Colonel John Quincy Loomis
25th Alabama Infantry Reigment, CSA
Members of the Wetumpka Light Guard mustered on January 9, 1861 under the command of a 36 year old Lawyer, Captain John Q. Loomis of Coosa County. Loomis was appointed Agent in Account with the Pay Masters Deptartment for the State of Alabama under the act of February 6, 1861. He was appointed Captain on February 23, 1861 and assigned to duty as the Recruiting Officer at Wetumpka, Alabama.
When Alabama seceeded from the Union, Governor Andrew B. Moore ordered the Wetumpka Light Guard, with other volunteer companies, to Mobile and Pensacola to take pocession of the forts and other public property in the name of the sovereign States of Alabama and Florida, being within their borders, and rightfully belonging to them. All was taken except for Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island. The company remained in garrison until relieved by other troops, Captain John Q. Loomis commanding, attached to the 1st Regiment of Alabama Infantry.
Captain Loomis returned to Wetumpka and raised a company of Artillery, being assigned to the 1st Alabama Artillery Battalion as Company E. He resigned his recruitng post on September 18, 1861 to accept an appointment as Lt. Colonel of the 1st Alabama Infantry Battalion, which subsequently combined with McClellan's 6th Alabama Infantry Battalion. While camped along the Dog River near Mobile, the two battalions combined in December of 1861. On January 8, 1862, the battalion was designated the 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment.
By order of President Jefferson Davis, John Q. Loomis was promoted to Colonel of the 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment, to rank on January 8, 1862.
The regiment fought at Shiloh and Farmington. Loomis was wounded at Shiloh and is memorialized there with his name inscribed on the north face of the State of Alabama Monument.
C.S.A. ALABAMA
To the lasting memory of the heroes from Alabama who fought at Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862. Erected by the Alabama Division United Daughters of the Confederacy 1907.
25th Regiment
COL. JOHN Q. LOOMIS (wounded)
COL. GEORGE D. JOHNSTON
The regiment then moved into Kentucky with Bragg's Army where it saw no action. Returning to Tennessee, the regiment was involved at the Battle of Murphreesboro with Colonel Loomis commanding. Under heavy fire from the 25th Illinois and the 81st Indiana, a cannon ball stuck a tree limb directly above Colonel Loomis. The large limb fell, striking Loomis on the shoulder. The Brigade retreated and the command was assumed by Colonel John G. Coltart of the 26th/50th Alabama Infantry.
As a result of his latest wound, Colonel Loomis resigned after Murphreesboro and the regiment was assigned to Lt. Colonel George D. Johnston.
Colonel Loomis returned to Wetumpka after his resignation, where he lived out his days. Loomis is found prior to the war in the 1850 Shelby County, Alabama Census as a single 26 yr. old lawyer. The 1846-1851 Shelby County Will records show John Q. Loomis assigned as a ward or guardian for Henry and Robert Loomis. While no marker for a wife is found next to his burial stone, Bibb County, Alabama marriage records list the following union; John Q. Loomis to Mary A. Henry on December 19, 1850. Colonel Loomis is buried at the Wetumpka City Cemetery, his marker placed by the John B. Gordon Chapter U.D.C.
CAPT. J. Q. LOOMIS
1861 - 1865
ERECTED BY JOHN B. GORDON CHAPTER U.D.C.
Wetumpka City Cemetery, Wetumpka, AL
(Special thanks to Alan Pitts for much of the service information on Colonel Loomis)
