lelliott19
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Only an outline record can be made of the spirited scenes now transpiring in our division of the Confederate army; but our future historian, at least, will be glad to gather up the meagerest annals of the prevailing war. Reverend Penfield Doll, Chaplain of the 18th Georgia Infantry, wrote these words sometime after the Battle of Second Manassas and submitted his account to the Richmond Enquirer.
According to The Daily Dispatch. (Richmond, VA), October 25, 1861, page 2, Rev. Penfield Doll was a refugee from Baltimore in the Fall of 1861, when he was appointed Chaplain of the regiment.
Carded records indicate he resigned due to disability (neuralgia, chronic diarrhea, and dyspepsia) on December 24, 1863. I have no idea if he actually kept a diary or "notebook" during his two years with the Georgia regiment, and if he did, where it might be today? It's a shame because Wofford's brigade sources are so few. Doll seems to have recorded a clear and detailed narrative of the involvement of the 18th Georgia at 2nd Manassas, so it's really too bad we don't have his account of Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.
Here is Chaplain Doll's account of the capture of the flags of the 24th New York Infantry and the 10th New York Zouaves by the 18th Georgia at the Battle of Second Manassas.
Again the Adjutant demanded a surrender, and fired upon him, when Sergeant O'Neill [Co A] grasped the colors and pulled them down, falling beneath their folds. Private T. H. Northcutt [Co. A] with others, engaged in the contest, and finally the bravely contested trophy was wrested from the hands of the invader.
Col. Wofford, observing the color bearer of the 10th New York Zouaves making his escape down a hill, commanded the colors to be seized. Lieut. John [F.] Harden [Hardin; Co F] instantly left the ranks and successfully obeyed the command, though he did not return with the trophy. As the regiment advanced he was found prostrate upon the ground. "Colonel," said he, "I am wounded but I have the colors." Heroic officer, he needs neither praise nor promotion. -
Let the Georgians remember the boys who took the colors, and the boys who would not let the colors be taken.
Col. Wofford displayed the qualities of a commander which was believed he possessed. Courage, discretion, and humanity.
[Richmond Enquirer. (Richmond, VA), November 04, 1862, SEMI-WEEKLY EDITION, page 1.]