Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 18

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I > Part 18

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A deed of heroism something similar to the gallant act of Jasper at Fort Moultrie, in revolutionary times, occurred during the fiercest fire of this heavy cannonading. Amidst the bombardment of the second day, while the air was thick with bursting shells, and solid shot were pounding the tottering walls, the colors of the garrison were torn down by a Federal shot that severed the staff. Seeing their flag fall, Lieut. Hussey, of the Montgomery guards, and Private John Latham, of the Washington volunteers, leaped upon a parapet, and amidst the hail of deadly projectiles raised the colors with their own hands upon a gun carriage, and there unfurled them with an heroic courage that was worthy of brave men of every country and all ages.

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The fort was lost, but its fall only stimulated the Georgians to increase their remaining means of defense. The islands, with all their outer defenses were given up, and as the mainland was easily accessible, new fortifications were built at all points. In anticipation of the reduction of Fort Pulaski by the Federal forces, and the movements made possible afterward, all persons near the coast liable to military duty were ordered into service by the governor, and Gen. Jackson was required to enforce the order. The volunteer companies of Savannah were strengthened, and a general increase of the local force occurred. During all this period, when the coast was under threat of invasion, the state had the services of not only its "war governor" and his staff, but from time to time the presence of Lee, Beaure- guard and Pemberton, all experienced army officers and military engineers. Brig .- Gen. A. R. Lawton, commanding the coast line, and Gen. Mercer, at Savannah, as we have seen, were the first officers in charge at the beginning of hostilities. Maj .- Gen. Henry R. Jackson, with his adjutant-general, Col. Charlton Way, com- manded the Georgia division of six-months' troops, composed of three brigades commanded by Gen. W. H. T. Walker, Gen. George P. Harrison, and Gen. F. M. Capers, and it was by the work of this division that new and elaborate fortifications were constructed under direction of Gen. Boggs, a most competent military engineer officer. The division had been of great service in preventing any raid upon the borders of the state by such forces as might be tempted to land from the ships and had been drilled under good officers. Its arms, as well as its quartermaster and commissary stores were ample, and of the best quality, and in all respects it had become one of the finest body of troops in the service. "The works around the city of Savannah will relate to posterity the skill, intelligence, energy and patriotism of the state troops of 1861 and 1862." And now came a pressure under the con- scription law for the service of these men in Virginia. Their term of enlistment was nearly expired, and the Federals were making no further decided demon- stration against well-fortified Savannah. Gen. Jackson suggested that they be tendered as an organized division, after re-enlistment, for the war. The governor had desired that these disciplined state troops should be protected from individual conscription, but telegraphed, April 15, 1862, to the secretary of war: "I propose to turn over the troops who yet remain at service with the responsibilities to you immediately on such manner as may be most agreeable to the president." 'On the next day the command of Gen. Jackson expired, and the brigadier-generals were directed to report to Gen. Lawton. Gen. Jackson parted with his division by a farewell order, in which he touchingly said: "While he confesses to a keen disap- pointment in the disorganization of his command before it had encountered an enemy in battle, he feels strengthened by the conviction that wherever, and under whomsoever, its elements may be called into action, they will exhibit, not only the heroism of Georgians fighting for their liberty, but the force and efficiency of drilled and disciplined soldiers." In a message to the legislature, November, 1862, Gov. Brown says in reference to this gallant officer: "It is but justice to Maj .- Gen. Jackson that it be remarked that he has with untiring energy and consummate ability pressed forward the preparation of the defenses and the training of the army, and that the people of Georgia owe much gratitude to him for the safety of the city of Savannah and its present freedom from the tyrannical rule of the enemy."

THE STATE ARMY.

The "state army," as the governor chose to call the troops assembled by his special call, became incorporated with the general Confederate line, and the regi- ments were rapidly distributed through the armies of Lee and Bragg, where they

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increased the luster already glowing round the soldiery from Georgia. Gov. Brown, as their commander-in-chief, says in his message: "I feel it a duty which I owe to the gallant officers and brave men who composed the state army to say that they were at the time of the transfer as thoroughly organized, trained and disci- plined, as probably any other body of troops of equal number on the continent who had not been a much longer time on the field. While they regretted that an opportunity did not offer to show their courage and efficiency upon the battlefield, they stood like a bulwark of strong arms and stout hearts between the city and the enemy, and by their chivalrous bearing and energetic preparation, in connection with the smaller number of brave Confederate troops near, saved the city from attack and capture without bloodshed and carnage."

