John Gill Shorter Thomas H. Watts |
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| Senators | Clement Claiborne Clay Richard Wilde Walker William Lowndes Yancey Robert Jemison Jr. |
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| Representatives | List | ||||
| Restored to the Union | July 13, 1868 | ||||
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Alabama played a very important role in the Civil War. The state's leaders met in Montgomery in early 1861. They decided to leave the United States. This meeting place became known as the birthplace of the Confederacy.
During this time, Alabama invited other states that allowed slavery to join them. They wanted to form a new southern country. The 1861 Alabama constitution gave citizenship to people already living in the U.S. It also said no taxes could be placed on goods from other countries. The constitution also limited the size of the military.
A major point was that the constitution opposed ending slavery. It also said that African-American slaves should have trials by jury. The state kept the power to control or stop the African slave trade. Alabama invited all slaveholding states to leave the Union. However, only seven "Cotton States" from the Deep South joined the Confederacy with Alabama. Most slave states stayed with the Union.
Even before Alabama officially left the Union, Governor Andrew B. Moore took action. In January 1861, he seized two federal forts on the Gulf Coast. These were Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. He also took the arsenal at Mount Vernon. He did this to get weapons for Alabama towns. This peaceful takeover happened three months before the Union's Fort Sumter in South Carolina was attacked.
Alabama was not completely united in its decision to leave the Union. The vote to secede was 61% for and 39% against. Most of the opposition came from Unionists in northern Alabama. Many citizens joined Confederate forces. However, some Alabamians chose to join the Union forces. The issue of slavery was also complex. While emancipation was denied, slaves were given some protections. They were allowed trials by jury, just like free white people. The African Slave Trade was also discouraged in the 1861 laws.
Alabama was a key source of soldiers and leaders for the Confederacy. It also provided military supplies, food, horses, and mules. The ports on Alabama's southern coast stayed open for almost four years. This was despite Union blockades. Blockade runners used these ports, protected by forts and mines. This continued until the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. The Battle of Fort Blakeley in April 1865 then forced Mobile to surrender. This was the last major Confederate port to fall.
Contents
Why Alabama Left the Union
After Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, things changed. Lincoln was from the anti-slavery Republican Party. South Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida had already decided to leave the United States. On January 11, 1861, Alabama delegates also voted to secede. They wanted to join and form a new southern country that supported slavery. Most of these states were the "Cotton States."
The Alabama Secession Convention invited leaders from all fourteen slaveholding states to meet. This meeting took place in Montgomery on February 11, 1861. Seven "Cotton States" from the Deep South formed the new country. Montgomery became the first capital of the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis, a former U.S. Senator from Mississippi, was chosen as its president. In May 1861, the Confederate government moved its capital to Richmond, Virginia. This happened after Virginia also seceded.
In December 1860, Stephen F. Hale from Alabama explained why Alabama was leaving. He wrote a letter to Kentucky's governor. He said that Alabama's secession was to protect slavery. He believed that if slavery ended, it would cause major problems.
At the state secession meeting in January 1861, one delegate spoke clearly. G.T. Yelverton said, "The question of Slavery is the rock upon which the Old Government split: it is the cause of secession." This shows how central slavery was to their decision.
Robert Hardy Smith, another Alabama politician, also spoke about slavery. In an 1861 speech, he praised the Confederate constitution. He liked that it clearly protected the right to own slaves.
The 1861 Alabama Constitution also had a rule about the "African Slave Trade." Ordinance 20, approved on January 28, 1861, said the Confederacy should oppose this trade. It did not want to restart the buying and selling of slaves from Africa.
Newspapers in Alabama also supported leaving the Union to keep slavery. One newspaper in Montgomery called slavery a "religious institution." It claimed slavery allowed for the care of slaves.
When Alabama seceded, it adopted a new state constitution. This constitution made it clear that slaves could not be freed. It stated:
No slave in this State shall be emancipated by any act done to take effect in this State, or any other country.
This showed their strong commitment to continuing slavery.
Alabama Joins the War
Governor Andrew B. Moore strongly supported the Confederate war effort. Even before the fighting started in April 1861, he took action. In January 1861, he seized U.S. forts Morgan and Gaines on the Alabama Gulf Coast. He also took the arsenal in Mount Vernon. He sent people to buy rifles in the Northeast. He also searched the state for weapons.
