List of CSA Unit Nicknames
By Alabama County

by Rudy Scott Nelson


I hope that this partial list will help players add color to their gaming units. I will provide additional unit nicknames as I locate more information. The sources vary in completeness from one county to another. Some units did not have nicknames but were known by their company's captain.

An interesting point is that as late as 1863 (based on the Henry Woods letters B/12 Al Inf Rgt) enlisted units not only elected company Captains but also elected Majors and even Lt Colonels depending approval of the Colonel or Brigadier general. If the Brigade Commander refused to promote the elected man then the unit would vote on a different candidate. Also some letters indicate that units of drafted men did not get to elect officers but this is not conclusive.

Several companies recruited from several counties. Many "Battalions" were raised for home defense, though some served in the Mobile and North Alabama areas or were merged to form active regiments. Based on the Alabama Archives, which can be accessed by anybody, there were 63 Alabama Infantry Regiments (1-65 with no #52 or #64 )(However, I found references to a company belonging to a #52 Rgt, but I am not sure that the Ala company served in an Alabama Rgt.) and 14 Cavalry Regiments (1-12 with two #9 and one no number). There were several Legions with the most famous being Hilliards which was broken up to form several regiments.

The archives lists most of the units with nicknames as Independent or miltia companies. I have cross referenced with several sources to identify the regiment to which many of the nicknamed companies belonged. If an entry has a (?) then there is conflicting data but this is the best estimate. If an entry has a (#), then several separate companies have been identified as using the same nickname. If a company changed letter IDs, then I have tried to list them as well as changes in regiment assignments.

The note (Mil) indicates militia and (Ind) indicates independent. Independent companies were used mainly for Home defense and as garrison troops. They were responsible for engaging Union raiders as well as policing for local deserters and marauders. The most common nickname was Guards with 156 companies followed by Rifles with 71 units. Other popular nicknames were the Rangers with 37 units, Greys/Grays with 29 units, Blues with 24 units, Volunteers with 22 units and the Sharpshooters with 15 units. Several other nicknames were used but by less than ten units. These numbers do not include cavalry or artillery units. Seldom did an entire regiment adopt a nickname but there is reference to a Regiment being referred to as the Magnolia regiment.

When doing research, several contemporary and early record keeping practices contributed to confusing exact unit idenification. Company letter identification in a regiment might shift or the company may be transferred to a new regiment. When forming a new regiment, occasionally the entire company would go and at other times a cadre would go and take the old company nickname with them, thus producing in records two units with the same nickname.

Sometimes a unit with two parts to a nickname, such as Independent Rifles, was referred to as Independents in some letters, Rifles in others and Independent Rifles in even others. Sometimes two groups with different nicknames would combine to meet the minimum strength requirement for a company. The common nicknames resulted in units further distinguishing themselves by extra tags. These tags might include community, county, commander or unit financier names.

Letters and county histories comment that by 1862 the glamour of going to war had faded and fewer units adopted nicknames. This was especially true of companies consisting of a majority of draftees. Home Guard, the name for militia units adopted by Alabama in 1863, continued to use nicknames. Choctaw and Cherokee refer to the county not the ethnic background of the company's troops.

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A-C / 1PikePerote GuardsA / 1Tallapoosa Tallapoosa Rifles
B / 1BarbourEufaula RiflesD / 1Red Eagles
E / 1PikeRough & Ready PioneersF / 1Barbour Clayton Guards
I / 1WilcoxWilcox True BluesI / 1Dale ? Dale Avengers
K / 1LowndesGds of Sunny South...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 2CalhounCalhoun GuardsB / 2Pickens Lane Guards
C-G / 2MonroeClaiborne GuardsD / 2Clarke Clarke Rangers
D / 2ClarkeSuggsville GreysE / 2Tuscumbia Blues
E / 2FranklinBluesF / 2(A/9)Mobile South AL Rangers
G / 2(H/14)TallapoosaJackson AvengersG / 2 WheelerRifles
I / 2 MobileMob. Scotch GdsK / 2Jackson Rifles

