Burrell "Burk" Phillips
Mustered in May 15, 1862 in Opelika as a Private in Co. C., 39th Alabama Infantry Regiment at the age of 37.
Burk died on January 1894 and is buried at Newtopia, Faulk Cemetery,
Barbour County, Alabama
Submitted by Verna
Smith Bice
39th Alabama Infantry Regiment
The 39th AL Infantry Regiment was organized at Opelika in May 1862
with men from Barbour, Henry, Pike, Russell, and Walker counties. It was sent at once to Mississippi. It was brigaded there under
Gen'l Frank Gardner with the 19th, 22nd, 25th, and 26th AL Regiments.
It participated in the march into KY, with little fighting, and came back with the army to Murfreesboro. The
regiment took part in that battle, and with heavy losses (95), having gained much credit for repulsing an
attack of the enemy the day before. The regiment was with the army when it fell back to the Chattanooga
line, and it took part in the battle of Chickamauga with a very heavy loss of men (31% of 310 engaged). At
Missionary Ridge, the loss was light, and the 39th, now under Gen'l Deas of Mobile as brigade commander,
wintered at Dalton.
It reported 337 men and 219 arms in December, 1863. From there to Atlanta the regiment was conspicuous
in all the fighting of the army, suffering severely. They were present in the defense of Atlanta and at
Jonesboro where they again lost heavily. They marched with the army into TN and lost a number of
prisoners at Nashville. The regiment then moved to the Carolinas with Gen'l Johnston and took part in
operations there, though much reduced in number. It was there consolidated with the 22nd and 26th and
50th AL regiments but was forced to surrender a few days later on the 26th of April 1865.
Submitted by: Verna Smith Bice jbice@brazosport.cc.tx.us
