USA > Georgia > The war-history of Company "C", (Beauregard Volunteers) Sixth Georgia Regiment (infantry) with a graphic account of each member > Part 2
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NOTE .- Howell M. Rose was with the Company at Yorktown in 1861, and a while in 1862: but he was ney- er mustered into service. His name is therefore not inchided in the roll.
ism of the Company. In behalf of the ladies, the flag was presented by Miss Carrie Dinkins, of Houston county, Ga., with appropriate re- marks. In behalf of the Company, the flag was received by Ensign Dr. J. W. Avera. who responded to the rom- arks of Miss Dinkins in a chaste, well- timed speech, in which he took occa- sion to assure the ladies that the flag should never trail in the dust; but that it would be borne aloft in tri- umph on all the battle-fields upon which it might become necessary to unfurl it to the breeze. Nor should the fair donors ever be put to the blush, or ever feel ashamed on account of his manifestation of their conti- dence in the valor of the donors of this high compliment. Whether these as- surances, given by Ensign Avera. were faithfully, of ill kept, we pro- pose to show from the following pages.
Many other toasts and ceremonies were indulged in by other members of the company, and their friends. Hon. Dr. E. J. MeGehee made a very feel- ing farewell address to the Company, which was replied to by Ist. Lieut. Chas. Il. Richardson. Master Chas. G. Gray. Capt. of a company of boys (Fort Valley Cadets) made a speech. renowned for its patriotism and clo- quence. This was replied to, in a spir- ted manner, by Private Thos& Jones.
Although other companies were at the same time being organized in Houston county, the Beauregard Vol- unteers seemed to be the pride and pet of the community. The old men and ladies entered almost unanimously in- to the work of giving to that compa- ny a propitions start into the service. A meeting had been held at the M. E. Church in Fort Valley, by the more prominent citizens of that place and vicinity, and after offering a prayer to Almighty God, invoking divine fa- vor and protection for the members of the company, the following named
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gentlemen made liberal contributions next day, (25th.) The next day to defray the expenses of the company: (26th.) the Regiment was organized. and consisted of the ten companies named and designated in the follow- ing order, viz:
Rev. Geo. W. Persons; Rev. William A. Skellie; Mr. Williamson Mimms; Mr. Miles L. Greene; Col. W. J. An- derson; Mr. Jacob Hiley: Dr. E. J Mc Gehee: Mr. George W. Haslam: Hon. James W. Hardison; Mr. J. J. Clark, and Mr. P. W. Gray. These contribu- tions far exceeded the amount neces- sure to defray the expenses, and these liberal minded, whole-souled men had to be importuned to desist from giving.
Company on the day of its departure. which was participated in by the "Crawford Grays," the invited guests of the Company. The ladies, old and young, applied themselves assiduously. to work some garment, or keep-sake, to present to the Company. When we left Fort Valley. we had enough baggage and trumpery to supply a whole division of troops in actual ser- vice. "This Was perhaps the most gala day connected with the history of Fort Valley, and the largest assemblage, to witness the departure of the " Beauregard Vol- unteers," for the theatre of war, that wer assembled in that town before, on any occasion. Joy, Sorrow, enthusi- asm, patriotism, and tears, were free- ly commingled.
The boys were now brought to the trying ordeal of bidding adien to the loved ones who had to be left behind, and giving to them the farewell-elasp of the hand, and go forth to brave the invading foe now rapidly concentrat- ing his forces along the frontier lines ,of the seceded States. This was gone through with, without the trickle of a tear, down the manly checks of a sin- gle one of this noble little patriot band. In due time the train arrived, and the Company was soon en route for Atlanta, whither it arrived the
"Sidney Brown Infantry;" Cap- tain; William M. Arnold, designated Company "A." "Lookout Infantry;" Captain, John H. Hannah, designat- ed Company .B." "Beauregard Vol- unteers;" Captain, Charles D. Ander- son. designated Company .. C." "Butter Volunteers;" Captain, James M. Newton, designated Company .D.' Crawford Grays; Captain, Wilde C.
l'he ladies prepared a sumptuous din- ner at the Planters' Hotel, for the. Cleveland. designated Company "E."
