General Notes

[coosa1.ged]
He was residing in Luverne, Crenshaw Co., AL in 1907: recorded by Census
of living Confederate soliders in 1907 for Crenshaw Co., AL.  He entered
as a private into the 17th Ala Reg, Co. C.  He was paroled April 1865.
(abstract of census of living Confederate vets taken in 1907 in AL)
SPRADLEY Thomas H. residing in Luverne Ala born Feb 22 1842 Ramer
Montgomery Co Ala entered as private 24 Sep1861 at Montgomery Ala in the
17th Ala Reg Co C continued until paroled April 1865.
1870 Federal Census of Crenshaw Co., AL
173 SPRADLEY    Thomas      26 wm AL
"      Deby Ann    26 wf AL
"      William J.   8 wm AL
"      Bethina      4 wf AL
"      Mahaly       1 wf AL
SPRADLEY    E. J.        23 wm AL (This most likely James Erwin
Spradley, the son of James Stephen Spradley and the nephew of Thomas
Harrison Spradley)
The 17th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Montgomery in August,
1861. In November, it moved to Pensacola and was present at the
bombardment there that month and again in January. In March 1862, the
regiment was sent to western Tennessee where it was brigaded under J. K.
Jackson of Georgia, with the 18th, 21st, and 24th Alabama regiments. The
unit fought at Shiloh and
lost 125 k and w. A month later, it was in the fight at Framington,
withfew casualties. In the autumn, when Gen'l Braxton Bragg moved into
Kentucky, the 17th, weakened by illness, was left at Mobile. It was there
drilled as heavy artillery and had charge of eight batteries on the shore
of the bay. It remained at that post until March 1864 when it was ordered
to Rome, GA. The brigade consisted of the 17th and 29th Alabama
regiments, and the 1st and 26th Alabama and 37th Mississippi regiments
were soon after added. The brigade was commanded at different times by
Gen'l Cantey of Russell, Col. Murphey of Montgomery, Col. O'Neal of
Lauderdale, and Gen'l Shelley of Talladega. The
regiment was engaged at the Oostenaula bridge and in the three days'
battle of Resaca, with severe loss. The 17th had its full share of the
campaigning from Dalton to Jonesboro, fighting almost daily, especially
at Cassville, New Hope, Kennesaw, Lost Mountain, and Atlanta. In the
battle of Peachtree Creek, it lost 130 k and w, and on the 28th of July,
180 k and w. The entire loss from Resaca to Lovejoy's Station was 586,
but few of whom were captured. The regiment moved into Tennessee with
Gen'l John Bell Hood and lost two-thirds of its force at Franklin; a
number of the remainder were captured at Nashville. A remnant moved into
North Carolina and a part fought at Bentonville. It was then consolidated
with the 29th and 33rd Alabama regiments, with E. P. Holcombe of Lowndes
as colonel, J. F. Tate of Russell as lieutenant colonel, and Willis J.
Milner of Butler as major. The regiment surrendered at Greensboro, NC, in
April, 1865.
Field officers: Cols. Thomas H. Watts (Montgomery, resigned); R. C.
Fariss (Montgomery, resigned); and Virgil S. Murphey (Montgomery,
captured at Franklin); Lt. Cols. R. C. Fariss (promoted); Virgil S.
Murphey (promoted); and Edward P. Holcombe (Lowndes, wounded at Resaca);
and Majors Virgil S. Murphey (promoted) and Thomas J. Burnett (Butler,
wounded at Atlanta).