Under the leadership of Major Lionel Booth, the regiment fought at the Battle of Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864.

The 1st Alabama Siege Artillery Regiment was raised at LaGrange, LaFayette and Memphis, Tennessee, as well as Corinth, Mississippi, on June 20, 1863, after Federal troops occupied the area.

The command of the 6th Heavy Artillery fell to Captain Charles Epeneter, who was wounded in the head.

During the final assault on the fort, all Union artillery was largely ineffective because the guns could not be depressed enough to fire upon the Confederates on the steep terrain below.

Two other cannons, 6-pound James Rifles, were placed in the center two embrasures and manned by a section of men from Company D, 2nd US Colored Light Artillery.

The regiment suffered many casualties at the battle but unlike many newspaper reports not all of the black soldiers were killed.