" Mitchell Independents;" Captain. Edward H. Shackleford. designated Company .. F." ".Butler Vanguards:" Captain. John T. Griffin, designated Company "(." .Baker Fire-Eat- ers:" Captain, Alfred H. Colquitt. designated Company "H." Twigg's Guards;" Captain John W. Barclay. designated Company ".I." *Gilmer Blues;" Captain John T. Lofton, des- ignated Company ".K."
Upon organizing the Regiment. Captain Alfred H. Colquitt, of Com- pany .. Il.," was elected Colonel.
Captain James M. Newton, of Com- pany . D." was elected Lieutenant- Colonel; and Philemon Tracy, Editor of the Georgia (Macon) Telegraph. was elected Major. It is but justice to the Regiment, to state in this con- nection, that this was the first Confed- erate Regiment to tender its services to the Government for three years, or during the existence of the war. On the next day, (27th.,) the Regiment thus organized, left Atlanta for York- town. Va., whither it had been order- ed for duty. Arrived at Yorktown. the 2nd. of June, and temporarily at - tached to a brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Gabriel J. Baines, (of tor- pedo notoriety. ) Our Company was now, in connexion with the balance of the Regiment, assigned a long, la-
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borious task of fatigne duty, fortify- ing Yorktown, against the approaches of the enemy to Richmond, up the Peninsula. With this exception, we remained comparatively inactive dur- ing the remainder of the year, except an occasional tramp down to Big Bethel, to watch the mandenvres of the enemy, which he occasionally dem- onstrated from that quarter. Shortly
after our arrival at Yorktown, Colon- el Colquitt superseded General Raines in command of the brigade, and com- manded it with the rank of Colonel, acting brigadier General, till 1862, when he was commissioned Brigadier General. To this Brigade, we were permanently attached, and so contin- ued until the close of the war.
CHAPTER II. .
WE will now note the changes that . returned home, and enrolled himself occurred in the membership of the with the 57th Regiment, Georgia Vol- unteers, ( Infantry.) In this position he remained to the close of the war.
Company, during this year, with the names of those who died of disease contracted in the service.
Upon the organization of the Regi- ment, as before stated, Ist Lieutenant Charles HI. Richardson, was elected Surgeon; his health failing, he resign- ed, returned home, and after recover- ing his health, organized a company, and went again to the service as Capt- ain in the 5tth Georgia Regiment, (Infantry.) In this position he re- mained to the close of the war. It is but simple justice to Dr. Richardson to state that, during the time he was connected with our Regiment as Sur- Upon the resignation of Ist Lient. Seaborn S. Mimms. Dr. William 1. Greene, not then a member of the Company, was elected to fill his place. He accepted the position. This oc- enrred at the time the Regiment was scourged with the measles. Lieut. Greene assisted Surgeon Richardson in prescribing for, and nursing the sick. There were, at one time, in our Company alone, including sick and convalescents, seventy cases, victims geon, the Regiment passed through that worst of army scourges, the mea- sles. The Regiment was composed principally of young men, who were subject to this fell destroyer. Dr. Richardson was incessant in his ef- forts, day and night, to alleviate the sufferings of the victims, till his health failed, and he resigned at the advice of his friends. He will long be re- membered by those who survived the disease under his skill and untiring to this dread scourge. His health energy in their behalf.
Third Lient. Seaborn S. Mimms, was elected First Lieutenant, to till the vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of Ist Lieut. Charles H. Richard- son. Ile soon resigned this position,
Second Lieutenant Bartlett M. Bateman, wholly disapproving of the course pursued by the Company, mi- der Colonel Colquitt's order for filling vacancies by election, instead of pro- motion, declared the course to be im- precedented, and at varience with good discipline and the Army Regula- tions; whereupon, he resigned, return- ed home, and enrolled himself with the 8th Georgia Cavalry. With this command he remained to the close of the war.
soon failed, and he retired from field service, and was assigned to hospital duty, as Surgeon, in Macon, Georgia.
