39th Infantry Regiment was formed in May, 1862, at Opelika, Alabama. Its members were drawn from Pike, Barbour, Henry, Walker, and Russell counties. Immediately sent north, it was assigned to General Gardner's Brigade but saw little action during the Kentucky Campaign. The regiment was later under the command of Generals Deas, G.D. Johnston, and Brantley. It was prominent in the arduous campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, moved with Hood into Tennessee, and fought its last battle at Bentonville. This unit reported 95 casualties at Murfreesboro and lost thirty-one percent of the 310 engaged at Chickamauga. During December, 1863, it totalled 337 men and 219 arms. On April 26, 1865, less than 90 officers and men surrendered. The unit was commanded by Colonels Whitfield Clark, H.D. Clayton, and William C. Clifton; Lieutenant Colonels James T. Flewellen and Lamuel Hargrove; and Majors Colin McSwean and Drewry H. Smith.