Notwithstanding the gloomy advent of 1862, the year closed with somewhat brightening prospects for the Confederates. Georgia still held its territory untouched, except a few islands occupied after the fall of Fort Pulaski. The state had in the field of infantry, cavalry, and artillery about 75,000 men, and its troops had fought through all the great battles in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Already a large number had been slain in battle or tortured by wounds. Hospitals had multiplied, millions of money had been spent, and the stress of war was felt everywhere. Within the boundaries of the state 8,000 Georgians had been under arms as state troops in actual service, and over $2,000,000 had been expended in state defense, besides $2,500,000 paid into the Confederate treasury. Confederate money depreciated three to one, and all articles of produce and merchandise rose correspondingly high in price.

The legislature sitting in November and December enacted many important war measures, among them a law forbidding cultivation of cotton beyond three acres to each field hand, in order to encourage the increase of grain and meat. Cotton cards to be used in the homes of the people for domestic cotton spinning became a great want, and the manufacture and sale of them was regarded of such importance as to authorize an appropriation of $100,000 for that purpose. The governor was requested to buy salt to the amount of $500,000 and have it sold to the people at nearly the cost. As a further step to prevent waste and secure supplies of food the distillation of corn into whisky was forbidden. Clothing for troops was ordered to be supplied by an appropriation of $1,500,000, and $1,000,000 was set apart for a military fund. The families of the deceased and disabled soldiers were afforded support to the sum of $2,500,000. A benevolent society having been perfected, called the Georgia Relief association, the legislature donated $400,000 toward its support. Manufactures of shoes, hats, blankets, medicines, arms and ammunition were fully encouraged by public and private aid. These large appro- priations of money, amounting to over $6,000,000 in one year, were readily made by the legislature in 1862, and accepted with patriotic willingness by the people. Georgia placed its all on the altar. Suffering and loss of life had already been appalling, but the state did not falter. At this date, when less than two years of war had passed, there were 500 totally disabled soldiers and a far greater number of widows and little children to be provided for. The men were at the front in numbers almost equal to the voting population, and the people at home were nearly all employed in sustaining the army.

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

The next prominent and significant event of the war occurred when the president of the United States celebrated New Year's Day, 1863, by issuing the celebrated

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emancipation proclamation, by which he declared that the negroes of the south were no longer subject to their owners. The news spread rapidly throughout the state, producing, however, no effect upon the relations existing between the white and colored races. Some apprehension was felt that the negroes would be tempted by Federal rewards to insurrection, and that the state military would be required to suppress outbreaks. But the negroes manifested no disposition to disturb the peace. History will record to their praise that while actual war was pending on the soil of Georgia they quietly awaited the issue of the fiery struggle between the south and the north. Entire communities of women and children were left in their charge, while all able-bodied white men were away on the battlefield, and the trust was faithfully kept. Instances of criminal acts were so rare that at this period none are recalled, and while this fidelity is proof of the peaceful character of the negro, it is also evidence for their owners that slavery had produced no personal hostilities between the two races in Georgia, and that the treatment of the negro by his owner under the law had been such as to maintain between them personal attachment and mutual confidence. Many negroes accompanied their owners to the seat of war, not to take part in battle, but to serve in semi-military duties with- out exposure to danger. Some of them marched in Maryland and Pennsylvania with the armies of Lee, voluntarily returning, although they might have remained in the free states without hindrance. They are still proud of the conduct of their race in those days of anxiety and peril.

