11th GA CO. H

Odessa1

Private
Joined
Apr 19, 2022
Greetings!
Im trying to find any roster info from the Gettysburg Campaign for the 11th GA CO H. My 2nd GG fought with this unit, and I want to double check if he was actually present for the Campaign. His name was Henry Harrison Gilliam Preston. ( HHG Preston), he is listed in 1862 and surrendered at appromattox. I have a letter from the wilderness campaign from him, so I cannot imagine he wasnt at Gettysburg. Any information from this regiment would be great. Or any info of what kind of Richmond depot uniforms he would of been issued at he time, ect..

Anything would help, I really appreciate it ..
Thank you
 
Based on his name entry details appearing on the wartime muster roll (@ p. 136) shown at the below link, saw nothing here to indicate that 3rd. Sgt. Preston was not present with Co. H, 11th GA, during the time they were at Gettysburg.


(Also included at the above link is a detailed account of the movements of Co. H, 11th GA, throughout the war - see pp. 139-145).
 
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Greetings!
Im trying to find any roster info from the Gettysburg Campaign for the 11th GA CO H. My 2nd GG fought with this unit, and I want to double check if he was actually present for the Campaign. His name was Henry Harrison Gilliam Preston. ( HHG Preston), he is listed in 1862 and surrendered at appromattox. I have a letter from the wilderness campaign from him, so I cannot imagine he wasnt at Gettysburg. Any information from this regiment would be great. Or any info of what kind of Richmond depot uniforms he would of been issued at he time, ect..

Anything would help, I really appreciate it ..
Thank you


Here's his compiled service record...

There is no surviving muster rolls apparently from mid to late 1863 for the 11th Georgia. His carded records show only a January, 1863 regimental return for that year. There is a May, 1863 receipt for commutation for rations while on furlough.

The regimental history by the veterans of the 11th to 1863, note he was wounded at Second Manasssas, August 30, 1862....


Here's Captain Matthew T. Nunnally and Sgt. Josiah E. Nunnally, of the "Walton Infantry," designated Company H, 11th Georgia Volunteers. Capt. Nunnally was killed at Gettysburg...

1768632254374.webp


1768632868317.webp


By the end of 1862 fancy uniforms were gone...

1768632645768.webp


The veterans, in 1863, mention receiving clothing near the end of 1862...

1768633576833.webp



The 11th Georgia was issued some clothing in February, and the following on May 1st, 1863:

46 Jackets
239 prs. Pants
9 Caps
140 Shirts
129 prs. Drawers
261 prs. Shoes
124 prs. Socks

Then on June 14th they drew:

1 Jacket
188 prs. Pants
4 Hats
151 Shirts
113 prs. Drawers
239 prs. Shoes
4 prs. Boots
67 prs. Socks
3 Blankets


The small number of jacket issues were noted by some students of the records of Hood's Division in keeping with the rest of Hood's Division.

Colonel Fremantle of the British service, a visitor with Lee's Army during the Gettysburg campaign, noted Hood's Division were the least military in dress in Lee's army...

1768634080687.webp


Fremantle noted of Lee's Army generally...

1768634340697.webp


Photographs of corpses of Hood's Division at Gettysburg, near the Rose Farm, show in some cases what look like Richmond Clothing Bureau jackets, with shoulder straps...
1768635356958.webp


and some with wood buttons, common on the Richmond jackets as issued...

1768635025850.webp


1768635074462.webp


Here's a Richmond Jacket worn by a Mississippian of Longstreet's corps at the September, 1863 battle of Chickamauga...

1768635802892.webp


Historians call this the "second pattern" Richmond jacket. Apparently later war jackets omitted the shoulder straps and waist belt loops, etc.

Here's an exhaustive study of a number of Richmond pattern jackets...

Wambaugh & White sells kits or finished garments of the style...
 
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When the 11th GA got to Gettysburg on Jul. 2, it was engaged in heavy fighting around the Wheatfield and suffered heavy casualties. The regiment brought 310 men to the field and lost 40 men killed, 156 wounded and 5 missing - that's a 65% casualty rate. (See https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/georgia/11th-georgia-infantry/#google_vignette ).

