The 14th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry - An Outline of Its
History
Note: This outline appears as pages 56-65 of THE INCOMPLETE CORRESPONDENCE
OF LT. JOSIAH BLAIR PATTERSON, compiled and transcribed by Carroll Ruffin
Patterson ca. 1963. The original page breaks are indicated by brackets thusly
: [ 56] . Please cite references to this work utilizing Mr. Patterson’s
original pagination.
1861
June:
The Regiment was organized. At organization, its colonel was A. V. Brumby.
The staff was: Lt. Col. Robert W. Folsom, Maj. W. A. Harris, Adj. A. Taliaferro,
Quartermaster E. A. Heggis, and Commissary T. C. Moore. The Company commanders
were: Co. A, Capt. J. H. Etheridge; Co. B, Capt. C. C. Kelly; Co. C., Capt.
L. A. Lane; Co. D, Capt. James M. Fielder Co. E, Capt. Richard. P. Lester;
Co. F, Capt. R. P. Harman; Co. G, Capt. T. T. Mounger; Co. H, Capt.Thomas
M. Yopp; Co. I, Capt. R. W. McMichael; and Co. K, Capt. Washington L.
Goldsmith.
July 4th : Josiah B. Patterson (1815 - 1864) of Cumming, Forsyth County,
Georgia elected 2nd Lieut., Co. E.
Aug. 5th: By, or before, this date., the 14th Ga. Inf. was at Huntersville,
Va. (now, West Va.). It had marched there from Lynchburg, Va., having arrived
at the latter point, by train, from Atlanta, Georgia. On its arrival in western
Virginia, the Regt. was assigned to the command of Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd,
a part of the Confederate Army of the Northwest.
Oct. 16th : Prior to this date., Floyd made a march down the left bank
of the Kanawha River against the Union forces, proceeding from Sewell to
New River. His command consisted of Russell's Miss. Regt. Phillips' Legion,
51st Va. Inf., 45th Va. Inf., 36th Va. Inf.,, 22nd Va. Inf., 14th Ga. Inf.
and 500 cavalry.
Oct. 22nd : Organization of the Dept. of Northern Virginia, Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston., commanding. It consisted of Potomac District, Gen. P. G. T.
Beauregard; Aquia District., Maj. Gen. T. H. Holmes; and Valley District.,
Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson.
Nov. 14th : 14th Ga. Inf. and 16th N. C. Inf., located at Staunton, Va.,
ordered to march to Mount Jackson to entrain for Manassas Junction, via
Strasburg. On arrival they were to report to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
Nov. 19th-- Dec. 2 : The 14th Ga. Inf. located at Manassas Junction,
Va. The Official Records do not state to whose brigade it was assigned; possibly,
in the command of Col. Wade Hampton.
Dec. 9th : Felix Price, former major of the Regt.,, elected Colonel. On
this date the 14th Ga. Inf. numbered 530 officers and men.
1862
Jan. 9th: The Regt. at Davis Ford on Occoquan Greek, northern Virginia,
a unit of Col. Wade Hampton's brigade, Brig. Gen. W. H. C. Whiting's forces.
The brigade consisted of 14th Ga. Inf., 19th Ga. Inf.., 16th N. C. Inf.,
and Hampton's Legion. (between Jan. 9th and Feb. 15, Lieut. J.B. Patterson
home on leave).
Mar. 7-9th: Hampton's brigade withdrew from Occoquan Creek to Camp Bartow,
near Fredericksburg., Va. The Regt. participating.
[56]
Apr. 30th : On the Peninsula, the Regt. had a strength of 379 officers and
men., and was still a unit of Hampton's brigade, Whiting's division of the
Reserve commanded by Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith. The other units of the brigade
were 19th Ga. Inf. (395 officers and men), 16th N. C. Inf. (721), Hampton's
Legion (658), and Moody's (La.) battery (72).
May 6th: Hampton's and Hood's brigades drove off Union force near New
Kent Courthouse Virginia.
May 12th: Lieut. Patterson at Cumming, Georgia on recruiting duty.
May 21st: Hampton's brigade (no change in composition) now a unit of the
First Division, Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith, commanding.
May 27th : A new division, under command of Maj. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill
organized. Initially it consisted of brigades of Brig. Gens. Joseph R. Anderson
and L. O'Brien Branch. (Official Records, vol. XI, part III, page 555). This
was to be the Light Division of Confederate fame.
May 31st-
June 1st: The Battle of Seven Pines.
