There were about nine regiments and three battalions of
reserves, composed for the most part of very young men, about
two regiments being made up of old men, and they were organized
principally for the defense of Mobile and the bay forts.
Some of these were, in 1864, consolidated under the command of
Col. Daniel Huger, of the First reserve regiment, and the new
regiment was known as the Sixty-second Alabama.
Others, under Col. Olin F Rice, of the Second reserve regiment,
were known as the Sixty-third. The First battalion, also
called the Fourth reserve regiment, was consolidated with the
Third and Fourth battalions under Lieut.-Col. E. M. Underhill,
and called the Sixty-fifth Alabama; it was employed mainly in
the defenses of Mobile, though a detachment was sent to
Montgomery in April, 1865, and retired before Wilson's army to
Girard, where it fought with severe loss and was captured.
The Sixty-second and Sixty-third fought in General Thomas'
brigade at Fort Gaines and Spanish Fort, losing a large number
in killed and wounded. Relieved at Spanish Fort by Holtzclaw's
brigade, they were sent to Blakely, where, after enduring the
privations and perils of the siege of Blakely, they were
captured, and were exchanged a few days before the final
surrender of the department of the Gulf.
Captain Johnson, of the Sixty-third, was killed, and Captain
Ward, of the Sixty second, wounded, at Spanish Fort. Capt. J
W. Pitts, who assisted in the defense of Talladega during
Rousseau's raid, became major of the Sixty-second. This
regiment, composed wholly of young men, was especially
complimented by General Liddell for gallant conduct at Spanish
Fort.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 231
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