Given this high regimental casualty rate, then statistically speaking, thought there was quite a high chance that Sgt. Preston would have ended up as a unit casualty from this engagement, if he were present there. But the brief scant records seen do not seem to indicate that he was a casualty in this period.

In the absence of any evidence showing the contrary, it seems reasonable to believe that he was present with Co. H, 11th GA Infantry, at Gettysburg (and might have got through this action unscathed).
 
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Henry H. G. Preston's service records suggest he might have been at Gettysburg. He was encamped at Orange Court House as of May 17, 1863. But he had suffered a terrible wound at Second Manassas on August 30, 1862, being shot through both thighs, damaging a portion of bone in one of his legs - the brigade surgeon cut the ball out of his leg. He remained on furlough for more than five months, returning on February 18, 1863. One wonders if such a disabling wound made it difficult for him to ever walk long distances again, although it could qualify him for light duty. However, he appears on the March/April 1864 roll as a corporal with the brigade provost guard and was afterwards promoted sergeant and served until Appomattox, which suggests he had recovered, otherwise he would have been discharged for disability long before. In his post-war pension application, he claimed the wound had disabled him ever since, and left his legs substantially useless. Whether his condition deteriorated in the post-war years or he was simply embellishing to obtain more pension money is impossible to assess, but there's no doubt that he was very badly wounded at Second Manassas.

See his pension application from Walton County, Georgia: https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/TestApps/id/281181/rec/612

He was born on April 23, 1842 and died on November 11, 1912, leaving behind a widow, Mrs. Martha E. Preston.
 
Anything would help, I really appreciate it ..
There are 3 entries (one for each rank) for Preston, Henry Harrison Gillam in "The 11th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment 1861 - 1865" by Richard Michael Allen.

Private March 6, 1862. Enlisted at Monroe, Ga., age 19. Residence/Nearest P. O.: Monroe, Ga. Wounded in both legs at 2nd Manassas, Va., August 30, 1862. Regimental Return of December 1862 shows him absent on wounded furlough. Returned to duty February 15, 1863. Appointed 2nd corporal February 1863 – February 1864. Company Muster Roll for March – April 1864 shows him on detached duty with brigade provost guard. Appointed 3rd sergeant June 1864. Muster Roll for July – August 1864 shows him detached with provost guard at brigade headquarters. Surrendered at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. (Born April 23, 1842. Died November 11, 1913. Buried at Preston Cemetery, Good Hope, Georgia.)

Appointed 2nd corporal February 1863 – February 1864. Company Muster Roll for March – April 1864 shows him on detached duty with brigade provost guard. Appointed 3rd sergeant June 1864.

Appointed 3rd sergeant June 1864. Muster Roll for July – August 1864 shows him detached with provost guard at Brigade Headquarters. Surrendered at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. See Private.

there is a endnote that also elaborate a bit on records and who was what but here it is:

**Regrettably, partial, missing and contradictory records within the CSR at the rank of 3rd sergeant make the exact sequence of advancement among sergeants Blasingame, Preston, and Wiley impossible to resolve with absolute certainty. Information shown here is by necessity imprecise and represents an educated guess based on analysis of the information available.
 
Based on his name entry details appearing on the wartime muster roll (@ p. 136) shown at the below link, saw nothing here to indicate that 3rd. Sgt. Preston was not present with Co. H, 11th GA, during the time they were at Gettysburg.


(Also included at the above link is a detailed account of the movements of Co. H, 11th GA, throughout the war - see pp. 139-145).
He had to of been there then. I even have a Air b there and cannot tell how many people I have told my 2 GG was there in the wheatfield. Im glad im not lying to them.
 
Here's his compiled service record...

There is no surviving muster rolls apparently from mid to late 1863 for the 11th Georgia. His carded records show only a January, 1863 regimental return for that year. There is a May, 1863 receipt for commutation for rations while on furlough.

The regimental history by the veterans of the 11th to 1863, note he was wounded at Second Manasssas, August 30, 1862....


Here's Captain Matthew T. Nunnally and Sgt. Josiah E. Nunnally, of the "Walton Infantry," designated Company H, 11th Georgia Volunteers. Capt. Nunnally was killed at Gettysburg...