The proclamation of President Lincoln, however, was regarded in Georgia as a strictly political war measure, designed to place the cause of war distinctly upon the sole question of slavery, for an effect to be produced upon foreign countries, and with the purpose of making use of negroes as soldiers in the Federal army. The issue of negro freedom had not been distinctly made until this proclamation created it. Hitherto it had been understood that at the furthest the Federal authorities would insist only on restriction of slavery to the limits where it already existed, and a gradual emancipation upon payment of the value of slaves held at the beginning of the war. But now it was settled that the United States proposed to enforce by arms an instantaneous emancipation without compensation.

FORT M'ALLISTER.

From this political war measure we turn to the gallant defense of Fort McAl- lister in March, 1863, one of the illustrious war incidents which marked the spirited resistance made by Georgia people against invasion. This fort, built at the mouth of the Ogeechee river, was a low earthwork, consisting largely of sand thrown up in parapets, which proved to be an excellent protection, and at this time it was under the command of Maj. Gallie with a small garrison. Several times its reduction had been attempted with failure, and now again seven Federal ships, among which were a number of monitors, steamed up into position to renew thc attack on the devoted stronghold. For eight hours the fort was furiously bom- barded, and the fire was returned with spirit. Maj. Gallie was killed early in the fight, and Capt. Anderson assuming the command, heroically continued the defense. The sand parapet walls drank up the shots which plunged into their sides, and infolded the fragments of exploded shells, while the Federal gunboats were so skillfully battered from the guns of the fort that prudence demanded their with- drawal from the unsuccessful attack. The splendid defense brought great honor to the little garrison from all quarters, and the commanding general sent flattering commendations of their heroism in orders authorizing the defenders to celebrate

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the victory by placing upon the flag of the fort the words: "Fort McAllister, March 3, 1863."

EVENTS OF 1863.

The legislature assembled by special proclamation of the governor in March, discussed with serious earnestness the difficulties which beset the state. It was becoming evident that suffering would grow intense. The state had been drained of its fighting men, the blockade had become strict, and cotton could not go out for sale, nor goods come in except by occasional desperate ventures in "running the blockade." Senator Ben. Hill came from Richmond to Georgia and addressed the legislature in a patriotic and impassioned speech, in which, with his wonderful eloquence, he discussed the recent conscript law, as well as the general situation of affairs. The conscript law, passed April, 1862, by the Confederate congress con- tinued to be unpopular. It was declared that the state was already sending its volunteers, and would continue to do so, without this measure, and the appeal to patriotism was believed to be more effective than the resort to legal conscription. Mr. Hill had voted against the measure in congress, but after it was passed into law he urged the legislature with great force to co-operate with the Confederate congress and make the act effective. The governor also believed the law to be unwise and unnecessary, but he responded to every requisition made by the secretary of war. The president had written in June, 1862, to Gov. Brown: "I take great pleasure in recognizing that the history of the past year affords the amplest justification for your assertion that if the question had been whether the conscript law was necessary to raise men in Georgia, the answer must have been in the negative. Your noble state has responded to every call that it had been my duty to make on her, and to you personally as her executive I acknowledge my indebtedness for the prompt, candid, and effective co-operation you have afforded me to defend the country against the common enemy."

Under all these circumstances volunteers continued to go to the field of active operations, filling up the broken ranks of the old regiments, the new companies were likewise raised for the war and forwarded into service. The supply of muni- tions of war and general equipment required the establishment of manufactures to be managed by competent officers, and these were constructed and maintained at Macon, Columbus, Milledgeville, Augusta and other points. The chiefest of these were the foundry and powder works built and managed by Gen. George W. Rains, who was assisted by Col. Shaler, a highly accomplished civil and military engineer. Gen. Rains was one of the ablest among the scientific soldiers of the army, and conducted the manufacture of munitions at Augusta with such great success as to furnish a very large supply of powder and equipment for the armies of the Confederacy. The powder works at Augusta contributed an imposing array of buildings, above which towered the tall brick chimney that has been preserved as a conspicuous monument of Confederate times.