Upon the organization of the 45th Georgia Regiment, he again volunteer- ed as Surgeon to that regiment. He
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was soon compelled to again retire from field-service, on account of con- tinned ill health. Governor Brown now appointed him Surgeon-General of the 23rd Senatorial District, Geor- gia State troops. This imposed npon Dr. Greene, a high and responsible Inty, which he performed ably and faithfully.
When the Georgia Militia were cal- led into active service in 1864. he again volunteered as Surgeon to the Brd Militia regiment in General C. D. Anderson's Brigade. The Medical department finding him still mable for field service, assigned him to hos- pital duty, where he remained to the close of the war.
Second Sergeant James M. Culpep- per, who had been elected 3rd Lieut., to fill the vacancy caused by the elec- tion of Brd Lientenant Mimms to the office of Ist Lieutenant, was now promoted to the office of Ist Lieuten- ant. And Private Thos. S. Jones was elected end Lieutenant, and Private Emanuel Altman was elected 3rd Lieutenant. His health soon failing, he resigned and returned home. 5th Corporal Jonathan D. Cowart was elected to fill his place. Private John M. Miller was appointed Sergeant-Ma- jor of the Regiment. Orderly Ser- geant William W. Carnes, having been elected to a Lieutenancy in another Command, was transferred. Name of command not recollected. Private Jefferson M. Gray was elected to fill his place. 3rd Sergeant George W. Bateman was discharged on the grounds of his physical disability. He returned again to the company in 1863, and remained with it to the close of the war. 4th Sergeant Amos W. Murray was promoted 2nd Sergeant to fill the vacaney made by the elec- tion of 2nd Sergeant Culpepper to the Brd Lientenancy. 5th Sergeant Isaac N. Vinson was promoted 3rd Sergeant to till the place of 4th Sergeant Mur-
ray, promoted. Private Samuel Fel- der was elected 4th Sergeant. 1st Corporal Joel L. Disker was promo- ted 5th Sergeant. 2nd Corporal Le- onidas Baown, was promoted 1st Cor- poral. 3rd Corporal Hiley was pro- moted 2nd Corporal. 4th Corporal Thomas S. Clark was promoted 3rd Corporal. 5th Corporal Reuben A. Kilby was promoted 4th Corporal, and Private Jonathan D. Cowart was elected 5th Corporal. Brd Corporal Thos. S. Clark died, and Private Bryant Vinson was elected to fill the vacancy. 5th Corporal Jonathan D. Cowart, was elected 2nd Lieutenant, and Private George W. Cheves was elected to till the vacancy.
Privates Solomon Auliman, John. W. Gatling, Robert A. Miller and Samuel Gassett were discharged on account of age and physical infirma- ties. Private William S. Haddock, discharged upon the grounds of phys- ical disability, returned again to the Company in 1864, and remainsd to the close of the war Private F. M. Murray, discharged upon the grounds of physical disability, afterward enter- ed the service with the 52th Georgia Regiment, (Infantry, ) and was killed in battle. Private Spencer R. Sledge discharged on account of physical dis ability, soon after went into the Ma- rine service at Savannah. Ga., where he shortly afterward died. Privates Geo. W. Piles, and George C. Plant were discharged upon the ground of physical disability, but afterward went into the service with the 5th Georgia Regiment, ( Infantry, ) as also did Pri- vate David II. Hiley, who had been similarly discharged. In this position they remained to the close of the war. Private Wiley T. Sledge died at his home in Houston county Georgia. Privates William Hampton, and Wil- liam Young died at Yorktown Virgin- ia, of disease contracted in the service. NOTE .- We omitted to state m
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its proper time and place that Private Geo. M. D. Hunt was elected 3d C'or- poral, and filled the interim between the death of 3d Corporal Thos. S. Clark and his own death, which oc- curred soon after his election. Then private Theophilus Hardison was clee- . ted to fill the vacancy ; he soon died, and Private Bryant Vinson was eler- ted. Also, Private Emanuel Ault- man was elected 3d Sergeant after the discharge of 3d Sergeant Goo. W. Bateman. He filled this place till he was elected ed Lieutenant. Then 5th Sergt. Isaac N. Vinson, was promoted to his place. Also, Privates J. N. Hightower and Edward Dinkins were discharged upon the grounds of physi- val disability. They afterwards uni- ted with the Sith Regiment, Georgia
Volunteers, and remained with it to the close of the war.
