18th Georgia Infantry

[lelliott19]

Received the 18th Georgia book I posted about above. Looks very well researched and from what little I have read it reads very well.

The book is 636 pages - not including the Dedication, Acknowledgements, Preface and Introduction.

There are 65 pages of footnotes. The book does not include a roster.

Brigadier General McAbee USMC draws on his own combat experience to speak to subjects such as: What constitutes greatness in a military organization? Why do men continue to fight, even against great odds? and morale in the military. It is easy to read and he has even woven in a bit of humor at appropriate places. Overall, I like very much what I have read so far.

You can preview the book here:
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?li...Id=2CWPWWF78HPSD1GTA5M3&reshareChannel=system

 

[Chattahooch33]

Received the 18th Georgia book I posted about above. Looks very well researched and from what little I have read it reads very well.

Leaving for Gettysburg tomorrow morning... may have to order it and have it delivered to the hotel.

 

[Chattahooch33]

The book is 636 pages - not including the Dedication, Acknowledgements, Preface and Introduction.

There are 65 pages of footnotes. The book does not include a roster.

Brigadier General McAbee USMC draws on his own combat experience to speak to subjects such as: What constitutes greatness in a military organization? Why do men continue to fight, even against great odds? and morale in the military. It is easy to read and he has even woven in a bit of humor at appropriate places. Overall, I like very much what I have read so far.

You can preview the book here:
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?li...Id=2CWPWWF78HPSD1GTA5M3&reshareChannel=system

Wish it had a detailed roster.

 

[lelliott19]

Wish it had a detailed roster.

If every Georgia regimental included a detailed roster, I'd agree with you. My problem with rosters is that most of them occupy space by reprinting Lillian Henderson's - which (I'm sure we can all agree) is wrought with errors and omissions. If all the author is going to do is reprint LH, then it seems like an awful waste of good space to me. Of course, rosters sell books. Libraries purchase the books with rosters for their genealogy resources and everyone hopes to see his/her ancestor's name in a roster. I wish I could just provide a link in the book to a truly detailed and searchable online roster, which I could update regularly. I feel like that would be so much more useful, not t mention a much better use of the 112 pages.

 

[Jek Danson]

Hello all!
I'm new here. I've been trying to dig up any info on Company E. My Great x3 Grandfather was PVT. Martin Arnold. So far, I've only found that he was wounded at Antietam, captured at Sailor's Creek, and released at Newport News. I would love to have a photo, but no one in the family has any. Is there a list of which battles Company E participated in? My wife and I are planning a battlefield trip and I'd like to visit those sites.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Legion Para]

Welcome Jek to the forum. The following website will show you the Campaigns and Battles which the 18th Georgia participated in.

http://www.angelfire.com/va3/southernrites/18thga.html

 

[lelliott19]

Hi @Jek Danson Welcome to CivilWarTalk - the best place on the internet for Civil War discussion! Happy to have you aboard. I sent you a PM with a list of the major battles in which the 18th GA was engaged - it's quite a list. You'll likely have to make several trips to see them all.

Martin Arnold enlisted as a Private at Camp McDonald June 11, 1861 for 3 years. He was present for Company Muster Rolls dated Oct 2-31, 1861; Nov/Dec 1861; promoted to 4th Corporal Dec 13, 1861. Present Jan/Feb 1862; July/Aug 1862.

He was wounded in the head at Sharpsburg September 17, 1862 and admitted to General Hospital No. 8 Richmond, Va on September 28, 1862 (back then it took a long time to transport the wounded from Maryland to Richmond.) He was furloughed Oct 10 or 12, 1862 for 30 days.

By March/April 1864 he returned and is listed as present on Company Muster Rolls Mar/April 1864; May/June 1864; July/Aug 1864. He evidently lost his rifle prior to the Battle of the Wilderness? (Ill have to check my notes to see what was happening on May 2) He was assessed a $20 stoppage against his pay for the rifle. He was captured at Burkeville during the Battle of Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865 along with most of the rest of the Regiment and most of the Brigade.

