Dear Gary;
Name DOLES, George Pierce
Born May 14 1830, Milledgeville GA
Died June 2 1864, Bethesda Church VA
Pre-War Profession Businessman, Capt. of Baldwin Blues militia co.
War Service 1861 Capt. in 4th Georgia, May 1861 Col., Malvern Hill (w), South Mountain, Sharpsburg, November 1862 Brig. Gen., commanded Doles’ Bde/D H Hill’s Divn at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, commanded Doles’ Bde/Rodes’ Divn at Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor (k).
Notes His brigade recaptured the Mule Shoe at Spotsylvania.
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Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early C.S.A
Chapter XXXV.--Battles Of Cold Harbor.
[excerpt]
On the 2nd, all the troops on my left, except Heth's division of Hill's corps, had moved to the right, and in the afternoon of that day, Rodes' division moved forward, along the road from Hundley's Corner towards Old Church, and drove the enemy from his entrenchments, now occupied with heavy skirmish lines, and forced back his left towards Bethesda Church, where there was a heavy force. Gordon swung round so as to keep pace with Rodes, and Heth co-operated, following Rodes and taking position on his left flank. In this movement there was some heavy fighting and several hundred prisoners were taken by us. Brigadier General Doles, a gallant officer of Rodes' division, was killed, but otherwise our loss was not severe.
[end of excerpt]
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Confederate Military History, Vol. 6
CHAPTER II.
[excerpt]
The Twenty-first (Georgia), was one of the regiments commanded by the gallant General Doles, who fell at the second battle of Cold Harbor.
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The Virginia Campaign Of '64 And '65
Chapter VI.--Passage Of The Pamunkey River--Totopotomoy And Cold Harbor.
[excerpt]
Cutler and Crawford held the long line from Bethesda Church to Smith's right. Griffin's division was massed at Bethesda Church, but as soon as Early's movement was discovered it was formed in line, Ayres on the left, Dartlett in the centre, Sweitzer on the right, and moved forward under musketry and artillery fire, to the attack of Rodes's division, which had advanced from the Shady Grove Church road. Redes was forced back to the road, and in this encounter lost a gallant officer, Brigadier-General Doles, who was killed.
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Confederate Military History, Vol. 6
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Brigadier-General George Pierce Doles was born in Milledgeville, Ga., May 14, 1830, and was educated in the schools of his native city. Until the opening of the civil war he was an active business man and quiet citizen of Milledgeville, where he was highly esteemed for his integrity and many good qualities of head and heart. Being somewhat fond of military affairs, he was for some time a member of the Baldwin Blues, one of the crack companies of Milledgeville, and in 1861 its captain. When it was certain that there would be war, he and his command offered themselves to Governor Brown, were accepted, and in May assigned to the Fourth Georgia regiment and ordered to Virginia. Of this regiment Doles was made colonel, May 8, 1861. They were, during the first year of the war, stationed near Norfolk, Va., anxious to get into a battle and very uneasy lest the war should end before they could get a chance at the enemy. There were many others in the Confederacy who felt the same way, not in a spirit of bluster or bravado, but because they were really eager to serve their country and to prove their devotion to the cause of the South. When 1862, the year of battles, opened, Doles and his brave men soon found plenty to do. Those who followed the fortunes of the army of Northern Virginia lacked no hardship or danger, and had a wide field on which to manifest the qualities of heroes. Well did Doles and his Georgians stand this test; they were never found lacking on any field. Gen. R. S. Ripley, in his report of the battles of South Mountain and Sharpsburg, speaks of the gallantry of Doles and his officers and soldiers. Gen. D. H. Hill, in his report of the battle of Fredericksburg, alludes to Doles as a "tried veteran and brigade commander," under whose leadership "the men always do well." On November 2, 1862, Doles was commissioned brigadier-general in the provisional army of the Confederate States. At Chancellorsville and Gettysburg he led his brigade in such a manner as to receive the plaudits of his division commander. At length 1864 came, of which, so far as the main armies were concerned, it may be said it was not like 1862, a "year of battles," but a continuous battle with unremitting slaughter. For the armies of Northern Virginia and Tennessee there was hardly an intermission. During this year especially the endurance and steady valor of the American soldier were shown in a manner that astonished the world and won its admiration. Pressed on every side by the overwhelming numbers and bountiful resources of their powerful adversary., there were few Confederate soldiers who lacked steady employment near the flashing of the guns. Part of the time during the Overland campaign, Doles was in command of a division; and, had he lived, beyond doubt he would have won a major-general's commission before the close of 1864. But on the 2d of June, at Bethesda church,
this gallant soldier offered up the life which had from the very first sound of arms been devoted to his country. His loss was sadly felt by the gallant men whom he had led, and by whom he was fondly loved, and in his native city, where he was known as a modest gentleman and earnest Christian, his death was deeply deplored.