Despite strong disagreement in northern Alabama, the state voted to secede. The vote was 61% to 39%. Alabama then joined the Confederate States of America. Congressman Williamson R.W. Cobb, who supported the Union, argued for a peaceful solution. He ran for Congress but lost badly. Later, in 1863, he was elected again. This happened as people in Alabama grew tired of the war.
The new Confederate nation chose Montgomery as its temporary capital. They also selected Jefferson Davis as president. In May, the Confederate government moved to Richmond, Virginia. This was because Virginia had also seceded.
Travel Challenges
It was very hard to travel and move supplies during the war. This was a big problem for the Confederacy. For example, Jefferson Davis had a difficult journey to Montgomery. He traveled from his home in Mississippi to become president. He took a steamboat, then five different trains. The trip took five days.
As the war continued, travel became even harder. The Union took control of the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers. They also burned railroad bridges and tore up tracks. The Confederate railroad system was weak and broke down. It was hard to get parts to fix it.
The port of Mobile was blocked by the U.S. Navy. However, some small, fast ships called blockade runners got through. They carried cotton out and brought in goods like food and weapons.
Weakening Economy
When the war began, Alabama's economy was already struggling. It got even worse during the war. Before the war, most people worked in farming. The biggest industry was railroads, followed by mills that ground grain and cut wood.
About 17% of white men in Alabama joined the military. This meant many young, strong men left their jobs. The crops planted in 1861 were harvested. But in 1862, less was planted. Also, many counties had a drought in 1862. This made harvests even smaller.
In Coosa County, corn production dropped a lot. Twenty out of 67 counties could not grow enough corn. This led to hunger for families whose men were fighting. It was also hard to move food to areas that needed it.
Poverty became widespread as food prices went up. During the war, the state spent almost twelve million dollars to help poor families. In 1861, 7% of white families were considered poor. By 1862, this number was 34%. It rose to 39% the next year.
Hard times at home made many soldiers leave their units. By November 1864, nearly 8,000 men had deserted. There were also "bread riots" in Mobile in 1863. By 1864, groups of "corn women" traveled the state, begging and stealing food.
Salt also became scarce because of the naval blockade. Alabama built salt works in Clarke County. They harvested salt from local salt springs. This salt was sent to Mississippi, Georgia, and used in Alabama. It was used by both the military and civilians.
Military Efforts
Alabama formed five regiments for the U.S. Army. Four of these were for Black troops (Union U.S.C.T.). The state also had 65 infantry regiments for the Confederacy. There were also 16 cavalry and 3 artillery units. Many local, unofficial units were also formed.
Confederate troops largely protected Alabama from major attacks. The main exceptions were the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. Also, the final battles of the war at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley in April 1865. These were some of the last major battles of the Civil War.
Alabama provided about 120,000 Confederate troops. This was almost all the white men who could fight. Most were recruited from their local areas. This meant they served with people they knew. This helped build team spirit and kept them connected to home.
Medical care was very difficult. About 15% of soldiers died from disease. Another 10% died from battle wounds. Alabama did not have many well-equipped hospitals. However, many women volunteered to care for the sick and wounded. Soldiers often lacked proper equipment. After 1863, they often took boots, belts, and other items from dead soldiers.
Thousands of enslaved people also worked with Confederate troops. They cared for horses and equipment. They cooked, did laundry, and moved supplies. They also helped in field hospitals. Other enslaved people built defenses, especially around Mobile. They built roads, fixed railroads, and drove supply wagons. They also worked in iron mines, foundries, and even weapons factories. Their labor was forced and unpaid.
About 10,000 enslaved people escaped and joined the Union Army. Also, 2,700 white Alabamian men joined Union forces.
Thirty-nine Alabamians became generals or admirals. The most famous was Admiral Raphael Semmes. Josiah Gorgas was the chief of weapons for the Confederacy. He set up new weapons factories in Selma. These factories employed 10,000 workers. Union raiders burned them down in 1865. The Selma Arsenal made most of the Confederacy's ammunition. The Selma Naval Ordnance Works made cannons, producing one every five days. The Confederate Naval Yard built ships. It launched the CSS Tennessee in 1863 to defend Mobile Bay. Selma's Confederate Nitre Works got saltpeter for gunpowder from limestone caves.
