38th Alabama Infantry Volunteers

To date we know of more than 300 men and women whose ancestors belonged to this unit. We invite those who are interested in aiding our research and getting to know other descendants to send us your name, your ancestor's name, and a contact address. We will not share this info outside our group.

BATTLE OF NEW HOPE CHURCH

[Image] New Hope Church Cemetery

As the Federal Army advanced toward Atlanta they encountered the entrenched Confederate Army of Tennessee including the 38th Alabama along a line from Dallas to New Hope Church. The battle ensued from May 24 to June 4, 1864. The Confederates had become so efficient at cutting timber, digging trenches and throwing up a head log that Federal Soldiers reported that it was suspected that the CSA Army carried their trenches with them.

The action around New Hope Church was in very bad weather and fighting was so heavy that New Hope Church was called the “Hell Hole” by the Northern army. Loss figures for the action was 3000 Southerners and 2500 Federals. Some of the action took place among the gravestones of the Church Cemetery. The 38th Alabama Infantry arrived at New Hope Church on the afternoon of May 27. The report of casualties for the 38th regiment was 2 officers and 1 noncommissioned officer wounded, 3 privates killed, 15 wounded and 1 missing. More...

PVT. PACE LETTER

In 1914 the former Pvt. W.A. Pace answered a letter from Robert Fulton (Bob) Dolbear, who was a friend and a comrade in Company I of the 38th during the Civil War. He expressed his thankfulness that both survived the war and listed in his letter the names of 172 members of the company.

Many thanks to Lisa Vosburgh who contributed this letter which we have added to the website.

[Image] Start of Letter

ABOUT THIS WEBSITE

This site presents facts about the fates of the officers and enlisted men who belonged to the 38th Alabama Infantry Regiment of the Confederate Army. It is not a history but rather a resource for genealogical research. We include an historical time line as background to the period: 1862-1865. Those who would like to learn more about this period will find a short bibliography of recommended reading here.

Art Green's narrative entitled "The Long Way Home" begins here.

NOTE TO RESEARCHERS

The muster rolls displayed on this web site contain only a fraction of the 1500 names of 38th Alabama soldiers listed in military service records. These are one-time company rolls which show the names of officers and enlistees appearing on one specific date only. The list of names would change with each monthly roll. Each is signed and dated by the company commander. If your ancestor does not appear on a given roll, it is possible he enlisted at a different time. Try typing the name of your ancestor in the search box above.