The following passages from L.E. Lastinger give his brief accounting of the roles of two Captains named Knight in the organization and leadership of the Berrien County Minute Men. L. E. Lastinger was the last surviving member of Company K, Berrien Minute Men, 29th Georgia Regiment.
“Levi J. Knight who was one of our leading citizens prominent in politics and a leader of the old Whig party, called for one hundred Volunteers to go with him to the front. Politics were adjourned and Mr. Knight was placed as Captain of one hundred of the best citizens of the County without a dissenting voice.
These men were lined up on the public square in Nashville, Georgia and the Captain made a statement, that if there was any member there who had changed his mind, or did not care to go with him, to step out. One member stepped out , but John Isom stepped into his place. These men were camped at different parts of the county, bought their uniforms or had them made and made every preparation necessary to go to the war.
“Captain Knight became very impatient that he could get no orders to go with his command to the front. However, in the latter part of July, 1861, he carried his Company to Savannah…” “…under the name of the ‘Berrien County Minute Men.’”
“They were there mustered into the service and went from Savannah to Brunswick, from Brunswick to Blackbeard Island, from Blackbeard Island to Sapelo Island.”
“During this time recruiting officers had been sent back home from Captain Knight’s Company, and they gathered about eighty additional recurits who left for the front in the latter part of September and arrived at Savannah and went from there to Sapelo Island where the met the first Company above mentioned. These eighty recruits proceeded to organize another company …”
“The first company was Company ‘G’ and the second company was company ‘K’, the first company being commanded by Captain Levi J. Knight, Sr. and the second company by John C. Lamb.”
“Of course, it is known that this company [Captain Levi J. Knight's Company] was not known as Company ‘G’ when it first went off, but got this letter when the Company was placed in the 29th Regiment.”
In his description of Company “G” of the 29th Georgia Regiment, L.E. Lastinger wrote, “The following will show the muster roll as it was when it first left the left the County, Aug 1 1861 – Both officers and privates,” including the two men he referred to as “Levi J. Knight, Sr.” and “Levi J. Knight, Jr.”
Levi J. Knight, Capt. — “He was promoted to Maj. in the organization of the 29th G. Regt. He resigned soon thereafter on account of his age and died about the close of the war.”
Levi J. Knight, Jr., 4th Sergt. –Was made Capt. of Co. “G” and served through the war, was badly wounded but recovered and returned to his post of duty and was a prisoner of war at the surrender on Johnson’s Island. Captured at Nashville Tenn., 16th of Dec. 1864.
While clearly familiar with with both of these men, no where does Lastinger refer to the two as father and son. It seems incredible that he would have failed to mention this family relationship, if it were true.
But how to tell the tale of two men with the same name? Could one be “Big Knight” and the other “Little Knight”? Elder and Younger? Or would Jr. and Sr. suffice?
Next, we examine the Confederate Pension Application of Levi J. Knight.
