Sketch of the Twelfth Alabama Infantry

This compilation toward a sketch of the history of this gallant regiment, its organization, associations, engagements, casualties, etc., consist of extracts from the War Diary of Robert Emory Park, late Captain of Company "F," with other materials contributed and collected by him.

A portion of the War and Prison Diary covering the period January 27. 1864, June 15, 1865, appeared as a serial in the Southern Historical Society Papers, Vols. I, II, III, (1876-7), at the request of the former Secretary of the Society, Rev. J. William Jones, D. D., who in prefatory note commends "its value in that it records the daily experience of the men who followed our distinguished leaders, and gives the impressions made upon the mind of an intelligent young soldier as he discharged his daily duty."

The prime value of contemporaneous record is indisputable, but the ingenuous Diary of this devoted and conscientious young soldier is in its convincing verity as the instantaneous photograph of passing events.

What a treasure Captain Park has left us. To have almost a day-by-day eyewitness account of most of the battles the Army of Northern Virginia participated in is priceless.

As a 17-year-old student, Captain Park left his studies and volunteered to defend his country, rose in the ranks from a private to lieutenant and then captain, commanding men older than himself. Wounded twice, Park returned to duty and served until the end of the War, as did many Southern soldiers.