17th Battalion, Alabama Sharpshooters

Brief History
17th Battalion Sharpshooters was formed during the summer of 1862 and contained two companies. In December, 1863, the battalion had only 59 men and 46 arms. It continued the fight in the conflicts around Atlanta and in July, 1864, was under G.D. Johnston's command. However, after August the battalion ceased to exist.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - organized June 1862, with various companies in the 19th Alabama Infantry Regiment.
 * Company B - organized 21 June 1862,by transfers in from the 39th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Source for the company organization information is found on the Ohio State University ehistory archive web site

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 207 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in 'Alabama in the Civil War' and 'United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865' (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Alabama in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Alabama, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.nal information.