LAGRANGE LIGHT GUARDS, Co. B, 4th Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was organized in 1842 under the name of LaGrange Volunteers, with T. C. Evans as captain, and J. S. Herring and Thomas Brown as lieutenants. The arms that they bore were the old flint-lock muskets. In the same year the state of Georgia obtained a supply of the then comparatively new Springfield rifles, and the LaGrange Volunteers were able to exchange their old flint-locks for the new rifles. After the death of Captain Evans, Charles Broome succeeded to the captaincy. In 1850 the name of the company was changed to LaGrange Riflemen with Milton Bacon as captain.
On March 5, 1856, the company was reorganized and incorporated as the LaGrange Light Guards. E. Y. Hill was elected captain, and Abe Rogers and Thomas Scott as lieutenants. This company was not attached to any regiment, and the membership numbered from forty to fifty members.
In 1861 the company was offered to Governor Joseph E. Brown for active service in behalf of the Confederacy. On April 26, 1861, they left LaGrange for mobilization with Robert S. Smith as captain, Miles H. Hill, Gustavus A. Bull, and J. Brown Morgan as lieutenants. They enlisted first for twelve months, and then reenlisted for the duration of the war.
During the war this company had three captains: Robert S. Smith, promoted; Miles H. Hill, resigned; and Allen C. Gibson. The lieutenants were: Gustavus A. Bull, killed; J. Brown Morgan, promoted; Eugenius Ware, killed; James A. Norwood, resigned; Robert C. Humber, retired; Allen C. Gibson, promoted; John T. Gay, killed; William S. Evans; and Robert B. Ridley. This company again tendered their services in the Spanish American War in 1898, but were not accepted as a unit.
WEST POINT LIGHT GUARDS, Co. D, 4th Reg. G. V. I., C. S. A. No data could be found of the original organization of this company. On April 26, 1861, this company left West Point for mobilization at Augusta, Georgia, with John J. Matthews as captain, and L. L. Croft, Wade Hill, William H. Lanier, and George F. Todd as lieutenants. The captains of this company were: John J. Matthews, promoted; George F. Todd, killed; Adam C. Frost, killed. The lieutenants were: Thomas J. Atkinson, died; William C. Cherry, captured; L. L. Croft, resigned; James L. Greer, captured; Wade Hill, resigned; William W. Hulbert, captured; William H. Lanier, killed; O. D. Winston, resigned.
THE EVANS GUARDS, Co. K, 13th Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was named in honor of Gen. Thomas C. Evans of the Georgia militia. It was recruited largely from the east side of the county. It was mustered into service on July 8, 1861. The captains of the company were: James A. Long, promoted; Divany A. Kidd, killed. The lieutenants were: B. F. Curtright; Y. R. Frazier, wounded and captured; C. M. Heard, Jr., resigned; J. D. Hill, promoted; D. L. Owens.
THE BEN HILL INFANTRY, Co. F, 21st Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was named in honor of Benjamin Harvey Hill, Confederate senator. The captains of this company were: John T. Boykin, resigned; Ujanirtus C. Allen, killed; Edward M. Henderson. The lieutenants were: James T. Bagby; D. Eugene Dawson, died; Oliver T. Fears, killed; Jesse B. Haralson; Leroy T. Waller, resigned.
TROUP LIGHT GUARDS, Co. E, 41st Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was sometimes called the Curtright Company. In the Army of Tennessee. The captains were: John C. Curtright, killed; Joseph U. Leonard. The lieutenants were: William W. Cato, resigned for promotion; Robert O. Douglas; Thomas C. Evans; William B. Johnson, promoted; William P. Leslie; John B. Reid; John A. Wright, killed.
FANNIN GUARDS, Co. B, 60th Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was organized by James H. Fannin, who was afterwards colonel of the 1st Regiment of reserves. The captains were: Waters B. Jones, promoted; John McGee, wounded; John Fuller; W. Dawson Burks, killed. The lieutenants were: Thomas J. Caudle; John McGee, promoted.