Ordnance Office
Wofford's Brigade
May 2, 1864
Commanding Officer Co "E" 18th Ga Regiment
You are hereby notified to deduct from the wages of Martin Arnold of your Company <illegible> assessed by a Board of Survey upon one Rifle $20.00
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Svt <Your Obedient Servant>
A J McMurry
Lt and Ord Officer <Lieutenant and Ordnance Officer>
Wofford's Brigade

 

[Legion Para]

Feed them the steel! Being the Wartime Recollections of Capt James Lile Lemon, Co A, 18th Georgia Infantry CSA

 

[Legion Para]

 

[Legion Para]

 

[Tom Elmore]

General Catalogue of the Centre College of Kentucky, 1890, p. 160, necrology:

1848 (graduate), John Aaron Crawford. Son of John and Martha Crawford. The father was a native of Greenville District, S.C., the mother of Laurence District, S.C. Born July 24, 1824 in Laurence District, S.C. He was prepared for college at Cassville, Ga., to which place his parents had moved. On leaving college Mr. Crawford chose the law for a profession, and qualified himself by studying at Cassville. Mr. Crawford entered the Southern army during the Civil War as Captain of Company K, Eighteenth Regiment Georgia Volunteers, and rose to the rank of Colonel. He took part in the battles of Yorktown, Seven Pines, Second Manassas and Sharpsburg, where he was severely wounded. Having recovered, he rejoined his command, and was present at the fight at Gettysburg, where he was again wounded. At the close of the war he returned to Cassville, and went to farming, which occupation employed him until his death. Besides his military service Mr. Crawford was a member of the Legislature of Georgia for two years. Died May 24, 1876, from the sting of a honey-bee, living only fifteen minutes after receiving the poison. He was never married.

 

[Stryker65]

I realize this is an older thread, but does anyone know where Colonel Joseph Armstrong of this regiment was at the end of the war? According to Allardice, he was paroled on April 25, 1865 in southern Virginia, but he had been present with his regiment earlier that year, and was not listed as wounded during the then-recent times.

 

[lelliott19]

I realize this is an older thread, but does anyone know where Colonel Joseph Armstrong of this regiment was at the end of the war? According to Allardice, he was paroled on April 25, 1865 in southern Virginia, but he had been present with his regiment earlier that year, and was not listed as wounded during the then-recent times.

Wofford was the original Colonel of the 18th GA and Solon Z Ruff was the original Lieut. Colonel. Joseph Armstrong was original Captain of I/18thGA. Wofford was absent at Fredericksburg and the regiment was commanded by 26 yo Lt Col Solon Z Ruff. Capt. Armstrong was wounded slightly at Fredericksburg. Soon after, Wofford was promoted to Brigadier; Ruff commanded the 18th GA at Gettysburg. Unfortunately, Ruff was killed in the failed assault on Fort Sanders at Knoxville (Nov 29, 1863) and Joseph Armstrong was elected Colonel. Somewhat ironically, Capt. Armstrong was spared from the Fort Sanders calamity by diarrhea. He was sent to Georgia and admitted at Ocmulgee Hospital Macon, GA on November 28, 1863. The disastrous assault happened the next day.

But I digress. To your question: Armstrong was reported present with his regiment March 23, 1865 "near Richmond." On April 2 the Confederate line collapsed and Kershaw's division, including Wofford's old brigade (then commanded by Dudley DuBose) and the 18th GA, fell back through Richmond and crossed Mayo bridge. I assume Armstrong was still with them? Making their way south on April 6, they were stopped short at Sailor's Creek. Most of what remained of Wofford's brigade and Kershaw's division were captured at Sailors Creek. About 100 of the 18th GA were captured there.

IIRC only 1 officer and 52 enlisted men of the 18th Georgia escaped capture at Sailors Creek and made it to Appomattox. All of Kershaw's Division - of which the 18th Georgia was a part - was surrendered at Appomattox under Captains and Lieutenants. Lt. Gideon Ignatius Lasseter, commanding the 18th GA, was the highest ranking officer of the regiment present (except Capt. Espy of C.) Wofford's old brigade (what was left of the 16th, 18th, and 24th Georgia, Cobb's Legion, Phillip's Legion and the 3d Battalion Ga Sharpshooters) was surrendered under the command of Captain John Ferdinand Espy of Co C 18th GA.

In his incredibly well-written and deeply researched regimental history, Stubborn Men and Parched Corn, Brig Gen McAbee states (on page 312 and again on page 496) that Armstrong was captured at Sailor's Creek. He cites this to Armstrong's obituary published in Confederate Veteran and family genealogy. However, carded records show Armstrong surrendered at Petersburg on April 15, 1865 and was paroled from there. Another card says he was a Paroled Prisoner "Remaining in Richmond" on April 13, 1865 "On Parole until 10 am April 14, 1865." That's pretty specific. If he was paroled in Richmond until 10am April 14, I have no idea why he was moved to Petersburg and paroled again?

