In honor and remembrance of the ancestors who served with this regiment, lest they be forgotten, this regimental history is dedicated to:
Wiley Byrd. Was born on 4 January 1825 in Georgia, the son of Jonas Byrd and Rebecca Turner. On 13 January 1853 when Wiley was 28, he first married my first cousin four times removed Eliza Wilcox, daughter of Thomas Wilcox Jr. & Louisa Frier. She was born on 15 October 1831 in Telfair County, Georgia and died on 8 January 1873. On 23 Feb 1873 when Wiley second married Samantha Creech. Wiley is listed as a member of Company C. Wiley died on 1 Dec 1908, he was 83. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0005, 00002646
Jehu Cook a first cousin four times removed was born in 1844 in Telfair County, Georgia, the son of Henry Cook Jr. and Piety Hall. Jehu enlisted on 26 April 1862 as a private, mustered in to Company F, 11th Georgia Infantry. He transferred to Company F of the 47th Georgia Infantry 12 May 1862. Listed as having received his pay on 3-2-1864. Jehu died on 16 September 1864, he was 20. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0013, 00003459
Instance Hall Jr. a first cousin four times removed was born in 1841 in Georgia, the son of Instance Hall Sr. and Drucilla Sellers. Instance married Drucilla Sellers, daughter of Samuel Sellers and Nancy Carter. She was born about 1844. Instance enlisted in Company F. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0025, 00003254
Seaborn Hall a first cousin four times removed was born in 1832 in Georgia, the son of Instance Hall Sr. and Drucilla Sellers. Seaborn enlisted in Company F. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0025, 00003564
Thomas J. Hall a first cousin four times removed was born in 1844 in Georgia, the son of Instance Hall Sr. and Drucilla Sellers. Thomas enlisted in Company F. Thomas died in service to the CSA at Honey Hill, South Carolina on 30 November 1864 at the age of 20. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0025, 00003603
Charles Wesley Meeks was born on 24 February 1840 in Appling County, Georgia, the son of Charles C. Meeks and Lydia Ryner. In 1861 when Charles was 20, he married my first cousin three times removed Lucinda "Lucy" Moore, daughter of Elias Moore and Hester Ann Lott, in Appling Co, Georgia. She was born on 15 March 1844 in Ware County, Georgia and died in Coffee County, Georgia on 10 June 1930. Charles was a member of Company F. Pension records show he was discharged, furnished substitute in April 1864. Charles Wesley died in Coffee County, Georgia on 28 November 1898, he was 58. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0042, 00000166
David Rivers Tuten married my second cousin three times removed Flora Miles, daughter of John Miles and Harriett Kemp. David originally enlisted as a member of Company F fo the 11th Georgia Infantry Battalion and later is listed in Company F of the 47th Georgia Infantry holding the rank of Sergeant. National Archives Microfilm Box, Roll, and Record: 000226, 0061, 00002967
The Forty-seventh regiment Georgia volunteers had at first the following field officers: Col. G. W. M. Williams (died), Lieut.-Col. A. C. Edwards, Maj. J. S. Cone, Adjt. B. S. Williams. The captains were: (A) M. J. Doyle, (B) Pat Gormley. The roll is incomplete. The Forty-seventh was made up from the Eleventh battalion of infantry which had served on the Georgia coast in 1862. It was sent to the army of Tennessee in 1863; was in the campaigns of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, in the Atlanta campaign; then went to Savannah in Hardee's command. In the spring of 1865 it was consolidated with the Forty-sixth Georgia and Bonaud's battalion, and was engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, surrendering with him near Goldsboro. Some of the successors to those holding office in the regiment at its organization were as follows: Col. A. C. Edwards, Lieut.-Cols. W. S. Phillips and J. S. Cone, Maj. A. G. Cone.
The Eleventh battalion Georgia infantry at its organization was commanded by Lieut.-Col. G. W. M. Williams. The captains were: (A) William S. Phillips, (B) Pat Gormley, (C) James H. Latimer, (D)Philip G. Tip-pins, (E) A. C. Edwards, (F) John D. Ashton, (G) Isaac M. Aiken, (H) Wm. W. Williams, (I) M. J. Doyle. This battalion served in 1862 on the Georgia coast. It was increased to a regiment by the addition of another company, and under the name of the Forty-Seventh was sent to the Army of Tennessee.
Organization of the Companies of the 47th Regiment Georgia Volunteers
Company A: Chatham County men-Mitchell Volunteer Guards
Company B: Randolph County men-Randolph Light Guards. (See Company B, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company C: Bulloch County men-Bulloch Guards
Company D: Screven County men-Screven Guards. (See Company D, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company E: Bryan, Chatham, Effingham County men-Chatham Volunteers. (See Company E, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company F: Appling County men-Appling Rangers. (See Company F, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company G: Tattnall County men-Tattnall Invincibles. (See Company G, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company H: Glynn County men-Liberty Rangers. (See Company H, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company I: Effingham County men-Empire State Guards. (See Company L, 11th Battalion Georgia Infantry for records prior to May 12, 1862.)
Company K: Bulloch County men
Bibliography-47th Georgia Infantry
Confederate Military History, Extended Edition. Vol. 7: Georgia. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot,
1987. See p. 122 for a brief unit history.Crute, Joseph H., Jr. Units of the Confederate States Army. Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books,
1987. Ref. See p. 110 for a concise summary of the regiment's service.Georgia State Division of Confederate Pensions and Records. Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of
Georgia, l86l-l865. Vol. 5. Hapeville, GA: Longino & Porter, 1959. pp. 1-99. Unit roster.
Jones, Charles E. Georgia in the War, 1861-1866. Atlanta, GA: Foot & Davies, 1909. See p. 31 for an incomplete list of unit officers.
Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies:...Georgia. NY: Facts on File, 1995.
pp. 260-61The following manuscripts may be found in the US Military History Institute Archives
Milikin, Benjamin - MilikinColl
© 2001 John Griffin