Ask Alabama: The Alabama men who fought against the Confederacy in the Civil War

For Ask Alabama, we look at the Alabama’s Free State of Winston and the Alabama men who fought against the Confederacy in the Civil War

[masonpyle]

Number of Southern Unionists that served the Union Army by state-
Alabama-2, 700
Arkansas-9, 000
Florida-1, 000
Georgia-2, 500
Louisiana-5, 000
Mississippi-545
North Carolina-10, 000
South Carolina-0
Tennessee-31, 000
Texas -2, 000
Virginia and West Virginia-21, 000-23, 000

[kidofflint]

God bless the folk from Winston country ✊✊✊✊

[samuelburke]

Thank you for highlighting this. Many Americans today (both southern and northern) are unaware that many southerners remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.

[Shinobi]

If I was alive then I'd probably be a Southern Unionist too. I love our Union. Our Constitutional Republic.

[hearmeout]

I had about two dozen great-grandfathers and great-uncles that fought for the First Alabama Cavalry. Nine, including both my G4-grandfather and his son, my G3-grandfather, died. At that time, the Western half of Cullman county was in Winston county and that is where they all lived. After Stoke Roberts and the Confederate home guard came into Winston county in May of 1862 and began capturing men to conscript into the Confederate army, Bill Looney and a Union recruiter held a meeting in July of 1862 and on the 21st and 22nd of that month, almost 100 Winston county men were led to cross the Tennessee river near Rogersville and enlist into the Union army. I have one G3-grandfather who was given a sword by General Sherman after the war as a reward for his service in the Atlanta campaign and the campaigns through Georgia and the Carolinas. No-one knows where the sword is today, but there is allegedly a photograph of him holding the sword.

[BHuang]

Confederates: We are succeeding from the union!
Winston Country: We are succeeding from the confederacy!
Confederates: *Wait that's illegal!*

[avenaoat]

1. West Virgina secceded succesfully from Virginia, but this new (35th) state got some proconfederate sentiment counties (as a present...) so 50%-50% were the soldiers for both parts.
2. East Tenneessee wanted to secced from Tenneessee but general Zolicofer occupied the area in 1861 and Burnside liberated Knoxville in 1863. General George Thomas had 2 east Tenneessee regiments in the battle of Mill Springs in january of 1862, where General Zolicoffer died.
3. Ozark region gave unionist regiments after Curtiss won the battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas.
4. South Alabama and Texas had prounionist gerilla movements.
5. Hollywood discovered Jones county in Mississipi state.

[lspthrattan]

My great-great-grandfather, William Henry Barton, was one of these men. He died amid the horrific conditions at Andersonville Prison. His five brothers, and two of his brothers in law, also joined the Union, as did the patriarch of the family, Willis. My great-great-great-uncle Jonathan Marion Barton was the sheriff in Winston County after the war, having survived the war fighting for the Union. How about some statues to reflect the real history of the place? That confederate statue with its traitor flags flying in that photo is just sickening, and an insult to the memory of the REAL men of that county from that era.

[outdoorlife]

I found the same thing in western NC and eastern TN, even that NC had mounted rifle units, that fought for the union. Have you found this out in other states other than Jones county MS

[GaryParris-sdgg]

Noah Parris from Fayette CO, Alabama Was43 yrs old when he joined the 1, stAlabamaCav.USV.Hewasmygreat, great great

[frank]

My ancestor William Bauck Looney scouted for the Union and helped guide defecting Southerners across Confederate lines. And after the war, when the Klan showed up to his house, he shot the first one dead and the rest fled. Total Chad.

[ayoayanna]

you are the man, dude, so glad I found this channel!!

[christopherjustice]

Build more monuments for the men who remained loyal to the United States.

[godfreyboyd]

Isn't it more correct to say these soldiers stayed loyal to the United States rather than rebelled against the confederacy?

[juliawharton]

My aunt and uncle used to live in Winston County!!!! I visited them there a few times.

[codyjackson]

Hey guys did you know alabama will take your kids over weed

[charleydraper]

My great great grandpa, was a southern unionist, 6 Tennessee mounted infantry US

[southern_femboy]

This almost makes me happy about being born in Winston County

[marykaystreasures]

My 4th Great Grandfather was in the Union army he was from Winston County Alabama ❤️🇺🇸🗝️👍🗝️ and when the war was over he lived on a bluf making shoes and people would. bring him food for the shoe's and also supplies so proud of my family's history ♥️❤️👍 Thanks for sharing

[gequitz]

Unionist monuments in the South > Confederate monuments in the North