Here are a few possibilities.

1. He remained in Richmond when Kershaw's division passed through and was captured there and paroled April 13? Moved to Petersburg and paroled again? (Recall he was marked present on March 23)
2. He was with the regiment April 2 when Richmond fell and beyond, but became separated before Sailors Creek, was captured and returned to Richmond.
3. He was with the 18th at Sailors Creek and was captured there as McAbee states -- but was somehow sent to Richmond and Petersburg instead of Newport News -- like all the other prisoners.
4. He was with them at Sailors Creek and somehow escaped capture? Or was captured and escaped? And instead of going towards Appomattox, he went to Richmond? Where he was captured, paroled, and sent to Petersburg.
5. There may be other possibilities - but if McAbee says he was captured at Sailor's Creek, I'm guessing he actually was. McAbee is usually spot on.​

 

[Stryker65]

Wofford was the original Colonel of the 18th GA and Solon Z Ruff was the original Lieut. Colonel. Joseph Armstrong was original Captain of I/18thGA. Wofford was absent at Fredericksburg and the regiment was commanded by 26 yo Lt Col Solon Z Ruff. Capt. Armstrong was wounded slightly at Fredericksburg. Soon after, Wofford was promoted to Brigadier; Ruff commanded the 18th GA at Gettysburg. Unfortunately, Ruff was killed in the failed assault on Fort Sanders at Knoxville (Nov 29, 1863) and Joseph Armstrong was elected Colonel. Somewhat ironically, Capt. Armstrong was spared from the failed assault on Fort Sanders by diarrhea. He was sent to Georgia and admitted at Ocmulgee Hospital Macon, GA on November 28, 1863. The assault happened the next day.

But I digress. To your question: Armstrong was reported present with his regiment March 23, 1865 "near Richmond." On April 2 the Confederate line collapsed and Kershaw's division, including Wofford's old brigade (then commanded by Dudley DuBose) and the 18th GA, fell back through Richmond and crossed Mayo bridge. I assume Armstrong was still with them? Making their way south on April 6, they were stopped short at Sailor's Creek. Most of what remained of Wofford's brigade and Kershaw's division were captured at Sailors Creek. About 100 of the 18th GA were captured there.

IIRC only 1 officer and 52 enlisted men of the 18th Georgia escaped capture at Sailors Creek and made it to Appomattox. All of Kershaw's Division - of which the 18th Georgia was a part - was surrendered at Appomattox under Captains and Lieutenants. Lt. Gideon Ignatius Lasseter, commanding the 18th GA, was the highest ranking officer of the regiment present (except Capt. Espy of C.) Wofford's old brigade (what was left of the 16th, 18th, and 24th Georgia, Cobb's Legion, Phillip's Legion and the 3d Battalion Ga Sharpshooters) was surrendered under the command of Captain John Ferdinand Espy of Co C 18th GA.

In his incredibly well-written and deeply researched regimental history, Stubborn Men and Parched Corn, Brig Gen McAbee states (on page 312 and again on page 496) that Armstrong was captured at Sailor's Creek. He cites this to Armstrong's obituary published in Confederate Veteran and family genealogy. However, carded records show Armstrong surrendered at Petersburg on April 15, 1865 and was paroled from there. Another card says he was a Paroled Prisoner "Remaining in Richmond" on April 13, 1865 "On Parole until 10 am April 14, 1865." That's pretty specific. If he was paroled in Richmond until 10am April 14, I have no idea why he was moved to Petersburg and paroled again?

Here are a few possibilities.

1. He remained in Richmond when Kershaw's division passed through and was captured there and paroled April 13? Moved to Petersburg and paroled again? (Recall he was marked present on March 23)
2. He was with the regiment April 2 when Richmond fell and beyond, but became separated before Sailors Creek, was captured and returned to Richmond.
3. He was with the 18th at Sailors Creek and was captured there as McAbee states -- but was somehow sent to Richmond and Petersburg instead of Newport News -- like all the other prisoners.
4. He was with them at Sailors Creek and somehow escaped capture? Or was captured and escaped? And instead of going towards Appomattox, he went to Richmond? Where he was captured, paroled, and sent to Petersburg.
5. There may be other possibilities - but if McAbee says he was captured at Sailor's Creek, I'm guessing he actually was. McAbee is usually spot on.​

View attachment 548368View attachment 548373

Could he have escaped Sailor's Creek with part of the regiment, and given up after Lee's surrender? Sorry about the "April 25 in Southern Virginia" thing, that was for Colonel Joseph Mayo.