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A /3(K/21)MobileMobile Cadets.. .
B /3(G/24)MobileGulf City GdsC / 3 MaconTuskegee Light Inf
D / 3 MaconSouthern RiflesE /3(A/21) WashingtonWash. Light Inf
F / 3MontgomeryMetropolitan GdG / 3 LomaxSharpshooters
G / 3MontgomeryMont. True Blues /Lgt Arty/ Free Blues ...
H / 3LowndesThe Beauregards I / 3 CoosaWetumpka Light Gds
K / 3Walker?Walker GuardsK /3(E/21) MobileMob. Rifle Co
L / 3 -Dixie Eagles...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 4DallasGovernors GuardB / 4 MaconAla/Tuskegee Zouaves
C / 4DallasMagnolia CadetsC / 4 PerryWyatt Guard
D / 4PerryCanebrake Rifles(Gds)D / 4 AutaugaPrattville Greys
E / 4ConecuhConecuh GuardsF / 4 MadisonHuntsville Guards
G / 4PerryMarion Light InfantryG / 4 PerryMarion Rifles
H / 4LauderdaleLauderdale Guards I / 4 MadisonNorth Alabamians
K / 4LarkinsvilleGuards...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 5ClarkeGrove Hill GuardsA / 5 GreensboroughGds
A/5(Arty)TuscaloosaWarrior GuardsB / 5 CalhounSharpshooters
B / 5SumterLivingston RiflesC / 5 PickensPickensville Blues
E / 5TalladegaTalla. ArtilleryF / 5 SumterSumter Rifle Gds
G / 5DallasCahaba RiflesK / 5 BarbourBarbour Greys

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 6HenryHenry GreysB / 6 Macon-TallapLoachapoka Rifles
B / 6MarshallMarsh. MountaineersC / 6 MarshallMountain Guards(1)
D / 6Henry-Mont.Independent RiflesG / 6 MontgomeryMontgomery Greys
G / 6AutaugaAutauga RiflesH / 6 Henry-RussellOpelika Volunteers
I / 6HenryRacoon Roughs/Russell VolK / 6 HenryHenry Blues
L / 6HenrySam Rice GuardsM / 6 HenryAutauga Guards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 7ChambersLafayette GuardsB / 7 CalhounCalhoun Greys
C / 7(H/48)CherokeeCherokee GreysD / 7 MadisonMadison Rifles
E / 7MobileHamp Smith RiflesK / 7 LauderdaleFlorence Guards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 8PerryAlabama RangersB / 8 CoosaGovernor's Guard
C / 8.Stephen's GuardD / 8 DallasSelma Indep Blues
E / 8Mobile ?Hamp Smith GdsF / 8 ButlerGreenville Guards
G-H / 8MobileGerman FusiliersH / 8 Mobile Independent Scouts
I / 8.Emerald GD(Irish)K / 8 PerrySouthern Guards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 9MarshallThe Marshall BoysA / 9 MobileBeauregard Rifles
B / 9MontgomeryRailroad GuardsC / 9 .ALA Volunteers
C / 9PopeWalker Guards(1)D / 9 LauderdaleLauderdale Rifles
E / 9DecaturSons of LibertyF / 9 LimestoneLimestone Troopers
G / 9ButlerJeff Davis RangersH / 9 LimestoneLimestone Grays
I / 9PickensCalhoun Guards...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 10St ClairAshville GuardsB / 10 JeffersonJefferson Volunteers
D / 10CalhounAlexandria RiflesF / 10 CoosaValley Gds/Blues
E / 10TalladegaTallad Davis Rifles/BluesG /10Calhoun PopeWalker Gds(2)
H / 10CalhounChoccolocco RiflesI-L / 10 DeKalbYancey Guards
K / 10TalladegaFt Williams Rifles...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A/11(C/21)MarengoMarengo RiflesB / 11 GreeneGreene Cty Grays
? / 11CoosaValley BluesC / 11 .Confederate Gds (1)
D / 11CanebrakeLegionE / 11 WashingtonWash. Sharpshooters
E / 11WashingtonYancey RiflesF / 11 BibbBibb Grays
G / 11Tuscaloosa Northport/Tusc RiflesH / 11 PickensPickens Gds
K / 11.Independent Vol.I / 11. Fayette & Pickens Rifles

