The organization of troops for Hardee on Nov. 20, 1864 shown above is a long time stand by and I rely on it a lot.
However, Hardee's force was compiled of the flotsam and jetsam of the Confederacy. As such, the organizations were necessarily provisional and fluid [to say the least].
I have compiled a summary of notes concerning Hardee's force extending to about Dec. 21; the day Savannah was evacuated. This is down and dirty minutiae, but still instructive to follow the evolution of Hardee's command. Grab a cup of coffee and follow along; if you are so inclined.
[Wish this table was a bit more specific]
Left Sector-Wright
[vice Mercer on 12/10] | Center-McLaws
| | Right-Anderson/Smith | | |
[approx. 12/11]-2700 men/ 32 guns | 3750 men/ 29 guns | | Gen Smith arrives 12/1-2000 men/ 20 guns | | |
J K Jackson [1500] | Lewis-cdg on the left | | [2] Btrys-Arty | | |
Col Von Zinken Locals | Lewis' Bgde 590 eff Incl 1st Ga Regulars | | [2] sections-Arty | | |
Columbus arsenals | 2 Ky Mtd Inf | | Hamilton Arty Bn-dtchmt | | |
Columbus workshops | 4 Ky Mtd Inf | | | | |
Other workshops [Macon, etc.] | 9 Ky Mtd Inf | | | | |
Savanna local reserves | Lewis DC | | | | |
Dismtd from Ferguson Bgde-12/16 | 1 Ga Inf Reglrs [of Fizer-to Lewis for siege] | | | Gen Smith arrives 12/1 apparently divided into Carswell and Anderson Bgdes | |
| | | | 1st Division Ga Militia | |
Brooks' Btry | 4 Tn Cav dtchmt | | | Carswell-1st Bgde | |
Guerard Btry, | 12 SC Cav [Bn?] dtchmt | | | Thompson-2nd Bgde | |
sctns -Maxwell & Barnwell Btrys | Worthen NC Bn
| | | C D Anderson-3rd Bgde | |
dtchmt of Major Hamilton arty Bn | 5 Ga Inf Reserves
[of Cummings?] | | | [4th Bgde? -dtchmt?] | |
| 3 Ga Bn Reserves
[of Cummings?] | |
| | |
Mercer [1200] | Cook [K]-Athens Bn [but see also Mercer] | | | 1 Ga State Line | |
Clemon's Bn Augusta local Infy | | | | 2 Ga State Line | |
… | Baker-cdg on the right | | | | |
| Baker Bgde 1922 eff | | | Cadet Bn | |
Browne Local Bgde | SC Arty troops | | | Militia Btry | |
Adams' Athens Bn | Ga Arty troops | | | Confederate Btry | |
Jackson Augusta Bn [locals] | NC troops | | | Hamilton Arty Bn | |
Nisbet-1st Regt Augusta Locals | | | | | |
Griffin 55 Ga [3 Co’s] | | | | Joining Smith circa 12/7 | |
Barnes' Arty Co [Augusta] | | | | A L Hartridge [to Sea face 12/14] | |
Brooks' Foreign Bn | | | | 27 Ga Bn [250] Hartridge | |
| Cummings Bgde [?]
608 eff | | | NC Bn [?] [350] | |
| | | | Howard Local Bn [150] | |
| | | | Abel Btry | |
12/2 the 10th NC Hvy Arty Bn reached Savannah where it joined Gen Hardee’s force located about 45 miles from the city. Sherman’s advance forced Hardee to retreat closer to Savannah where on 12/8 the 10th found itself in the defensive perimeter of the city. At this time, the Bn became part of a temporary Bgde commanded by Col Hardy, of the 50th NC Regt. They remained in these lines until 12/20 when they were evacuated, withdrawing through Savannah to Hardeeville, SC & continuing to serve as part of Hardy’s Bgde.
A contemporary publication Dec 1864, says: "At the late battle of Harrison's Old Field, this was an advance position, 14 miles from Savannah. Major Stevenson was in command with:
-a part of his own Bn, (36th NC)
-& parts of the 50th NC
-& 40th NC & 10th NC Bns
12/8/64 S O #2/ III, Savannah, By order of Lt-Gen Hardee-Brooks' foreign Bn is transferred from Cumming's Bgde, McLaws' Div, to Harrison's Bgde, Smith's Div.