14th Ga. Inf. actively engaged as unit of Hampton's brigade, G. W. Smith's
division (commanded by Brig. Gen. W. H. C. Whiting), Confederate Left Wing
commanded by Gen. G. W. Smith. Here the Regt. lost Capt. John H. Etheridge,
Co. A. The brigade had 45 killed, 284 wounded.
June 2nd : Gen. Robert E. Lee assumed command of all Confederate forces
in eastern Virginia and N.C. to replace the wounded Joseph E. Johnston.
June 5th : The 14th Ga. Inf. encamped on banks of the Chickahominy.
June 11th : Gen. Lee ordered the brigades of Hampton., Archer., and Pender
to Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill (Official Records., vol. XI, part III, page 589)
(On July 26th Hampton himself was assigned cavalry duty).
June 24th-
July 1st: The Seven Days Battles.
14th Ga. Inf. Is now a unit of the brigade of Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Anderson,
A. P. Hill's Light Division, Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder's Command. The other
units of Anderson's brigade were 35th, 45th, and 49th Ga. Inf. regts. and
the 3rd Louisiana Battalion. (With the exception of the 3rd La. Bn., the
brigade's regts. would remain together till Appomattox). Lt. Col. Robert
W. Folsom now in command of the 14th Ga. Inf. He was wounded at Mechanicsville.
Gen. J. R. Anderson cited Folsom for gallantry in this campaign. The Regt.
lost 16 killed, 122 wounded in this campaign.
June 29 –
July 1: The Light Division attached to Longstreet's Command (0. R., Series
I. Vol. XI, part II, pages 483-489)
[57]
Organization of the Light Division at the time of the Seven Days, June 25-
July 1,1862:
Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill
1st Brigade 2nd Brigade
Brig. Gen. Chas. W. Field Brig. Gen. Maxey Gregg
40th Va. Inf. 1st S. C. Inf.
47th Va. Inf. 1st S. C. Rifles
55th Va. Inf. 12th S. C. Inf.
60th Va. Inf. 13th S. C. Inf. 14th S. C. Inf.
3rd Brigade 4th Brigade
Brig. Gen. Jos. R. Anderson (W) Brig. Gen. L. O'Brien Branch
Col. Edward L. Thomas
14th Ga. Inf. 7th N. C. Inf.
35th Ga. Inf. 18th N. C. Inf.
45th Ga. Inf. 28th N. C. Inf.
49th Ga. Inf. 33rd N. C. Inf.
3rd La. Inf. Bn. 37th N. C. Inf.
5th Brigade 6th Brigade
Brig. Gen. James J. Archer Brig. Gen. W. Dorsey Pender
5th Ala. Inf. 20th Ark. Inf. Bn.
19th Ga. Inf. 16th N. C. Inf.
1st Tenn. Inf. 22nd N. C. Inf.
7th Tenn. Inf. 34th N. C. Inf.
14th Tenn. Inf. 38th N. C. Inf.
22nd Va. Inf. Bn.
Artillery not listed here-- see above-cited reference.
With a few minor changes, the Light Division remained as listed for the
remainder of its existence ( broken up after Chancellorsville - see below
).
Of the brigade commanders listed, Field was to be wounded and later reassigned
out of the Division, Gregg and Branch were to be killed and Pender was,,
after Chancellorsville., to be a division commander of one of the new divisions
( and, to be killed at Gettysburg). Edward L. Thomas was to command the Georgia
Brigade from Joseph R. Anderson's wounding to Appomattox. Maj. Gen Cadmus
M. Wilcox was assigned by Lee on Aug. 15, 1863 to the command of the late
Pender's division. He retained that command until the end.
[ 58]
1862, cont'd
July 23rd: The Light Division now in the Command of Maj. Gen. James
Longstreet - for a very short while. (the Regt. still assigned to J. R.
Anderson's brigade).
July 27th : Gen. Lee ordered Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill and his Light Division
with the La. Brigade of Stafford, (attached) to Gordonsville, Virginia to
augment the command of Maj. Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson. The Division was to
remain under him until May 1863 when Jackson was mortally wounded at
Chancellorsville.
Aug. 7th_: Light Division encamped around Orange Court-House, Virginia.
Aug. 9th: Battle of Cedar, or Slaughter's, Mountain.
J. R. Anderson's brigade now under Col. Edward L. Thomas (Anderson had
been wounded in the Seven Days and put in charge of Tredegar Iron Works,
Richmond). The brigade now strictly a Georgia outfit, made up of the 14th,
35th, 45th, and 49th Ga. Inf. regts, and would so remain until the end.
