Hilliard's Legion

Hilliard's Legion or Hilliard's Alabama Legion was an Confederate unit which fought in the American Civil War. Unlike most Civil War formations, it was a combined arms force, with infantry, cavalry and artillery components.

On April 24, 1862, Henry Washington Hilliard was made a colonel and authorized to raise a legion, consisting of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions (infantry), 4th Battalion (artillery) and 5th Battalion (cavalry). It was organized in Montgomery, Alabama, on June 25 of that year, with a strength of almost 3000 men. The cavalry and artillery units were eventually detached; the former was soon assigned to the 10th Confederate Cavalry Regiment, and the latter was made a separate unit, the Barbour Light Artillery.

The Legion was sent to eastern Tennessee to participate in the ultimately successful siege of Cumberland Gap. Hilliard resigned on December 1, 1862. Lieutenant Colonel Jack Thorington, commander of the 1st Battalion, was promoted to colonel and placed in charge. In April 1863, the unit was attached to General Gracie's Brigade and fought in the Battle of Chickamauga, where it suffered heavy losses: 45% of its 902 men; in the 1st Battalion, 169 of 239 soldiers were either killed or wounded. On November 25, the Legion was disbanded at Charleston, Tennessee, and the remaining men reassigned to the 59th and 60th Alabama Regiments.