View attachment 572798

View attachment 572800

By the end of 1862 fancy uniforms were gone...

View attachment 572799

The veterans, in 1863, mention receiving clothing near the end of 1862...

View attachment 572801


The 11th Georgia was issued some clothing in February, and the following on May 1st, 1863:

46 Jackets
239 prs. Pants
9 Caps
140 Shirts
129 prs. Drawers
261 prs. Shoes
124 prs. Socks

Then on June 14th they drew:

1 Jacket
188 prs. Pants
4 Hats
151 Shirts
113 prs. Drawers
239 prs. Shoes
4 prs. Boots
67 prs. Socks
3 Blankets


The small number of jacket issues were noted by some students of the records of Hood's Division in keeping with the rest of Hood's Division.

Colonel Fremantle of the British service, a visitor with Lee's Army during the Gettysburg campaign, noted Hood's Division were the least military in dress in Lee's army...

View attachment 572802

Fremantle noted of Lee's Army generally...

View attachment 572803

Photographs of corpses of Hood's Division at Gettysburg, near the Rose Farm, show in some cases what look like Richmond Clothing Bureau jackets, with shoulder straps...
View attachment 572806

and some with wood buttons, common on the Richmond jackets as issued...

View attachment 572804

View attachment 572805

Here's a Richmond Jacket worn by a Mississippian of Longstreet's corps at the September, 1863 battle of Chickamauga...

View attachment 572807

Historians call this the "second pattern" Richmond jacket. Apparently later war jackets omitted the shoulder straps and waist belt loops, etc.

Here's an exhaustive study of a number of Richmond pattern jackets...

Wambaugh & White sells kits or finished garments of the style...
Wow!!! Cannot thank you enough for this information. I have dug through a lot but obviously not well enough. I figured the muster rolls were missing, but this the best information I have seen. You guys are really awesome!.
 
When the 11th GA got to Gettysburg on Jul. 2, it was engaged in heavy fighting around the Wheatfield and suffered heavy casualties. The regiment brought 310 men to the field and lost 40 men killed, 156 wounded and 5 missing - that's a 65% casualty rate. (See https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/georgia/11th-georgia-infantry/#google_vignette ).

Given this high regimental casualty rate, then statistically speaking, thought there was quite a high chance that Sgt. Preston would have ended up as a unit casualty from this engagement, if he were present there. But the brief scant records seen do not seem to indicate that he was a casualty in this period.

In the absence of any evidence showing the contrary, it seems reasonable to believe that he was present with Co. H, 11th GA Infantry, at Gettysburg (and might have got through this action unscathed).
Thank you, I just wasnt to sure if he was present there during the campain. With his injuries suffered at 2nd Manassas. He had to be present at Gettysburg and made it alive. I guess if he was killed there I wouldn't of been born. I really appreciate all of this information.
 
Henry H. G. Preston's service records suggest he might have been at Gettysburg. He was encamped at Orange Court House as of May 17, 1863. But he had suffered a terrible wound at Second Manassas on August 30, 1862, being shot through both thighs, damaging a portion of bone in one of his legs - the brigade surgeon cut the ball out of his leg. He remained on furlough for more than five months, returning on February 18, 1863. One wonders if such a disabling wound made it difficult for him to ever walk long distances again, although it could qualify him for light duty. However, he appears on the March/April 1864 roll as a corporal with the brigade provost guard and was afterwards promoted sergeant and served until Appomattox, which suggests he had recovered, otherwise he would have been discharged for disability long before. In his post-war pension application, he claimed the wound had disabled him ever since, and left his legs substantially useless. Whether his condition deteriorated in the post-war years or he was simply embellishing to obtain more pension money is impossible to assess, but there's no doubt that he was very badly wounded at Second Manassas.