A. P. Hill cited Thomas' brigade, the 14th Ga. Inf., and Lt. Col. Robert
W. Folsom for their performance in this battle. The Regt. lost 4 killed 27
wounded; the Brigade,, 24 killed, 133 wounded; and the Division, 49 killed,
345 wounded.
Aug. 23 -- :
Sept. 1 : Second Manassas or Bull Run Campaign.
On Aug. 28th Thomas' brigade in reserve at Sudley Ford.
On Aug. 29thThomas' entire brigade actively engaged in attack on railroad;
that afternoon were attacked themselves by heavy Union force; Pender's brigade,
same division, aided Thomas and together they drove enemy back.
On Aug. 30th Thomas' brigade held off repeated Union attacks; late that
afternoon brigades of Thomas, Pender, and Archer drove enemy for 1/2 miles.
On Sept. 1st, Thomas' and Gregg's brigades drove enemy at Germantown.
Capt. R. W. McMichael, 14th Ga. Inf., killed. The Regt's loss was 6 killed,
46 wounded; the Brigade., 34 killed, 227 wounded; the Division, 348 killed.,
2, 209 wounded.
Sept. 5th -
19th: The Maryland Campaign.
Sept 5th:: Jackson's Command crossed the Potomac into Maryland at White's
Ford near Leesburg, Virginia.
Sept. 14th - 15th: Thomas' brigade in support of Pender's brigade in attack
on Harper's Ferry.
Sept. 16th - 17th: Battle of Sharpsburg, or Antietam.
Thomas' brigade did not participate, being left at Harper's Ferry to complete
surrender of Union garrison. On the 17th all the Light Division, except Thomas'
brigade, left the Ferry to engage in final clay of Sharpsburg.
[59]
Sept. 20th: Engagement at Shephardstown, Va. (now, W. Va.). Thomas' brigade
participated here as a unit of the Light Division. The division lost 30 killed,
231 wounded.
Oct : Lieut. Josiah B. Patterson acting Quartermaster for 14th Ga. Inf.
Oct. 11th : Lieut. Patterson admitted to Hospital No. 17.
Nov. 3rd: Thomas' and Archer's brigades on picket duty at Castleman's
Ferry.
Nov. 6th : The Army of Northern Virginia formally organized into army
corps. Lt. Gen. James Longstreet in command of the First Corps; Lt. Gen.
Thomas J. Jackson of the Second.
Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill again cited Lt. Col. Folsom for his conduct during
period Aug. 20th - Nov. 3rd.
Nov. 8th : Josiah B. Patterson promoted to first lieutenant of Co. E,
14th Ga. Inf.
Dec. 12th
- 15th : Battle of Fredericksburg.
Dec. 12th : Thomas' brigade in support of Pender's brigade.
Dec. 13th: Thomas' brigade actively engaged while rendering assistance
to Lane's brigade. They drove Union force back to its original position,
with heavy losses.
The 14th Ga. Inf. lost 22 killed, 110 wounded - the highest casualty
rate by far in Thomas' brigade. Loss included Lieuts. W. H. Putnam and W.
J. Solomon, both mortally wounded. The brigade loss was 42 killed, 288 wounded;
the division's loss, 211 killed., 1. 408 wounded.
From about Dec. 13th, 1862 to latter part of Apr. 1863: Amy of Northern
Virginia was encamped on south side of the Rappahannock.
1863
Apr. 27th-
May 6th: Chancellorsville Campaign.
May 2nd: Thomas' brigade ordered from near Chancellorsville to Gordonsville,
to move with the Light Division. Thomas' and Archer's brigades sent back
to defend wagon train which was under Union attack. Rejoined the Division
at 11:00P.M.
May 3rd : The 14th Ga. Inf. actively engaged., captured enemy breastwork
and advanced to isolated position. Thomas ordered it back to brigade.
The 14th Ga. Inf. lost 8 killed, 67 wounded, again the highest casualty
rate in the brigade. Among those lost were Lt. Col. * James M. Fielder, Capts.
Robert P. Harman and T. T. Mounger, and Lieut. H. A. Solomon.
[60]
Chancellorsville cost the Confederacy its greatest field commander "Stonewall"
Jackson.
The command of the Second Corps devolved upon Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill. This
event brought Brig. Gen. Henry Heth into Command of the Light Division. In
his report, Heth cited both Brig. Gen. Edward L. Thomas and his brigade for
gallantry at Chancellorsville. Col. Folsom commended the 14th Ga. Inf. for
their part in that battle.
May 6th : A. P. Hill returned to command of the Second Corps (he had
been slightly wounded at Chancellorsville).
May 10th : "Stonewall" Jackson died.
Reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia
May 30th : Special Orders No. 146, Army of Northern Virginia reorganized
the Amy into three Corps:
Maj. Gen. Richard. H. Anderson's division transferred from First Corps
to now Third Corps.
Second Corps under command of Lt. Gen. Richard S. Dwell consisted of divisions
of Maj. Gens. Jubal A. Early, Edward Johnson, and R. E. Rodes.
New Third Corps, commanded by Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill. It's organization -
Heth's division, made up of Heth's, Archer's, Pettigrew's and Cooke's
brigades.
Pender's division (Maj. Gen. W. Dorsey Pender), consisting of Pender's
Lane's, Thomas', and McGowan's brigades.
Anderson's division (from First Corps).
The great Light Division was no more. Its brigades being divided among
the now divisions of Pender and Heth.
June 3rd -
Aug. 1st : Gettysburg Campaign.
June 8th: 14th Ga. Inf. "in trenches" at Fredericksburg, Va.
June 29th: Third Corps encamped on road from Chambersburg, Penna. to
Gettysburg, Penna.
June 30th: Pender's Division moved toward Cashtown, Pennsylvania.
July 1st: Pender's division followed Heth's Division through Cashtown
toward Gettysburg.
Pender assisted Heth in his attack (Thomas' brigade retained by A. P.
Hill to meet threatened Union attack from the left. Later moved to right
of Gettysburg as artillery support).
[61]
July 2nd: Thomas' brigade remained in its last position of the 1st until
night of the 2nd. Then, along with McGowan's brigade, took position on right
of Ewell's Second Corps. Here it remained until night of the 3rd.
July 3rd: Thomas' brigade moved to right of Gettysburg, in a wood. Here
it remained until night of the 4th.
July 4th: Army of Northern Virginia withdrawn toward Hagerstown, Maryland.-
via Fairfield and Waynesboro, Penna.
July 7th - 13th: Third Corps in line of battle at Hagerstown.
July 13th: At night, the Third Corps moved toward Falling Waters, Md.,
The Army as rearguard of he Army. While crossing into Virginia, Pender's
division attacked by Union cavalry - Gen. Pettigrew killed.
July 21st: Third Corps resumed its march for Culpepper Court-House, Va.
Aug. 1st: Third Corps arrived at Culpepper prior to this date.
In this Campaign, the 14th Ga. Inf. lost 5 killed and 27 wounded; the
brigade, 16 killed and. 136 wounded; Penders's division, 259 killed and 1,
383 wounded including its commander W. Dorsey Pender who was killed.
Aug. 15th : Lee assigned Maj. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox to the command of
the late Pender's Division. He was to so remain until Appomattox.
Aug. 18th : 14th Ga. Inf. at Orange Court-House, Virginia.
Aug. 31st : 14th, 35th, 45th, and 49th Ga. Inf. regts. still constitute
Thomas' brigade, Wilcox's division, A. P. Hill's Third Corps.
Sept. 30th: Thomas' brigade still organized as at end of previous month.
Oct. 9th
- 22nd: Fristoe, Va. Campaign.
Though a part of A. P. Hill's force, Wilcox's division not actively
engaged.
Oct. 31st: Thomas' brigade organized as at end of previous month.
Nov. 26th
-Dec 2 : Mine Run, Va. Campaign
Wilcox's Division engaged in driving Union forces to north bank of the
Rapidan, as part of Third Corps attack.
Dec. 19th : Thomas' brigade detached from Wilcox's division and in the
Shenandoah Valley under Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early, to repel Union raid in
that area. At Milboro on this date.
Dec. 20th: Early moved with Thomas' brigade from Milboro for Staunton
to repel Union force coming up the Valley.
[62]
Dec. 31st: Thomas' brigade still in Valley with Early.
1864
Jan. 2nd: Thomas' brigade at Strasburg, Va.
Feb. 20th: Thomas' brigade still in Valley with Early During this period
was
in Hardy and Grant counties, West Virginia, as well as at Now Market,
Virginia.
Mar. 20th: Thomas' brigade with its own division, Wilcox's, near Orange
Courthouse, Virginia.
May 4th Union forces under Grant crossed the Rapidan at Ely's and Germanna
Fords.
May 5th-
May 7th: Battle of the Wilderness.
May 5th: Wilcox's and Heth's Divisions resisted Union force.
May 8th-
May 16th: Battle of Spotsylvania Court-House, Virginia.
May 8th: Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill relieved of command. of Third Corps due
to illness. Early in temporary command.
May 10th: Early with portion of Third Corps drove back Union force near
Shady Grove Church.
May 12th: The Bloody Angle. Union force overran part of Confederate
breastwork.