During the latter part of April, 1863, the Federal Col. Streight made a daring attempt with a cavalry force of 1,500 men to ride to the rear of Bragg's army, then in lower Tennessee, and not only to destroy Confederate supplies in northern Georgia, but also to cut off Bragg's communications. Streight marched from Tuscumbia, directly toward Rome, where a large amount of stores were in depot, which he hoped to capture and destroy. Forrest becoming quickly advised, started with a small force then immediately at hand to intercept him, and also summoned Col. Roddy with his command to engage in the pursuit by another course. Riding rapidly, Forrest came in contact with Streight at Day's Gap, and gave him imme- diate battle, but as it was Streight's purpose to raid rather than waste his force in

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battle, he merely met the brunt of Forrest's charge and withdrew toward Rome, but for three days he was pursued day and night and hotly attacked by Forrest at every opportunity. Streight was driven from his second stand at a mountain pass, and pushed on toward the Georgia line, only to be overtaken next day at Black Creek, where, after heavy skirmishes, he succeeded in crossing upon a wooden bridge which he burned at once, and placed the deep and rapid stream between his command and pursuit. Forrest found it impossible to ford the creek at that point, and was seeking some other place to cross when a handsome girl of the south, Emma Sanson, coming from her home, told him that she knew of a ford near by, and said, "I would guide you if I had a horse, but the Yankees have taken all we owned." Gen. Forrest offered her his thanks, and courteously requested her to mount behind him and direct him to the place. The patriotic girl answered, "I will go with as brave a man as Gen. Forrest," and springing on the horse behind him, and followed by a courier, soon conducted Forrest to a bend in the creek where there was an old ford which cavalry could use. When the little party dismounted and approached the creek they were fired upon by a picket from the opposite bank, and as the balls whistled by them the brave girl placed herself in front of Forrest, and said, "Stand behind me, general, and they won't dare to shoot." But Forrest could not accept such costly protection, and gently requested her to screen herself behind the roots of a fallen tree until he could reconnoiter the ford. The intrepid girl, however, would not stay under shelter, and several balls came cutting the ground around her feet, and some of them actually passing through her skirts, she lifted her sunbonnet and waved it defiantly toward the foe. The gallant cavalry in blue ceased firing, raised their caps, and gave her three hearty huzzas as she retired out of sight. Forrest at once brought his artillery into play across the ford, and drawing off the detachment, crossed his command in a few hours, and once more hurried after the Federal force. Two or three times Streight stood and skirmished, but after each battle made away toward Rome. On the morning of May 3, Forrest, with his command reduced to about 500 men, overtook Streight again and forced a pitched battle, which he managed by a show of strength, completely deceiving his antagonists, who outnumbered him nearly three to one. At the "white heat of battle" Forrest audaciously dispatched an officer to Streight demanding immediate and unconditional surrender of his whole force. Streight parleyed a very short while, but Forrest with an impatient declaration that he could wait no longer, sent couriers and staff officers to a number of imaginary batteries and to four supposed regiments of cavalry to form line and prepare for battle. Forrest had in fact only two field pieces and a fragment of a regiment, but his staff and couriers dashed off impatiently to convey his orders as he had given them. "Within ten minutes," said Forrest, "the signal gun shall be fired and the truce will end." Whereupon Streight surrendered his entire force of 1,500 men prisoners of war. The capture of this strong command by Forrest, "the wizard of the saddle," as he came to be called, excited the loftiest praises from Confederate and Federal alike. It rescued Rome from invasion, saved the foundry, machine shops and supplies, and left Bragg's communication in a secure position.

About this date, Georgians were illustrating their state in the battles of Baker's creek, and on to Vicksburg on the west, and around Chancellorsville in Virginia, and at Gettysburg. The state itself was also sufficiently threatened to require a call by the president for the organization of a special military body, to be styled Home guards, and on his call in July for 8,000 men for that purpose, the state responded with 18,000. This body was composed of men not yet in the Confed- erate army, and Maj .- Gen. Cobb was assigned to the command and entered upon his duties in September, with Gen. Jackson commanding the department at