----12/18 Savannah, Hardee to Gen Sam Jones: Send back to Florence all that part of Brooks' Foreign Bn now at Summerville, under guard, & turn them over to the officer cdg Federal prisoners, to be confined as prisoners of war. Order the officers to rejoin their commands
12/15 Charleston, Beauregard to Gen Cooper: Gen Hardee reports at Savannah, on the 9th, his effectives of all arms at about 10,000. Gen Jones reports from Pocataligo, on 12th, his effectives of all arms at about 5,500. There is no report from Gen Wheeler, but his forces must be about 3,000
12/20 Enclosure-Memorandum of orders to be issued by Lt-Gen Hardee immediately after the evacuation of Savannah
12/20/64 Mil Div of the West, Pocataligo-
I. Gen G. W. Smith will proceed immediately with his command to Charleston & thence to Augusta, after being relieved by other troops, as hereinafter directed.
II. Gen McLaws' Div (the senior cdg) & Col Anderson's Bgde (preceding) will proceed immediately to Charleston & relive Gen G. W. Smith's Div.
III. Gen Wright's Div & Gen Chestnut's command (about 1,500 men), consisting of SC reserves & 2nd, 3rd, & 4th SC Militia, to the 4th Military Sub-District, a reserve of about 500 men being stationed at Green Pond & another of like number near Adams' Run. Gen Robertson will report to Gen Wright for temporary duty, to advise as to disposition of troops, & then to be assigned to duty as circumstances may require.
IV. Col G. P. Harrison's & Col A. C. Edwards' Bgdes to be stationed on the left bank of the Combahee, guarding the several passages (about six) across that river, to Barnwell CH; Gen Young’s' command to be increased by the 7th Ga Cav (dismtd), Col E. C. Anderson, Jr., cdg, as reserves at or near Blue House, between the Combahee & Ashepoo Rivers.
V. The 3rd SC Cav & Kirk's Sqdrn will cover the left (or coast) flank of the retiring troops. After crossing the Combahee Major Jenkins, with Capt’s Seabrook's & Peeples' Co’s 3rd SC Cav, will take post on John's Island, & Capt Kirk's Sqdrn will proceed, via Charleston to Christ Church Parish & take post near & northeast of Mount Pleasant.
VI. Gen Wheeler's Corps (that part of it east of Savannah River, & the remainder if it should come up) will guard crossings of the Savannah & New Rivers & the landings east of Screven's Cause way until forced by the enemy to retire. He will then guard & defend the country between the Savannah River & the defensive line of the Combahee & the right flank of that line, resting at or rear Barnwell CH, & extending by the shortest defensible line to the Savannah River, covering Augusta.
VII. Col Gonzales will assign the field Arty now in SC to the most appropriate positions for the defense of the 4th Sub-District & the line of the Combahee, from Salkehatchie bridge to the coast, taking care to assign the Btrys to the positions with which their respective cdrs are most familiar. He will assign, subject to Gen Hardee's approval, the field Btrys coming from Savannah, as circumstances may indicate, for the best defense of the line of the Combahee, the 4th Sub-District, & Augusta.
VIII. As soon as the service of Gen Taliaferro can be spared from the duty on which he is now engaged, he will proceed to James Island & resume his former command, assigning to their appropriate positions the troops of Gen McLaws' Div & Col Anderson's Bgde, destined for that island.
IX. As soon as McLaws’ Div moves from Hardeeville he will immediately proceed to Pocataligo & relive Maj Gen Sam Jones, & take the immediate command of the troops on the line of the Combahee.
X. On being relieved by McLaws, Jones will proceed to Charleston & resume his command & enter on the duties designated by S O # -, from Dept Hqs
12/21 (Received 22d) Hardeeville, Hardee to Jefferson Davis: On the 19th the enemy forced a landing on the SC side, so near my communication that to save the garrison it became necessary to give up the city.