Also, that Privates Daniel Vinson and Leavin Vinson. were discharged upon the grounds of physical disabili- ty. Daniel re-entered the service with the 8th Georgia Cavalry. Leavin did not again re-enter on account of con- tinned feeble health.
We will also further note in this connection, that 3d Corporal Thos. S. Clark was the first to die of disease contracted in the service, and Private William Hampton the second. The deaths of all who died of disease con- tracted in the service, occurred sie- cessively as they stand rotated in their proper places, or as nearly so as the facts could be arrived at.
CHAPTER III.
The dawn of this year fond on Company at Yorktown, where it had been on duty the preceding year. The boys, actually almost "spoiling for a fight." The brilliant achievements won by the Confederate arms the pre- vions year inspired them with high hopes for the result of this year. They felt chargrined that they had not been the honored participants in none of the engagements that had won these brilliant achievements. They were therefore anxious to be led against the enemy, fearing lest the war should
close before they could have a chance of fully trying their hands at the tug of war. This fear was shortly after- wards dispelled, as we shall see by tracing events a little further, and a different kind of fear aroused.
After his defeat at Manassas on the 2Ist of July, 1861, the enemy vigor- ously engaged in organizing and equipping a powerful army of 120,000 men under the immediate supervision and command of Gen. Geo. B. Mellel-
lan, to operate against Richmond the enening year. This army was of- ganized at Washington and put in motion on the 8th of March. It was first directed against Gen. Jospeh E. Johnston at Manassas, with a force of not over 30,000, all told. This world- renowned strategist and tactician adroitly withdrew this little army and established it near Richmond, thus "luding the threatened crushing blow. This caused Gen. MeClellan to change his line of operations. His plan was then to approach Richmond by the Chesapeake Bay, up the Peninsula, using the York River as a base. The Peninsula was at that time defended by Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, with a force of not over 11.000. To sup- port these, and check the advance of the overwelbring forces of the enemy now moving upon Richmond, up the Peninsula, Gen. Johnston with the skill and strategy of a General indeed, set himself to work. He concentra- ted all of his available forces, amount-
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ing to about 45,000, at or near York- town. By these rapid movements, and manœuvres of Johnston, together with the inclemency of the weather, and wretched condition of the roads, MeClellan's advance was so retarded that it was not until May that he reached as far as Yorktown. John- sion now evacuated Yorktown and re- tired before his formidable antagonist. Several encounters took placeas John- son, with consummate strategy con- tinned to retire before his formidable antagonist. The most important of these was at Williamsburg. It or- curred on the morning of the 5th of May, just as the sun, with his silver- tinted fingers from behind the castern horizon had gently lifted the pavilion of darkness, and was looming forth his morning brillianey with all of its radiant splendor, that a shot from the Confederate artillery announeed to the enemy that the ground upon which he pressed his hostile fect was sacred, and woald be every inch contested. The micies of death were soon hurling and plunging furiously through the air. while the earth seemed to quake and tremble beneath the lond thin- derings of deep-throated artillery, and a shower of lead fell in torrents all pronad. Our Company was now, for the first time, fully under the enemy's fire. The boys stood like heroes. They met the grim monster death as i were, with a chivalry that would have done honor to the Spartan band at Thermopyl. They shrunk not nor faltered, but pressed onward in the cause they had so gallantly es- poured. Fortunately, we have no Casualties to report. Our Company passed through this terrific scene in- scathed.