[1st Lieut. Josiah B. Patterson, Co. E, 14th Ga. Inf. killed in the fighting
on this date.]
May 16th: Confederate attack against 98th New York Inf. led by 23rd Va.
Inf, followed by 14th Ga. Inf.
May 21st: Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill resumed command of Third Corps.
May 23rd -
May 28th: Battle of North Anna.
May 27th: Third Corps checked advance of Union V Corps.
May 29th: Early assigned temporary command of Second Corps due to illness
of Lt. Gen. Ewell.
June 1st - June 3 : Battle of Cold Harbor.
Two brigades of Wilcox's division dislodged Union forces from Turkey
Hill.
[63]
1864 cont'd
June 14th : Grant began to cross to south side of the James.
June 15th: Union siege of Petersburg, Va. began (lasted until Apr. 2,
1865).
June 16th: Lee with Pickett's division arrived at Drewry's Bluff, Va.
June 17th: Lee ordered Third Corps to Chafin's Bluff.
June 22nd: A. P. Hill with Mahone's and Wilcox's divisions attacked Union
besiegers. B. R. Johnson's division in support. Took 2,000 Union prisoners
.
July 11th : Thomas' brigade held Confederate line in vicinity of Swift
Creek Brigade had strength of only 800 men, according to Union report.
July 13th: Thomas' and Scales' brigades., Wilcox's division, south of
the James between Walthall Junction and the Appomattox River. (They had moved
into this position by or before July 1st, according to Union Gen. Butler).
Lane's and McGowan's brigades, same division, were on north side of the
James.
Aug. 16th: Virtually same position held by Thomas and Scales.
Aug. 31st: Maj. Washington L. Goldsmith in command of 14th Georgia
Infantry.
Sept. l0th: Pickett's division with Thomas' brigade (of Wilcox) held line
between the Appomattox and the James.
Sept. 30th: Thomas' brigade numbered only 994 officers an(;- men present
for duty. The division (Wilcox's)numbered only 4,780. Col. Richard P. Lester
in command of the 14th Georgia Infantry.
Oct. 15th: Thomas' position as it was on Sept. l0th.
Dec. l0th: No change in Thomas' position. Only force between Pickett
on the left and Johnson on the right.
1865
Jan. 31st: No change in assignment of 14th Georgia Infantry.
Feb. 5th: Union force crossed Hatcher's Run.
Mar. 1st: Thomas' brigade numbered 78 officers and 958 men present for
duty. Wilcox's division numbered 340 officers, 4,882 men.
Mar. 29th: Wilcox's and Heth's divisions moved from Petersburg to the
lines near Hatcher's Run. Large Union force crossed Hatcher's Run at Monk's
Nock Bridge.
Apr. 2nd: Lt. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill killed-in-action.
[64]
1865 cont'd
Apr. 4th: Advance of Lee's Army reached Amelia Court-House, Virginia,
retreating from Petersburg - Richmond lines.
Apr. 7th: Lee moved through Farmville, Virginia.
Apr. 8th: Head of Lee's column reached Appomattox Court-House, Virginia.
Apr. 9th: Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to
U. S. Grant. The Army numbered only 28,231 (2,781 officers and 25,450 men),
primarily infantry.
By this time Thomas' brigade numbered only 57 officers and 456 men. Wilcox's
division, 286 officers and 2,395 men. The Third Corps, 847 officers and 7,090
men. The Corps numbering less than the Light Division at its peak. Col. Richard
P. Lester was in command of the 14th Georgia Infantry at the surrender.
Among the Confederate general officers who surrendered at Appomattox
were Gen. Robert E. Lee; Lt. Gen. James Longstreet; Maj. Gens. Pickett, Field,
Gordon, Grimes, Heth, Mahone, Wilcox, B. R. Johnson, Fitzhugh Lee, W. H.F.
Lee and Rosser; Brig. Gens, Steuart, Anderson, Benning, Bratton, Perry, Cox,
Evans, Cooke., Davis, MacRae., McComb, Forney, N. H. Harris., Weisiger, Lane,
McGowan, Edward. L. Thomas, Wallace, Moody, Ransom., Wise, Roberts, Pendleton,
Alexander and Long.
Author's Note: Should any of the missing letters of Lieut. Patterson come
to light in the hands of persons unknown, the writer would be most grateful
for the loan of them in order that copies could be incorporated as an addendum
to this work. Further, any additional information on the 14th Georgia Infantry
- such as muster rolls, counties from whence the companies of the Regiment
came, etc., would be gratefully received and appreciated. Full credit, in
each case, would be made in the addendum.