Its evacuation was successfully accomplished last night. All the light Arty & most of the stores, munitions, &c., were brought off. I learn that there is a misapprehension as to the force disposable for the defense of Savannah. It
summed up, land side & water side, militia, reserve, dismtd Cav, local & details, 9,089
12/22/64 Hardeeville, By order of Lt-Gen Hardee
The following disposition of troops will be carried into effect with the least practicable delay:
I. Gen G. W. Smith's command, consisting of a Div of Ga militia, & including Pruden's Btry, will proceed to Augusta, via Charleston.
II. Gen McLaws' Div, under command of Gen Baker, & Col E. C. Anderson's Bgde, the latter taking precedence, will proceed to Charleston & report to Gen Ransom for duty on James Island.
III. Gen Wright's Div & Gen Chestnut’s command-the latter consisting of SC reserves & the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th SC Militia-will proceed to the 4th Mil. Sub-District of SC.
Gen Wright will have command & of the district, & will station a reserve force of 500 men at Green Pond, & a like number at Adams' Run Station. Gen B. H. Robertson will report to Gen Wright, to give him such assistance in the disposition of troops as his knowledge of the country will enable him to do, & will afterward be assigned to duty as circumstances may require.
IV. Gen McLaws, as soon as his Div, as heretofore directed, shall move from Hardeeville, will proceed to Pocataligo & relieve Gen S. Jones, & take immediate command of the forces on the line of the Combahee.
V. Gen S. Jones, upon being relieved by McLaws, will proceed to Charleston assume command of his district, & enter upon the duties designated in--- from these Hqs.
VI. Gen Wheeler's Cav Corps (that part of it east of the Savannah River & the remainder should it come up) will guard the crossing of the Savannah & New Rivers & the landing east of Screven's Causeway until forced by the enemy to retire. Gen Wheeler will then guard & defend the country between the Savannah River & the defensive line of the Combahee & the right flank of that line, resting at or near Barnwell CH.
VII. Col’s G. P. Harrison & A. C. Edwards will report to McLaws for assignment to Bgdes, which will be stationed on the left bank of the Combahee, to guard the crossing of that river, to Barnwell CH.
VIII. The 7th Ga Cav (dismtd), Col E. C. Anderson cdg, is assigned to Young's Bgde. The 3rd SC Cav & Kirk's Sqdrn will cover the left (or coast) flank of the retiring troops; & after crossing the Combahee Capt’s Seabrook's & Peeples' Co’s 3rd SC Cav, under command of Major Jenkins, will take post on John's Island, & Kirk's Sqdrn will proceed, via Charleston to Christ Church Parish & take post near & northeast of Mount Pleasant.
IX. The Btrys of light Arty will report as follows: Brooks' Barnwell's, & Wagener's Btrys to Gen McLaws, at Hardeeville; Abell's Btry for duty at Honey Hill, & Anderson's Btry to cdg officer at Coosawatchie; Daniell's, Hanleiter's, Guerard's, & Maxwell's Btrys will report, at Pocataligo, to Col A. J. Gonzales, chief of Arty, who will, with the approval of the Lt-Gen cdg, assign them to position the most appropriate for the defense of the 4th Mil. Sub-District & the line of the Combahee, from Salkehatchie bridge to the coast.
X. Gen Taliaferro will proceed to James Island, resume command of Sub-Dist 3, & will be prepared to put in position the troops of McLaws' Div & Anderson's Bgde, destined for that island.
12/21/64 McLaws’ Div-Special Field Orders #9-Col J. C. Fiser, is assigned to the command of a Bgde composed of the following troops:
1st Ga Regulars, Col Wayne
Symon’s Regt of Reserves
27th Ga Bn & Cobb Guards, Maj Hartridge cdg
12/22 #18 Hardeeville, By order of Lt-Gen Hardee
I. Symons' Regt & the
27th Bn Ga Reserves, & the two Co’s of Cobb Guards, will not be included in what is known as McLaws' Div, but will report to Gen McLaws for duty on the line to which he has been assigned in Special Field Orders, #17, from these Hqs.