 

[lelliott19]

Could he have escaped Sailor's Creek with part of the regiment, and given up after Lee's surrender? Sorry about the "April 25 in Southern Virginia" thing, that was for Colonel Joseph Mayo.

That is also a possibility, however most of the members of Wofford's brigade who escaped capture at Sailors Creek seem to have continued on to Appomattox. I suppose Colonel Armstrong could have escaped in another direction and been cut off from Appomattox. Armstrong not being captured at Sailor's Creek is kind of strange, actually. Once they realized they were overwhelmed and in "big trouble" it was pretty much every man for himself. MG Joseph Brevard Kershaw himself, two of his Brigadier Gens (Simms commanding Semmes old and DuBose commanding Woffords old), and K's signal officer (Major Ellison L. Costin) were all captured together by an Ohio Cav Corporal [See story here]. Col. Joseph E Hamilton of Phillips Legion was also captured at Sailors Creek. He wasn't mentioned as part of the group that surrendered with Kershaw, but easily could have been. Pretty much everyone who was driving a wagon or accompanying the train and the handful who got away through the brambles made their way to and eventually surrendered at Appomattox.

 

[Bryce]

I'm looking for information on the battles fought by this regiment in 1864 and especially 1865. Please help me out.

 

[Bryce]

At the battle of sailors Creek, you had two confederate commands fighting almost back to back. There was the command of EWELL facing the sixth army corps. Kershaw's brigade was part of this command. Facing in the opposite direction, there were the two divisions under Pickett and Bushrod Johnson. They were fighting the union Cavalry led by Wesley Merritt. Some of EWELL's men tried to escape from the sixth army corps and ended mixed up in the battle line under Pickett and Johnson. They were captured by Merritt. It was here that Thomas Custer won his second medal of honor.

 

[Stryker65]

I'm looking for information on the battles fought by this regiment in 1864 and especially 1865. Please help me out.

I'm sure @lelliott19 can help you out better, but it was with Kershaw's division, so it would have fought from Wilderness through Cold Harbor and the initial stages of Petersburg, before going to the Shenandoah and fighting at Cedar Creek. In 1865, it would have been just Sayler's Creek and Appomattox, IIRC. I don't believe Kershaw was much engaged elsewhere during the siege.

 

[Stryker65]

That is also a possibility, however most of the members of Wofford's brigade who escaped capture at Sailors Creek seem to have continued on to Appomattox. I suppose Colonel Armstrong could have escaped in another direction and been cut off from Appomattox. Armstrong not being captured at Sailor's Creek is kind of strange, actually. Once they realized they were overwhelmed and in "big trouble" it was pretty much every man for himself. MG Joseph Brevard Kershaw himself, two of his Brigadier Gens (Simms commanding Semmes old and DuBose commanding Woffords old), and K's signal officer (Major Ellison L. Costin) were all captured together by an Ohio Cav Corporal [See story here]. Col. Joseph E Hamilton of Phillips Legion was also captured at Sailors Creek. He wasn't mentioned as part of the group that surrendered with Kershaw, but easily could have been. Pretty much everyone who was driving a wagon or accompanying the train and the handful who got away through the brambles made their way to and eventually surrendered at Appomattox.

New info from SHSP V25 pp 144; Colonel Armstrong was in fact captured at Sailor's Creek.

 

[lelliott19]

New info from SHSP V25 pp 144; Colonel Armstrong was in fact captured at Sailor's Creek.

Thanks @Stryker65 So I guess officers captured at Sailor's Creek were taken to Richmond instead of to Newport News with the regular prisoners? I've only run across one other Confederate officer who was captured at Sailor's Creek and had a "Left in Richmond" notation on a POW record. Unfortunately, I can't recall who it was. But I think this settles the question - in my mind at least. So of my previously provided list of possibilities, the answer regarding Armstrong is:

3. He was with the 18th at Sailors Creek and was captured there as McAbee states -- but was somehow sent to Richmond and Petersburg instead of Newport News -- like all the other prisoners.