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Savannah, and Gen. Iverson commanding another, with headquarters at Rome. And now the alarmed attention of Georgia was turned in the latter part of the summer of 1863 to the advance of the Union forces under Rosecrans through Tennessee toward the northern counties of the state. Bragg, after fighting the battle of Perryville, December, 1862, withdrew to Murfreesboro, where he was pursued and so vigorously attacked by Rosecrans, that notwithstanding the heavy slaughter of the Federals, he was forced back to Shelbyville. From this position he was also flanked and withdrew to Chattanooga, in June, 1863, where Rose- crans followed, and by the last of August occupied Stevenson and Bridgeport. During these movements of Rosecrans against Bragg, another large Federal force, commanded by Burnside, drove Buckner's little army from Knoxville, Tenn., and pressed it back into Georgia, while Rosecrans, detaching Crittenden's corps, sent it through Sequatchie valley to attack Buckner in the rear, and also ordered Thomas' corps across Lookout mountain into McLemore's cave, thus threatening Chattanooga, but hazarding his army by a separation of his forces. Moving his command from Chattanooga, Sept. 7, 1863, the Confederate commander formed his line of battle, chiefly along the road from La Fayette to Lee and Gordon's mills, the right lying between Graysville and Ringgold, upon the Western & Atlantic railroad. In this position he covered the country and held the passage through which the Federals must march in invading the state from Chattanooga. Within two days after Bragg's departure the army of Rosecrans occupied that city, and was then advanced by separate corps upon the Confederate position. These movements of the two armies soon brought them into close contact, and consequently there was severe skirmishing by infantry pickets, and short but fierce encounters occurred between cavalry all along the line between Ringgold and La Fayette for many days. On Sept. II, Catoosa Springs was the scene of a bril- liant cavalry contest, in which the Confederate cavalry were driven back to Tunnel hill, where they made a successful stand. On the same day the gray and blue met as mounted men near Ringgold, when the Confederates beat their adversaries back into the little city, and then with a dashing charge, led by Forrest in person, drove them in disorder from the place. A few days later a body of Michigan cavalry stationed at Reed's bridge for its defense crossed a part of the command to make a reconnoissance, but their advance was watched by Confederate cavalry concealed in the woods, who opened fire with two pieces of artillery, and cutting them off from the bridge, stampeded them down the river to a ford, through which they escaped, and at the time dashing across the bridge, drove back the entire detachment.

CHICKAMAUGA.

These stirring preliminaries in which the Confederate and the Union soldiers toyed with the dangers of the field, in equally conspicuous gallantry, brought on the great historic battle of Chickamauga. The meager official records show the following organization from Georgia in Bragg's army at the date of that battle:

Cheatham's Division .- Second Georgia cavalry battalion, Gen. J. K. Jackson's brigade, First Georgia battalion, Maj. J. C. Gordon; Fifth Georgia regiment, Col. C. P. Daniel; Second Georgia battalion sharpshooters, Maj. Whitely.

In Cleburne's and Breckinridge's Division-Gen. M. A. Stovall's brigade, Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty-seventh Georgia regiments.

In Walker's Division-Gist's brigade, Forty-sixth Georgia, Col. P. H. Colquitt, and Eighth Georgia battalion, Lieut .- Col. Napier; Wilson's brigade, Twenty-fifth Georgia regiment, Col. A. J. Williams; Twenty-ninth Georgia regiment, Lieut .- I-9

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Col. McRae; Thirtieth Georgia regiment, Col. J. S. Boynton; First Georgia battalion sharpshooters, Maj. Shaff; Howell's battery, Capt. E. P. Howell.

In Stewart's Division-Bates' brigade, Thirty-seventh Georgia regiment, Col. Rudler; Fourth Georgia battalion sharpshooters, Maj. Caswell; Dawson's battery and Company E, Ninth Georgia artillery battalion.

In Preston's Division-Kelly's brigade, Sixty-fifth Georgia regiment, Col. Moore; Peeples' battery, Capt. Tyler M. Peeples; Wollikins' battery, Capt. A. N. Wollikins.

In Longstreet's Corps, Hood Commanding-Wofford's brigade, Sixteenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth Georgia regiments, Second battalion sharpshooters; Cobb legion and Phillips legion; Bryan's brigade, Tenth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first and Fifty-fifth Georgia regiments; Benning's brigade, Second, Fifteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Georgia regiments; Harris' battery and Massenbury's battery.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 18

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1294

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294