Alabama soldiers fought in many battles. At the Gettysburg, Alabama lost 1,750 soldiers. Many more were captured or wounded. The famous "Alabama Brigade" had 781 casualties. In 1863, Union forces gained control in northern Alabama. This was despite strong resistance from Confederate cavalry led by General Nathan B. Forrest. A notable Confederate officer from Alabama was Colonel William Calvin Oates. He was a key commander at Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Mobile Bay
From 1861, the Union blockade closed off Mobile Bay. In August 1864, a Union fleet took the outer defenses of Mobile during the Battle of Mobile Bay. On April 12, 1865, the city of Mobile surrendered to the Union army. This happened three days after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. Mobile surrendered to avoid destruction after Union victories at the Battle of Spanish Fort and the Battle of Fort Blakeley.
The Magee Farm, north of Mobile, was where the surrender of the last Confederate army east of the Mississippi River was discussed. Confederate General Richard Taylor and Union General Edward Canby agreed to a ceasefire there on April 29, 1865. Taylor's forces included 47,000 Confederate troops in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. They were the last major Confederate force east of the Mississippi River.
Union Control in Northern Alabama
After the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers were taken, Union forces briefly controlled Northern Alabama. After Nashville fell in February 1862, Union forces permanently occupied counties north and west of the Tennessee River. At the same time, the Union blockade put pressure on the southern part of the state.
Union Supporters in Northern Alabama
There were people in northern Alabama who remained loyal to the Union. They needed Union military help to survive. When Union troops arrived, these Southern Unionists could finally come out. They could join the Union Army if they wanted. Their families were also protected from Confederate fighters.
However, Union troops also took more food and supplies from the area than the Confederates. Union soldiers in Northern Alabama often took what they needed for their large forces. They sometimes raided farms and homes that Confederates had already taken from.
Before Union troops arrived, local Unionists had secret groups. These groups helped pro-Union loyalists with money, contacts, and supplies. They also provided important local information. Alabamians who joined Union regiments knew the area well. They used this knowledge to find and help Unionists behind Confederate lines.
Loyalists were promised safety and jobs if they helped U.S. forces. They provided supplies, information, and money. Some loyalists were drafted, while others volunteered. White Unionists used the army to fight against those trying to break up the old Union.
The most famous unit made entirely of Alabama Unionists was the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (Union). Out of 2,678 white Alabamians who joined the Union Army, 2,066 served in this regiment.
Union fighters were motivated by duty to the Union. They also wanted to protect their families and Unionist friends. They also sought revenge for what they had suffered from Confederates. Unionist groups were usually small, with 20 to 100 men. They were organized on their own but supported by Union forces. They acted as spies, guides, scouts, and recruiters. They also fought against Confederate fighters to protect Union forces.
Women During the War
The U.S. Navy's blockade stopped exports from the South. It also blocked important goods from coming in, except for what blockade runners brought. Women had to find ways to manage. They bought less, used old spinning wheels, and grew more food like peas and peanuts. This helped them make clothes and get food.
They used substitutes when possible. For example, there was no real coffee, so they tried okra or chicory. Households suffered greatly from rising prices and shortages of food, animal feed, and medical supplies. Women had to manage their homes and farms while the men were away fighting. They also had to manage enslaved people.
Women who supported the Union helped with communication. They could move freely between towns because of their gender. When these women lost their Unionist husbands, it was often hard to survive. They were often avoided by pro-Confederate women. Their strong loyalty to family, neighbors, and the nation helped them resist Confederate ideas. They chose to support the Union, even if it meant giving up their high social status.
Enslaved People
Enslaved black men and women in Alabama saw the Union occupation as their best chance for freedom. This was true even though the Union had mixed feelings about slavery. For some, losing goods was not important compared to the safety and opportunities the Union brought. For others, the Union occupation meant losing even small belongings. It also made them more vulnerable, no matter who won the war.
Confederate Fighters
Many Confederate fighters in northern Alabama were cavalry units. They were used to protect their home areas. Their main goal was to keep the Confederate way of life and government going. They helped the war effort by finding and arresting Unionists, new recruits, and deserters. They also scared Unionists by destroying their property and threatening their families.
Confederate fighters were of four types. Some were official cavalry or enlisted men fighting near home. Others fought disguised as regular citizens or were simply outlaws. These groups were not under Confederate control. They were often interested in personal gain as much as helping the Southern cause.