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Confederate Military History, Vol. 6
CHAPTER II.
The organization of the Fourth Georgia volunteers was completed April 26, 1861, as follows: Col. George Doles; Lieut.-Col. John J. Matthews; Maj. Charles L. Whitehead; Adjt. Philip Cook; Commissary J. B. Morgan; Quartermaster H. R. Daniels; Capts. B. Cusley (A), Robert S. Smith (B), E. A. Nash (C), George F. Todd (D), J. G. Rust (E), B. R. Mayer (F), George F. · Bartlett (G), Samuel M. Prothro (H), William L. Johnson (I), D. R. E. Winn (K). This regiment served through the war in the army of Northern Virginia, and enjoyed the distinction of giving two brigadier-generals to the Confederate army. Its first colonel, George Doles, became brigadier-general and was killed at Second Cold Harbor. He was succeeded as colonel by Philip Cook, who also became a brigadier-general. There were many other changes in the regiment. Colonel Cook was succeeded by William H. Willis; Lieut. -Col. John J. Matthews by W. T. Gordon, Philip Cook (afterward colonel and then brigadier-general) and David R. E. Winn. Maj. Charles L. Whitehead was followed by William F. Jordan, <cmh6_28>David R. E. Winn, R. S. Smith, Edwin A. Nash, F. H. DeGraffenreid and Wm. H. Willis. When Philip Cook was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, A. J. Roberts became adjutant. Commissary J. B. Morgan was followed by James F. Murphey, and Quartermaster H. R. Daniels by Wm. H. Tinsley. There were also many changes among the captains. Cusley was followed by J. P. Strickland and James H. Weeks; Smith by M. H. Hill and A. C. Gibson; Nash by George F. Todd (died) and A. C. Frost;Rust by Wm. E. Smith and F. H. DeGraffen-reid; Mayer by George S. Carey and James F. Sullivan; Bartlett by Wm. F. Jordan, John T. Lang (died) and C. R. Ezell; Prothro by J. W. Carraker and Wallace Butts; Johnson by William H. Willis; Winn by R. M. Bisel (killed).
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The Virginia Campaign Of '64 And '65
Appendix C.--Organization Of The Army Of Northern Virginia, Commanded By General Robert E. Lee, January 31, 1864.
Doles's Brigade.
Brig. Gen. GEORGE DOLES.
4th Georgia, Col. Philip Cook.
12th Georgia, Col. Edward Willis.
21st Georgia, Col. John T. Mercer.
44th Georgia, Col. William H. Peebles.
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The Virginia Campaign Of '64 And '65
Chapter VII.--Passage Of James River--Assaults Upon The Intrenchments Of Petersburg.
[excerpt]
The object in threatening Washington appears to have been the protection of Lynchburg and the upper part of the Valley of Virginia. It could hardly have been made with
(1) General Early, mentioning the condition of the Second Corps, refers to its heavy loss at Spottsylvania Court House, "where it lost nearly an entire division, including its commander, Major-General Johnson, who was made prisoner." Of the brigadier generals with it at the commencement of the campaign, he says: "Only one remained in command of his brigade. Two (Gordon and Ramseur) had been made major generals; one (G. H. Stewart) hail been captured; four (Pegram, Hays, J. A. Walker, and R. D. Johnston) had been severely wounded; and four (Stafford, J. M. Jones, Daniel, and Doles) had been killed in action. Constant exposure to the weather, a limited supply of provisions, and two weeks' service in the swamps north of the Chickahominy, had told on the health of the men. Divisions were not stronger than brigades might to have been, nor brigades than regiments."
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FOX’S REGIMENTAL LOSSES
CHAPTER XV.
Brigadier-General George Doles “ Bethesda Church.
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That is all I can find in my CW-ROM.
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf  |
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