See his pension application from Walton County, Georgia: https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/TestApps/id/281181/rec/612

He was born on April 23, 1842 and died on November 11, 1912, leaving behind a widow, Mrs. Martha E. Preston.
Just with everyone's information here , I highly believe he was there. My mom met one of Harrison's daughters before she died in 1959 (I believe) and of course my mom was a lite young or never bothered to ask these questions naturally. On his pension record I have read somewhere, you have to have witnesses to your injurys and his captain who was killed in Gettysburg , his brother Sgt. Josiah E. Nunnally was one of the signers along side with another soldier who was wounded in gettysburg. So when soldiers are detached to Provost duty, is that a duty where soldiers with injury end up?. I have a letter from him written during the wilderness campain and he talks about being on Provost duty, and a minie ball went right through his blanket roll that was around him. Couldn't imagine making the march after that leg injury.
 
Just with everyone's information here , I highly believe he was there. My mom met one of Harrison's daughters before she died in 1959 (I believe) and of course my mom was a lite young or never bothered to ask these questions naturally. On his pension record I have read somewhere, you have to have witnesses to your injurys and his captain who was killed in Gettysburg , his brother Sgt. Josiah E. Nunnally was one of the signers along side with another soldier who was wounded in gettysburg. So when soldiers are detached to Provost duty, is that a duty where soldiers with injury end up?. I have a letter from him written during the wilderness campain and he talks about being on Provost duty, and a minie ball went right through his blanket roll that was around him. Couldn't imagine making the march after that leg injury.
From what I understand, being detailed to a provost guard at the brigade level (or higher) would still require him to go on foot. It's not much of a problem when the army was in winter camp, but hard marching could be expected during the campaign season.

A leg impediment would not be much of a factor if one was mounted, perhaps like some couriers, or drove a wagon or ambulance team as a teamster, or else accompanied the wagon trains as a quartermaster sergeant or clerk.
 
Thank you, I just wasnt to sure if he was present there during the campain. With his injuries suffered at 2nd Manassas. He had to be present at Gettysburg and made it alive.
Yes, in the absence of any information saying otherwise, thought it's probably a safe bet that he was present with his unit at Gettysburg and made it through to the surrender in '65.
 
There are 3 entries (one for each rank) for Preston, Henry Harrison Gillam in "The 11th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment 1861 - 1865" by Richard Michael Allen.

Private March 6, 1862. Enlisted at Monroe, Ga., age 19. Residence/Nearest P. O.: Monroe, Ga. Wounded in both legs at 2nd Manassas, Va., August 30, 1862. Regimental Return of December 1862 shows him absent on wounded furlough. Returned to duty February 15, 1863. Appointed 2nd corporal February 1863 – February 1864. Company Muster Roll for March – April 1864 shows him on detached duty with brigade provost guard. Appointed 3rd sergeant June 1864. Muster Roll for July – August 1864 shows him detached with provost guard at brigade headquarters. Surrendered at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. (Born April 23, 1842. Died November 11, 1913. Buried at Preston Cemetery, Good Hope, Georgia.)

Appointed 2nd corporal February 1863 – February 1864. Company Muster Roll for March – April 1864 shows him on detached duty with brigade provost guard. Appointed 3rd sergeant June 1864.

Appointed 3rd sergeant June 1864. Muster Roll for July – August 1864 shows him detached with provost guard at Brigade Headquarters. Surrendered at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. See Private.

there is a endnote that also elaborate a bit on records and who was what but here it is:

**Regrettably, partial, missing and contradictory records within the CSR at the rank of 3rd sergeant make the exact sequence of advancement among sergeants Blasingame, Preston, and Wiley impossible to resolve with absolute certainty. Information shown here is by necessity imprecise and represents an educated guess based on analysis of the information a

Yes, in the absence of any information saying otherwise, thought it's probably a safe bet that he was present with his unit at Gettysburg and made it through to the surrender in '65.
Lucky grandpa, saw some things in his time.
 
This thread is great; like it when questions asked are answered, and with so many who know how to find CW info. No question the soldier in question was one tough dude!
 
I just wanna say thank you to everybody's passion and knowledge. It makes this form the best Civil War forum in my opinion, hands down. Especially the people that don't have all the resources like some of you have. I really appreciate it guys and thank you again
 
Yes, Albert O Johnson - Company C. I've always wondered what kind of injury it was, especially since it was kind of awhile after the battle. He would've been 19... although he lived until 1902.
I wonder if our kin knew each other? Especially during that campaign. I would ask here and see if anyone can help you. They are obviously knowledgeable.
 

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