FERRELL BATTERY, CO. C, 14th Artillery, C. S. A. This company was organized by the captain, Coleman B. Ferrell, and named for him. The lieutenants were: Sidney Moses, William C. Henderson, James M. Truitt and Buck Osburn. The battery served in Montgomery’s battalion under General Roddey.
SALLIE FANNIE REID GUARDS. This company was equipped by Miss Sallie Fannie Reid, a belle of the sixties, and was commanded by Capt. Ben Cameron.
NANCY HARTS. During the Civil War, LaGrange had the unique distinction of having a company of women soldiers, under the captaincy of Mrs. J. Brown Morgan, and who called themselves the Nancy Harts in honor of the revolutionary heroine of Georgia. This company was organized by Mrs. Morgan for the protection of the homes and the children in the absence of the men. In 1865 when a detachment of Wilson’s raiders under the command of Colonel LaGrange rode through the town that bore his name, the Nancy Harts lined up for action, but surrendered on the promise of the diplomatic colonel to spare the city from looting and destruction.
GEORGIA CONSTITUTIONAL GUARDS. This organization was incorporated by the General Assembly of Georgia on February 6, 1850, and was designated as a cavalry troop. No records of its officers and the activities of the troop have been available.
TROUP HUZZARS. In 1890 this troop of cavalry was organized with John M. Barnard as captain, S. D. White, W. J. McClure and J. E. Dunson as lieutenants. Captain Barnard was promoted to major of the battalion, and Thomas J. Thornton was elected as captain.
ROSTER OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. The roster of the Confederate soldiers, which includes the names of many Troup County citizens that served in widely scattered organizations, is arranged alphabetically. It is not complete, but includes all that could be found and identified as Troup County soldiers.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
FOURTH REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. The Fourth regiment was mustered into service on April 26, 1861, and mobilized at Augusta, Georgia. Companies B and D, the LaGrange Light Guards and the West Point Guards were members of this regiment. The principal dates of this regiment:
1861
April 26. Mustered into service.
May 3. Mobilized at Augusta, Ga.
May 30. Arrival at Camp Jackson, Va.
1862
May 8. Advance to the front after one year of training.
May 31. Seven Pines Battle.
June 25. King’s Schoolhouse.
July 1. Malvern Hill.
Sept. 17. Sharpsburg.
Dec. 13. Fredericksburg, Va.
1863
Feb. 9. Retirement to winter quarters at Grace Church.
May 1. Chancellorsville, Va.
July 2. Gettysburg, Pa.
July 6. Williamsport, Md.
Dec. 20. Retirement to winter quarters at Orange.
1864
May 4. Wilderness, Va.
May 10. Spottsylvania, Va.
July 9. Monocacy, Md.
July 11. Advance on Washington, D. C.
July 18. Snicker’s Gap, Va.
Sept. 19. Winchester, Va.
Sept. 22. Fisher’s Hill, Va.
Oct. 19. Cedar Creek, Va.
1865
Mar. 25. Fort Steadman, Va.
April 2. Petersburg, Va.
April 9. Appomattox, Va, the surrender.
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This was the regiment of the Evans Guards, which was Company K of the regiment.
1861
July 8. Mustered into service. Sent to Army of West Virginia.
Dec. Charleston, S. C.
1862
Whitmarsh Island, Ga.
June 25. King’s Schoolhouse.
All other dates the same as the Fourth Regiment.
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This regiment was a part of the Army of Northern Virginia. The Ben Hill Infantry was Company F of the 21st regiment. The muster date was July 9, 1861.
1861
July 9. Mustered into service.
1862
March 22. Kernstown, Va.
June 1. Seven Pines (Fair Oaks).
June 8. Cross Keys, Va. Strasburg, Va.
Aug. 8. Cedar Mountain, Va.