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 12MobileGarde LayfayetteB / 12 CoosaCoosa Indep. Vol.
C / 12MobileIndependent RiflesD / 12 CoffeeCoffee Rangers
E / 12DeKalbDeK. InvinciblesF / 12 MaconMacon Confederates
G / 12NorthALA SharpshootersG / 12 JacksonPaint Rock Sharpshters
G / 12WoodvilleSharpshootersH / 12 DenoliaRifles
H / 12MagnoliaRiflesI / 12Mobile Southern Foresters
K / 12-Tom Watts Rebels...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 13WilcoxCamden RiflesB / 13SouthStars
C / 13CoosaAla BorderersD / 13Randolph Rand. Mountaineers
E / 13RandolphRandolph RangersD-F /13 RandolphWedowee Vol.
F / 13TallapoosaTallapoosa/Tallassee GdsG / 13 YanceyGuards
H / 13CoosaCoosa MountaineersH / 13 CoosaCoosa Mtd Gds
I / 13RandolphRoanoke InvinciblesK / 13 StephensGuards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 14ChambersCusetta GreysB / 14 LowndesMoore Guards
C / 14ChambersTom Watts GreysD / 14 ChambersYancey Greys
E / 14ChambersGilmore GreysF / 14 MaconBilly Gilmore Greys
G / 14TallapoosaHillabee True BluesH / 14 JacksonAvengers (2)
I / 14TalladegaHillabee Rifles? / 14 RandolphLouina Guards
L / 14-Texas Invincibles ?...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 15CantyRiflesC/ 15Ft BrowderRoughs
B / 15BarbourMidway Southern GdsE / 15DaleDale Beauregards
F / 15PikeBrundidge GuardsG / 15Henry Henry Pioneers
H / 15GlenvilleGuardsI / 15Pike Quitman Gds
J-K / 15BarbourEufaula ZouavesK / 15 BarbourEufaula City Gd
L / 15PikePike Sharpshooters...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 16FranklinSons of DixieA / 16 FranklinPope Walker Grays
B / 16.Mountain Rangers(1)D /16 (K/55)CherokeeSnodgrass Guards
H / 16Russell ?Russell Valley
War Hornets/Gds
K-L-A/16HenryColumbia Blues

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 17BartowRangers/AvengersA / 17 PintoBattery ?
D / 17CoosaCochran Greys/RangersE / 17 RandolphDowdell Rangers
F / 17MontgomeryWinter GreysK / 17 ButlerButler True Blues

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A/ 18CoffeeBullock GuardsB-D / 18 CoosaCoosa Farmers
B/18(C/42)CovingtonMcCulloch's AvengersB / 18CovingtonCovington Hunters
C / 18ShelbyCahaba Valley
Boys/Rangers
D / 18 -Moore's Sharpshooters
E / 18-Confederate StarsF / 18-Tom Watts Rifles
G / 18YanceyGuards/RangersH / 18A.B. Moore Invincibles
I / 18ShelbyCurry GuardsK / 18-Confederate Blues

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 19PickensPick. Rough
and Readies
B / 19 BlountBlo. Continentals
D / 19CherokeeCurry GuardsD / 19 CoosaRiver Gds
E / 19CherokeeCherokee GuardsF / 19 CherokeeDavis Guards (1)
G / 19CherokeeMountaineersH / 19 CherokeeThe Cherokees
A-I / 19CherokeeCherokee RangersK / 19 BlountBlount Guards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 20-Brook's Lgt InfB / 20 DallasPhoenix Reds
C / 20JeffersonJefferson RiflesD / 20 BibbBibb Rangers
D / 20BlackWarriorsE / 20Greene Greene Grays (2)
F / 20PerryPerry Cty BoysG / 20Bibb Cahaba Valley Gds
H / 20-Perry & Bibb LinersI / 20Planters Guard

