In honor and remembrance of the ancestors who served with this regiment, lest they be forgotten, this regimental history is dedicated to:
|
Fussell, John William |
M1C4R |
PVT |
D |
000226, 0022, 00001466 |
|
Tucker, Lawson A. |
1C4R |
PVT |
E |
000226, 0061, 00001845 |
|
Vickers, Matthew |
M2C4R |
PVT |
E |
000226, 0062, 00001060 |
The 29th Battalion of Georgia Cavalry was organized with eight companies in the winter late in of 1863 and early in 1864. It was mustered into Confederate service during at Lumpkin, GA. The first commander was Lt. Col Arthur Hood. Field Officer was Major Caleb H. Canfield.
Assignments:
District of Florida, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida April-July 1864
McLaw’s Division, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida (6 companies) October- November 1864
Jackson’s-Miller’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida October 1864- February 1865
Battles:
McIntosh County 2-4 August 1864
Defense of Savannah November-December 1864
Defense of Georgia January-April 1865
From Confederate Military History, Volume 6, Chapter 15
On October 31st the Georgia troops under command of Major-General McLaws on the coast, including the Fifth district of South Carolina, were as follows:
First regulars, six companies Second battalion and Barnwell's battery, under Colonel R. A. Wayne; Twenty-seventh Battalion, Captain Charles Daniell; Twenty-ninth Battalion Cavalry, Captain A. W. Hunter; Bonaud's Artillery, Captain M. T. McGregor; Captain J. W. Brooks' Battery; Cobb Guards, Major A. L. Hartridge; Daniel's, Guerard's and Maxwell's Batteries, under Captain J. A. Maxwell; Hanleiter's Battery: Mercer Artillery, Major T. D. Bertody, and McAlpine's Engineers. In addition there were the Third South Carolina Cavalry, ten companies South Carolina Reserves, and six South Carolina Batteries.
In March of 1865 the battalion numbered 300 officers and men. It surrendered with the Department and is included in the surrender list of General Joseph E. Johnston at Durham Station, Orange County, NC on 26 April 1865.
From Collections of Early County (Georgia) Historical Society, 1979, Volume 2, in articles "Captain Wade's Cavalry" edited by Mary Grist Whitehead pages 171 through 173:
"Organization and enlistment of this cavalry unit took place on July 25, 1863, at Blakely, Ga., with Capt. Camfield as the enlistment officer. The men enlisted for a three year period. Three officers were elected, namely: Capt. Reuben Wilkinson Wade, born 9-30-1828; 1st Lieut. W. E. McCullers; 1st Lieut. Samuel T. Howard and his brother, Peter D. Howard, 2nd Lieutenant.
Elam D. Lee, Jr. was named 1st Sergeant with Anthony Hutchins, James A. Glenn, James Alexander, and John Black sergeants. The corporals elected were A.W. Johnson, F.L. Fowler, James D. McCullough and John W. Anglin.
A clothing voucher dated October 10, 1863, distributing jackets, pants and caps to non-commissioned officers and privates of Capt. R.W. Wades Company reveals the low literacy rate of this group. Of the 48 privates listed 9 men had to use the mark rather than own signature.
Company H was stationed for a period of time near Cuthbert, Ga., then moved to Tallahassee, Fla. to Camp Randolph, where they were on Apr. 30, '64; later they were at Camp Rogers, Bryan Co., Ga, where they took part in the defense of Savannah. There sickness struck the camp with a heavy blow.
Apr. 30, '64 Aug. 31, '64 Oct. 31, '64
Discipline Good Very Good Tolerable
Instruction Good Very Good Poor
Military Appearance Good Good Tolerable
Arms Good Very Good Very Good
Accoutrement Poor Good Good
Clothing Poor Inferior Very Poor
The April 39, '64 muster reveals the rate of pay for the non-commissioned officers and men, as follows:
Pay Per Month
1st Sergeant $20
Sergeant $17
Corporal $13
Private $12
For the previous period of four months each man was paid $48.00 for the "risky use of his horse." These musters always noted if a man was without a horse, which indicates that the ownership of a horse was required in order to qualify as a cavalryman. Also in this same muster Private W.E. Davis had just enlisted in Florida on Apr. 28, '64, so was paid for his two days of service: $.80 for his services and $1.60 for his horse.
The last extant muster on Oct. 31, '64 following the Battle of Atlanta and during Sherman's March to the Sea points up the breakdown in morale and the sickness that was rampant in the forces. Twenty-four men were reported ill, some in field hospitals, others at general hospitals located in Tallahassee, Ft. Gaines and Savannah' still others were ill in quarters. Two men were absent without leave, two had died since the last muster and five were without horses including the two absent without leave.
This unit was known in Blakely as the "Early Hussars" according to the 1864 issues of Early County News. Local people were proud of the men and considered them a "crack Calvary outfit".
From "More Information on Captain Wade's Cavalry" (article in 1931) by the late County Historian Dr. Jack G Standifer:
"...O.S. Davis of Hill City, Ga. gave some data on Company H, 29th Battalion of Georgia cavalry. Mr. Davis states there were about 80 members, but after 64 years he is able to recall only 41 names. Both he and his father O.H. Davis were members of the unit.
The members whom he named who are not on the muster rolls from National Archives are as follows:
Davis, O.S. Odum, Green
Pickle, John Johnson, Attaway W
Glenn, James Corley, S.U.
Porter, Wm. J Isam, John
He also gave the home counties for the following men: 1st Lieut. McCullough (note change in spelling) from Baker County.
Robert Persons--Stewart Co.
Tom Salter--Stewart Co.
W.E. Davis--Talbot Co.
Other information from Mr. Davis stated that the following men died during the war:
Sgt. Dudley Lee Taylor Odum
Green Odum Billie Williams
Mrs. Julia Porter of Headland, Al and Mrs. J.B. Hodges of Jakin added these names to the roll:
Dr. C.B. Holmes
Elly Warren
W.E. Hill (on the muster roll)
Bramlett
Dr. W.B. Standifer contributed these names, of which none appears on muster roll:
Howell J. Harris
Mac McKinley (who dug the big ditch in Blakely about 1859-60)
Jim Smith
R.D. Williams
Jeff Layton
John Johnson
Lawson Cowart
Wm H. Haddock
A small boy at the time of the war, Dr. W.B. Standifer recalled in 1931 that the company used to drill in an old field north of the old Academy on South Main...."
© 2001 John Griffin