Zimri Shirley was a born in Northport, Alabama, to Moses and Roena Shirley. Moses was a Northport merchant, farmer and the first City Clerk of Northport. At age 18 in late 1861, Zimri enlisted as a private in the 41st Regiment of the Alabama Infantry. The 41st Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in May, 1862. Members of this unit were raised in the counties of Pickens, Blount, Tuscaloosa, Perry, Greene, Washington, and Fayette. After serving in the Department of East Tennessee, the regiment was attached to Hanson's, Helm's, and J.H. Lewis' Brigade. It fought at Murfreesboro, was active in the operations around Vicksburg and Jackson, and participated in the Battle of Chickamauga. Transferred to General Gracie's Brigade, it saw action in the Knoxville Campaign, then during the spring of 1864 moved to Virginia. Here the unit was involved in the engagement at Drewry's Bluff, the Petersburg siege north of the James River, and the Appomattox Campaign. The 41st was organized with 1,250 men (1,434 appear on the rolls), reported 198 casualties at Murfreesboro including its brigadier, and lost another 189 men at Chickamauga (again including its brigadier - Gen. Helm of Kentucky). Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek, and it surrendered with 270 men present for duty.
Captured flag of the 41st Alabama Infantry Regiment
Decimation isn't a strong enough word to describe the slaughter of the 41st Regiment, and Zimri Shirley, after serving as a soldier for most of the war, was wounded at Hatcher's Run in Virginia just weeks before General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. After defying the odds and returning back home to Northport, Shirley married Cherokee "Cherrie" Williamson and went on to have ten children. He joined his brother-in-law, Dr. James Williamson, who had a medical practice in Tuscaloosa, in starting a drug store, which Shirley operated. He became a prominent businessman and served as mayor of Tuscaloosa from 1910-1912. He died at the age of 80, the head of a large family which still has roots in the Northport/Tuscaloosa area.
To locate the final, gather information from the grave marker for Zimri Shirley: N 33 13.1AB W 087 34.9CD A = The third digit in the year of his birth B = The second digit in the date of his birth C = The number of letters in the second word on the first line D = The final digit in the year of his death