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 21MontgomeryMont. GuardsC / 21 WitherspoonGd Rifles
C / 21MarengoMarengo RiflesD / 21 MobileBattle Guards
E / 21MobileMob./Chamberlain RiflesE/ 21 MobileWoodruff Rifles
F / 21BaldwinBaldwin RiflesG / 21 MobileSpanish Guards
G / 21SouthernStar GdsG-H / 21Swanson Guards
H / 21Mobile?French GuardsI / 21 UnitedRangers
I / 21IndependenceRiflesK / 21 MobileMobile Cadets

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 22ClarkeFrank Lyon GuardsC / 22 ChoctawChoctaw Warriors
C / 22BrownriggWarriorsD / 22 CherokeeBeauregards
E / 22CalhounCalhoun BoysF / 22 Randolph ?(2)Dowdell Rangers
G / 22RandolphRandolph SpartansH / 22 SamCooper Rifles
I / 22PikePike Grays? / 22ChoctawWarlock Guards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
D / 23ConecuhCary RiflesF / 23 ConecuhSharpshooters

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 24EmmettGuardsC / 24 DixieBoys (1)
E-G / 24ClarkeDickinson Guards(1)G / 24 Mobile ?Gulf City Garrison Gds
I / 24GreeneConfederate Guards...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 25CovingtonAndalusia BeauregardsB / 25 PikePike Guards
C / 25ShelbyShelby ConfederatesD / 25 St ClairAshville Blues
E / 25PickensPickens TigersF / 25 J.J. HeflinHighlanders
G / 25HillabeeHighlandersH / 25LawlerInvincibles
I / 25CalhounMountain Guards (2)...
K / 25CoffeeLittle Geo
Mathews Friends
K / 25 CoastGuard Co #1

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 26CalhounBeauregards (1)F / 26 (56) TuscaloosaTusca. Mountaineers
G / 26JemisonGuardsH / 26. Sons of '76
I / 26SipseyGuardsK / 26 LooxapaliaGuards

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 27-Confederate SentinelsF / 27 New MarketRebels

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
F / 28Walker ?Walker LegionI / 28 DallasDallas Warriors

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 29Walker ?Reynolds GuardsB / 29 BlountBlount Hornets
D / 29Calhoun ?Weaver GuardsD / 29 BibbBibb Rifles
E / 29PhilipWeaver GdsF / 29TigerBoys
G / 29BarbourSeals Guards...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 30CalhounSallie Walker BoysB / 31 CherokeeRall's Rifles
A / 32WashingtonWilson Guards...
G / 32ClarkeDickinson Guards (2)E / 32 ClarkeBigbee Tigers
F / 33Covington &
Coffee
GreysH / 33 MontgomeryDavis Rangers
I / 34ShorterGuardsG / 37Chambers Wiche Jackson Blues
A / 38ClarkeEliza Finn's GuardsC / 38 ChoctawDixie Rifles
D / 38ClarkeAla InvinciblesE / 38 ConecuhMiller Guards
I / 38ClarkeAlabama Grays...
A / 39HenryOrion GraysC / 39Henry Pea River Rifles
K / 39HenryMitchell Volunteers...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 40PickensPickens PlantersC-E / 42Conecuh McCulloch Avengers
A / 44J.M.CalhounGdsB / 44 BibbScottsville Guards
E / 44Sallie RatcliffeGuardsG / 44 DallasWashin. Smith Gds
H / 44BibbDawson Warren ?...
A / 45BarbourBarbour Yankee HuntersB / 45 DixieSledge Guards
I / 45Randolph ?Randolph VolunteersA / 46 CoosaSouthern Defenders
B / 46CoosaCoosa RangersC / 46 J.G.ShorterAides
B / 47TallapoosaTallap.Tigers/Lgt InfC / 47 JeffHolley Guards
I / 47ChambersChambers InfantryK / 47 GoldthwaiteGrays
A / 48Jackson ?Jackson BoysB / 48 De KalbWills Valley Gds
C / 48MountainRangers(2)D / 48 SheffieldGuards
D / 48-JacksoniansF / 48-Jeff Davis Boys
G / 48CherokeeElisha King GuardsH / 48 CherokeeChero Grays/Gds
I / 48Lee ?Lee County GuardsI / 48 ChalhounNewman Pounds Gds
/ 48CalhounMoore's Rifles...
A / 49OleanderGuards(1)C / 49Jackson ? Jackson Lions
D-G / 49De KalbDeKalb Rifles (1)...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
A / 50CalhounCalhoun Beauregards (2)C / 50 Jackson ?Paint Rock Rifles
E / 50LimestoneLimestone RebelsB / 51 -Thompson's Artillery
F / 52OleanderGuards(2)F / 53Wilcox Ala Mtd Rifles
B / 54ConfederateBricksC / 54Choctaw Griffin Rifles
D / 54Chuckatoochee ?RiflemenE / 54 GulfRangers
F / 54ChoctawAndy Moore's GuardsG-K /54 DeKalbDekalb Rifles (2)
H / 54MississippiDevilsI / 54- ALA Hickories
B / 55CherokeeCher. Davis Guards(2)C / 55 CalhounOxford Rifles
D / 55JacksonJackson HornetsG / 55 JeffDavis Gds
A / 57ClantonRiflesI / 58Calhoun?St Clair Sharpshooters
G / 59SilerGuards...