This, however, was but the preeur- sor to what soon after transpired, as we shall see by tracing events a little farther. The advance of the enemy Was now considerably checked. He
continned however, to advance slowly, swinging his mighty hosts around, pressing hard upon the Confederate left flank till he reached the right bank of the Chickahominy River. llere on the Bist of May the two armies met in deadly combat and fought the bloody battle known as the battle of the Seven Pines. Our com- mand was placed in position and ordered to make a vigorous assault npon the enemy's center. The charge had to be made up an acelivity dilli- enlt of ascent on account of a dense growth of under-brush. In less time than it takes to pen these lines, ton of our gallant Company lay dead and wounded on the feld. The killed were: 5th Seret. Samuel Felder and Privates Charles M. Coussens and Bur- well T. Jordan. The wounded were: Orderly Sergeant Jefferson M. Gray. 2d Serel. Amos W. Murray. 3d Sergt. Isaac N. Vinson, and Privates Jas. M. Bynum. Ebeneezer W. Turner, Louis D. Rumph and Leonidas P. Sledge. The ; hoek of this terrible battle had the effect to set Mcclellan back for : time. He, however, resumed the ag- gressive, and continued to advance up the Chickahominy to within a few miles of Richmond. In the mean- time, while .Johnston had thus been holding MeClellon in check, and thwarting his plans, Gen. Robert E. Lee had been recalled from the South- (fh sea-coast to assist Johnston in command. and Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson* had been ordered down from
*This appellation, which became so famous, took its origin from a remark made by Gen. Bee a few minutes be- fore he fell in the battle of Manassas. on the 21st July, 1861. While rally- ing his men, who were wavering and likely to falter, he said: "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall." Cien. Jackson's proper name was Thomas John.
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the valley of the Shenandoah. Ile reached the field of action with 15,000 troops just in time to render the assis- tanee so much needed and to parry the blow now aimed at the Confederate Capitol from the enemy's right. The thunder of his guns on the evening of the 20th of June, on the rear right Hank of MeClellan's army, which now stood a straddle the Chiekahominy. was the opening signal of the six day's terrible life and death struggle which now ensned around the Confederate Capitol. The battles that were fought during this ever-memorable struggle of six days duration, were under the direction of Gen. Lee, who had sue -; ceeded to the chief command upon Gen. Johnston being severely wounded at Seven Pines, and were as follows: Mechanicsvilleand Beaver-Dam Creek, the 20th; in these engagements our Company suffered but one casualty, Private Daniel B. Hutto was wounded. Gaines' Mill and Cold Harbor the 27th; at Cold Harbor our Company suffered severely. A recital of the casualties is revolting in the extreme. They are as follows: 2d Lient. Thos. S. Jones; Ist Corpl. Leonidas Brown; and Privates J. W. Avera, Needham Bateman, Louis II. Beddingfield, Thos. N. Clark, John Cooper, John C. Gammage, Hosea Graydon, Benj. F. Hammock, William II. Leading- ham, David R. Odom, Mark Sperry and Ichabod N. Scarborough, were all killed; 2d Corpl. Sam'l H. Hiley, 4th Corpl. Reubin A. Kilby, 5th Corpl. Geo. W. Chceves, and Privates Mathew G. Avera, Thos. Butler, James Clark, Jonathan F. Conssens, William S. Davis, Drewry M. Jack- son. Thos. A. Lowe, William M. Mc- Donald, William Sorrell, Francis M. Stripling and Joseph S. Vinson, were all severely wounded. Private Wil- liam Sorrell lost his right arm which permanently disabled him from fur- ther active service during the war
Ist Sorgt. Ulysses M. Gunn, while bearing his country's flag aloft, fell severely wounded ; his wound was so severe as to permanently disable him from further active service during the war. He will probably never fully recover from it. " He held at the time, the position of Regimental Ensign. Savage Station, the 29th: in this en- gagement our Company took no part, not being present. Frayser's Farm and White Oak Swamp; in these en- gagements our Company, though ter- ribly exposed to the enemy's fire du- ring their entire duration, in which the most heroic daring was displayed on both sides, suffered but one cast- alty worth noting, Private Drewry M. Bateman was killed. Malvern Hill, the 21st of July; in this engage- ment Private William T. Collins Was severely wounded. In this long, and most sanguinary struggle, MeClellan was defeated and his army completely routed. Ile sought and obtained refuge under cover of the heavy metal of his gun-boats at Harrison's Land- ing, on James River. Thus ended the Peninsula campaign as it was called.