Union Supporters in Southern Alabama
Not all Union supporters were in areas controlled by the Union. In southeast Alabama, in counties like Dale, Coffee, and Henry, Unionists operated freely. They were led by a local Unionist named John Ward. They found safety in the large pine forests.
These groups sometimes worked with regular U.S. forces from Pensacola, Florida. Their actions led some important citizens to ask Governor T.H. Watts for military help against them. Some local people, like Methodist minister Bill Sketoe of Newton, were even killed. This was done by Home Guard elements for supposedly helping these Unionist groups.
Battles in Alabama
- Battle of Athens
- Battle of Day's Gap
- Battle of Decatur
- Battle of Fort Blakeley
- Battle of Mobile Bay
- Battle of Newton
- Battle of Ebenezer Church
- Battle of Selma
- Battle of Munford
- Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle
- Battle of Spanish Fort
- Siege of Bridgeport
- Battle of Cherokee Station
- Skirmish at Paint Rock Bridge
- Streight's Raid
- Wilson's Raid
The Battle of Columbus happened on the Alabama-Georgia border. It was part of Wilson's Raid on April 16, 1865. This battle is often seen as the last battle of the war. It was the final fight before the Confederacy officially ended on May 5.
Losses and Aftermath
Alabama soldiers fought in many battles. At Gettysburg, Alabama lost 1,750 soldiers. Many more were captured or wounded. The famous "Alabama Brigade" had 781 casualties.
In July 1865, Governor Lewis E. Parsons estimated the losses. He said about 122,000 white men from Alabama had served. Of these, 35,000 died in the war. At least another 30,000 were seriously injured. The next year, Governor Robert M. Patton estimated that 20,000 veterans were permanently disabled. There were also 20,000 widows and 60,000 orphans.
Cotton prices were low, and the value of farms dropped. Farms worth $176 million in 1860 were only worth $64 million in 1870. The number of farm animals also decreased. Horses fell from 127,000 to 80,000. Mules dropped from 111,000 to 76,000. The total population of Alabama stayed about the same. This was because the expected growth was offset by deaths and people moving away.
Congressional Representatives
Representatives from the first seven states to secede formed the first two sessions of the 1861 Provisional Confederate Congress. Alabama sent:
- William Parish Chilton Sr.
- Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry
- Thomas Fearn (replaced by Nicholas Davis Jr.)
- Stephen Fowler Hale
- David Peter Lewis (replaced by Henry Cox Jones)
- Colin John McRae
- John Gill Shorter (replaced by Cornelius Robinson)
- Robert Hardy Smith
- Richard Wilde Walker
The First Confederate Congress (1862–64) had two senators from Alabama:
- Clement Claiborne Clay
- William Lowndes Yancey (replaced by Robert Jemison Jr.)
Alabama's representatives in the House were:
- Thomas Jefferson Foster
- William Russell Smith
- John Perkins Ralls
- Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry
- Francis Strother Lyon
- William Parish Chilton Sr.
- David Clopton
- James Lawrence Pugh
- Edmund Strother Dargan
Alabama's two senators in the Second Confederate Congress (1864–65) were:
- Robert Jemison Jr.
- Richard Wilde Walker
Representatives were:
- Thomas Jefferson Foster
- William Russell Smith
- Marcus Henderson Cruikshank
- Francis Strother Lyon
- William Parish Chilton Sr.
- David Clopton
- James L. Pugh
- James Shelton Dickinson
The Confederate Congress refused to seat W.R.W. Cobb. This was because he openly supported the Union. So, his district was not represented.
War Practices
Some war practices were debated. For example, land mines at Fort Blakeley exploded on Union troops even after the battle ended. Soon after the Confederacy surrendered, there were claims that some Confederate soldiers were shot by Union Black troops. However, these claims were never proven. Evidence suggests that some Union soldiers might have fired on Confederates who had surrendered. But there was no large-scale killing.
After the War
After the Civil War ended, Alabama became part of the Third Military District.
See Also
- List of Alabama Civil War Confederate Units
- Alabama Confederate Soldiers Home
- Confederate States of America, which features an animated map of state secession and confederacy
- List of Alabama Union Civil War regiments
- Mobile, Alabama in the American Civil War
- Selma, Alabama in the American Civil War
- History of slavery in Alabama
Images for kids
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The flag of Alabama used during the Civil War.
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The seal of Alabama from 1817 to 1868.
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A map showing the location of Alabama in the USA.