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
B / 60CoosaRebecca William's Rifles? / 61 RandolphRand. Beauregards
C / 62BridgeGuardD / 62StonewallCadets
I / 62DallasRosser ReservesF / 65 ConecuhConecuh Reserves

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCom/RgtCounty Nickname
D / 3 Bn (H/26)-Sons of '76...
A / 4 BnCherokeeChero. Davis Gds(2)B / 4 Bn ShorterGuards
C / 4 BnDixieBoysD / 4 Bn-Sumter-Shorter Gds (Mil)
A / 5 BnSumterNorth Sumter RiflesB / 5 Bn CalhounCal. Sharpshooter
B / 5 BnBushSharpshootersC / 5 Bn CalhounWhite Plains Rangers
D / 5 BnDaniel BooneRiflesE / 5 BnHowellGuards
I / 9 Bn(I/58)St ClairSt Clair Sharpshooters. ..
16 SharpshootersMarshallMar. MountaineersE / 25 GA HenryHenry Light Infantry
E / 25 GAHenryIrwin's Invincibles...
Cavalry and Other Mounted Companies

Com / RgtCountyNicknameCounty Nickname
K / 1 CavMontgomeryMounted Rifles MontgomeryLine Creek Gds (1 AL Cav)
G / 2 CavCoosaKnox's DragoonsDallas Summerfield Huzzars
H / 3 CavAutaugaPrattville DragoonsSumter Sumter Mtd Gds(Ind Cav)
F / 8 CavMarshallThe Marshall Boys?Shelby West's Mtd Infantry
K / 8 CavChambersGoldwaithes RangersRussell Uchee Hussars
A / 10 CavChambers Clopton's RangersShelby Shelby Cavalry Gd
C / 3 CavChoctawRuffin's DragoonsBaldwin Baldwin Rangers (Cav)

CtyNicknameCtyNickname
MobileALA Lgt DragoonsDallasPleasant Hill Cav
LowndesPlanters CavLowndesFarmerville Cav
LowndesALA DefendersCalhounBush's Mtd Gunmen
MarengoMarengo Mtd GdsMarengoMarengo Troop(Mtd?)
HenryHen. Mtd RiflesChoctawChoctaw Mtd Men
CoosaWetumpka Lgt DrgnsDallasDallas Lgt Drgns
TalladegaFt Williams CavLauderdaleLaud. Dragoons

Companies Whose Regiment has not been Identified or Independent


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© Copyright 1999 by Rudy Scott Nelson
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