This work is a historical sketch of the Forty-eighth Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment from its conception in April 1862 until its surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. It begins by examining the soldiers' motivation for enlistment. These soldiers were not among the initial enlistees after the firing on Fort Sumter. Explaining why they chose to enlist in 1862 may shed light on the thousands of other soldiers who eventually volunteered to fight, but did not jump at the call in 1861. Modern arguments in southern culture are re-examined and used to clarify personal motivation for military service in the Confederate Army. The political culture of the citizens of the contributing counties and how that culture influenced hundreds of young men to serve in the Confederate Army is thoroughly examined. While the first part of this study focuses more on the social and cultural history of the men of the Forty-eighth, the bulk of this study is an evaluation of the military history of the regiment. Many accounts, including previously untapped primary sources, are vital in the examination of this regiment's history and its reputation as an effective combat unit.