The brilliant achievement won by the Confederate arms in this series of engagements, lost to Gen. Mcclellan for a time, the command of the Grand Army of the Potomac. He was re- moved and Maj. Gen. John Pope put in command. This most sanguine officer, after recruiting his army for a time, to use his own language, estab- lished his "headquarters in the sad- dle" and set out against Richmond overland, by way of Manassas, where the Federal army had been so signally defeated under Gen. Irwin MeDowell, in July of the previous year. To meet and repel this threatened invasion. Gen. Lee put his army in motion on the 18th of August. The two armies met on the 30th on the rolling grounds of Manassas, and fought the second great battle which take their
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name after that place. In this battle our Company took no part, onr Brig- ade having been held in reserve. The result of this was another brilliant achievement. The Army of Virginia, as it was now styled, was, with its most sanguine commander, Gen. Pope, completely routed and driven to his fortifications near Washington. This result not being satisfactory with the Federal authorities at Washing- ton, Gen. Pope was displaced and Gen. MeClellan again placed in com-
mand. Elated by his success at Ma- nassas, and for the purpose of pro- visioning his army, Lee now made an aggressive movement into Maryland. Mcclellan followed him. En route several engagements ensued between detachments of the two armies. The most important of these were Boones- boro', or South Mountain, on the 14th of September, and ilarper's Ferry ou the 15th. In each of these engage- ments our Company took an active part, but fortune so ordered it that we suffered no casualties. Two days afterwards, on the 14th, the two en- tire armies became terribly engaged at early dawn of day, in deadly conflict at Sharpsburg, and fought the bloody battle which takes its name after that place. This is known as the great drawn battle between Lee and MeClel- lan, each holding his ground without any decisive result on either side. In this battle our Company suffered most terribly as we shall see. To our Brig- ade was assigned the onerous duty of defending a narrow pass in one of the ranges of South Mountain, through which, if Mcclellan's army was per- mitted to pass, the result would be the utter annihilation of Lee's army. This, of course, was well known to each commander. We boldly stood to the task, while wave after wave, from a vast ocean of living human soldiery. presenting as it were, an unbroken forest of glittering steel, rolled against
us with the force and vehemence of a sliding avalanche down a mountain side. The battle soon grows furious, everything is stilled in the very silence of death, except the fierce battle-cry. the din and clash of arms and the shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying : the elements are envel- oped in a cloud of smoke ascending the mid heavens, friends and comrades are falling on every hand, but no ro- lief for ns, our position must be held or all is lost, we nobly stand to it. gallantly repulsing charge after charge from an infuriated enemy, grown well- nigh frantic over his fruitless efforts to expel us from this coveted strong- hold. Fortunately, nightfall puts an end to this dreadful conflict and we are relieved, carrying with us the prond cognomen of having held our position in the face of all the force and fury that could be brought against 118. Our casualties in this terrible conflict were: Privates James W. Giles, William M. Hartley, Andrew J. Mills and William Hl. Lightfoot. killed: and Privates Lonis F. Ander- son. Henry T. Brookins. Willis T. Odom, John J. Rumph, William F. MeGehce. Corpl. Richard H. Powell, Ist Lieut. James M. Culpepper and 2d Lient. Jonathan D. Cowart. wounded. Capt. Charles D. Ander- son was wounded and taken prisoner. as was also private William F. Me- (chee taken prisoner, who was soon after paroled.
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