during the civil war, the alabama cavalry flanked union general sherman and protected his troops' march to the sea.

of the 12 southern states that seceded during the civil war, 7 stated in their secession declarations that the reason that they were seceding was to protect slavery.

in alabama, it is a class b felony to wrestle a bear.

2% of airport luggage is permanently lost. after 90 days, it belongs to the airline, which sells it at the unclaimed baggage center inscottsboro, alabam.

 it's against the law to carry ice cream in your back pocket while walking in alabama.

the 10 states that are most reliant on federal funding, from most to least:

• new mexico
• mississippi
• alabama
• louisiana
• montana
• maine
• tennessee
• south dakota
• arizona
• west virginia

in alabama, if you are sentenced to life in prison, the judge can override the sentence and sentence you to death. alabama is the only u.s. state to allow this.

james buchanan (1791 - 1868), who was president before abraham lincoln, was the 1st gay american president. he had an affair with alabama senator william rufus king and, after king left america to assume his position as ambassador to france, buchanan wrote to a friend:

"i am now 'solitary and alone,' having no companion in the house with me. i have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. i feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when i am sick, provide good dinners for me when i am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection."

buchanan remained a bachelor until his death.