Aug. 30. Second Manassas.
Sept. 15. Harper’s Ferry.
Dec. 13. Fredericksburg, Va.
1863
May 1. Chancellorsville, Va.
July 1. Gettysburg, Pa.
1864
May 5. Wilderness, Va.
May 15. Drewry’s Bluff, Va.
June 3. Cold Harbor, Va.
July 4. Monocacy, Md.
July 22. Kernstown, Va.
July 17. Snicker’s Gap, Va.
Sept. 8. Winchester, Va.
Sept. 22. Cedar Creek, Va.
1865
March 25. Fort Steadman, Va.
April 9. Appomattox, Va., and surrender.
FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This regiment was a part of General Maney’s Brigade of Cheatham’s Division of the Army of Tennessee, and the Troup Light Guards as Company E of the 41st regiment.
1862
March 4. Mustered into service.
Oct. 6. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Oct. 8. Perryville, Ky.
1863
May 16. Baker’s Creek, Miss.
July 4. Vicksburg, Miss. Captured.
July 6. Paroled in exchange.
Nov. 25. Missionary Ridge, Ga.
1864
Feb. 5. Rocky Face, Ga.
June 18. Kennesaw Mountain, Ga.
July 31. Jonesboro, Ga. (Atlanta).
1865
Feb. 18. Columbia, S. C.
March 14. Kinston, N. C.
April 26. Greensboro, N. C. Surrendered.
This regiment was combined with the 43rd and some other units to form the 40th Battalion, and as such surrendered at Greensboro.
SIXTIETH REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This regiment was composed of the Fourth Battalion of Georgia and some scattered units, one of which was the Fannin Guards, Company B of the 60th regiment. The records of this regiment are very imperfect and exact dates cannot be given.
1862
April. Mustered in service to Lawton’s Brigade.
June 1. Seven Pines, Va. White Oak Swamp, Va.
Aug. 30. Second Manassas.
Dec. 13. Fredericksburg, Va.
1863
Mary’s Heights.
July 2. Gettysburg, Pa.
1864,
May 4. Wilderness, Va.
Sept. 19. Winchester, Va.
1865
April 2. Petersburg, Va.
April 9. Appomattox, Va., and surrender.
FOURTEENTH ARTILLERY, C. S. A. This battalion of artillery was composed of seven companies, among which we find Ferrell Battery as Company C. It served the Army of Tennessee during the year 1862, after which the companies were scattered, and the battalion was not preserved as a unit. Ferrell Battery was attached to General Roddey in Mississippi, and afterward retreated by the way of Selma, Alabama. At Opelika, Alabama, one part of the company was sent to Columbus, Ga., and the other part was engaged in the battle of West Point on April 16, 1865, two of whom were killed in that engagement: Robert Hamlin and Henry Moore.
SOLDIERS OF FORT TYLER. The number of defenders of Fort Tyler has been variously stated in a wide range of difference, it was probably one hundred and twenty-one. The force consisted of young boys under the draft age, older men above the draft age of fifty-five years, convalescent soldiers on furloughs from wounds or sickness, fourteen men of Point Coupe Battery of Louisiana, a few of Waites South Carolina Battery, and a portion of Ferrell Battery under Lt. William C. Henderson. Many of them were without uniforms to designate them as soldiers. Some of the young boys, after the white flag of surrender was raised, discarded their arms, and in the confusion nonchalantly walked off, pretending to be merely curious onlookers at the ceremony of surrender. Some were not in the fort, but were with the sharpshooters at some remote point in hiding and in that way escaped capture. The number taken as prisoners was stated to be sixty-four. The number killed was nineteen including General Tyler, and the number of severely wounded was twenty-eight.
I have come by a copy of a letter dated 7 Nov 1861, written at Camp Harrison, and a Muster Roll of the Sallie Fannie Reid Gurads, showing B.T. Cameron as the Captain of the Sallie Fannie Reid Guards.