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"Notwithstanding the perilous situation in which Archer's brigade was placed, his right, changing front, continued to struggle with undaunted firmness, materially checking the advance of the enemy until reinforcements came to its support." Stonewall Jackson describing Archer's brigade at Fredericksburg

About the Brigade: This brigade was also known later in the War as McComb's brigade. Originally part of A.P. Hill's famous Light Division, the mixed Alabama and Tennessee brigade of Marylander James Jay Archer was transferred to the division of General Henry Heth during the major reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia following Jackson's death.

Image of General James Jay Archer, first commander of the brigade

Archer took command of the brigade from General Robert Hatton after that officer was killed at the battle of Seven Pines in the spring of 1862. Upon Archer's death from disease in the late fall of 1864, General William McComb took command of the brigade. General Brickett D. Fry also commanded this brigade for periods during the War.

The original brigade in the Light Division consisted of the 5th Battalion and and 13th Regiment from Alabama and the 1st (Provisional Army), 7th, and 14th Tennessee. Later additions after the Spotsylvania Campaign included the 2nd Maryland (1st Battalion). Field's / Heth's former brigade of Virginia troops also was absorbed into this brigade late in the War. Archer's / McComb's Brigade served until Appomattox.

5th Alabama Battalion

Members of this unit rescued the body of General A.P. Hill when that officer was killed at Petersburg. Part of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days until Appomattox. The 5th Alabama Battalion has a website (external link).

• Lt. Col. F.B. Shepherd (?-?)
• Maj. Albert S. Van de Graaff (?-?)
• Lt. Col. Henry H. Walker

2d Maryland (1st Battalion)

This unit included five companies from the Old Line State. It had varied service including in the Valley. The 2d Maryland joined Archer's brigade after the battle of Cold Harbor. It served until Appomattox. There is a history online (external link).

• Lt. Col. James R. Herbert (08/18/33-08/05/84)
• Of Woodstock; badly wounded at Gettysburg; postwar Baltimore police commissioner

13th Alabama

The 13th Alabama was raised in Butler, Coosa, Elmore, Macon, Montgomery, Randolph, Talladega, Tallapoosa, and Wilcox counties. This regiment was transferred in early 1864 to Wilcox's old brigade in Heth's Division (commanded at that time by J.C.C. Sanders).

• Col. James Aiken
• Lt. Col. William H. Betts (ca. 1839-?)
• Macon farmer
• Lt. Col. Reginald Heber Dawson (03/19/38-07/11/1906)
• Wded at Seven Pines; resigned due to illness; later lawyer & prison official
• Col. Brickett D. Fry
• Lt. Col. Samuel Blackburn Marks (06/07/20-?)
• Montgomery Cty planter; later an ordance officer
• Lt. Col. Julius Caesar Bonaparte Mitchell (ca. 1816-?)
• Planter from Montgomery
• Maj. John T. Smith (?-05/03/63)
• Of Randolph Cty; killed at Chancellorsville

1st Tennessee (Provisional)

Also called the 1st Confederate Infantry or Turney's Regiment (there was another 1st TN that served in the west under Bragg). It served until the bitter end at Appomattox.

• Maj. Felix Grundy Buchanan (03/23/38-03/16/1907)
• Of Lincoln Cty, wounded five times during the War
• Lt. Col. Newton J. George (ca. 1840-?)
• Of Lincoln Cty; POW at Gettysburg; minister in South America postwar
• Maj. Daniel Wilson Holman (10/02/32-09/22/85)
• Of Mulberry; colonel of 11th TN Cavalry & lawyer in Fayetteville
• Lt. Col. James H. Holman
• Maj. Martin V. McLaughlin (ca. 1834-06/28/62)
• Lincoln Cty lawyer killed at Gaines Mill
• Lt. Col. John C. Shackleford (ca. 1837-06/28/62)
• Killed in action at Gaines Mill
• Col. Peter Turney

7th Tennessee

Raised mainly from Sumner, Lebanon, and Wilson counties. This regiment served from the very beginning of the War until surrender at Appomattox. There is a regimental history online (external link).

• Col. John A. Fite
• Col. John Fite Goodner (07/06/22-ca.1871)
• Mexican War vet; resigned due to ill health
• Col. Robert Hatton
• Lt. Col. John K. Howard (?-07/09/62)
• Mortally wounded at Gaines Mill; buried Cedar Grove Cemetery Wilson Cty
• Lt. Col. Samuel G. Shepard
• Maj. William H. Williamson

14th Tennessee

Raised from the counties of Montgomery, Robertson, and Stewart. It fought at Cheat Mountain, then was transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia. Served until Appomattox.

• Lt. Col. Nathan Brandon
• Col. William A. Forbes
• Lt. Col. Milton G. Gholson (03/11/14-01/18/83)
• b. Cumberland Cty KY; Brig. General in TN milita
• Lt. Col. George A. Harrell (ca. 1816-08/15/62)
• Mortally wounded at Cedar Mountain; buried in Charlottesville VA
• Maj. James H. Johnson
• Lt. Col. James W. Lockert
• Col. William McComb
• Maj. Nathaniel Milton Morris (ca. 1835-?)
• Of Stewart Cty; fractured skull at 2d Manassas

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