Levi J. Knight, first settler of the Ray City, GA area, has been a central subject of this blog.
- Levi J. Knight and Lowndes First Superior Court
- Berrien Skirmishes, the Battle of Brushy Creek, and the Indian Maiden
- Levi J. Knight’s Military Heritage
- General Levi J. Knight ~ Railroad Tycoon
- General Knight’s Railroad Rolls Into Civil War
- L.E. Lastinger and Captain Knight’s Berrien Minutemen
- Levi J. Knight and the Confederate Payroll Fraud
- Levi J. Knight ~ Next Generation
- Levi J. Knight ~ Wayne County Beginnings
- Knights Come to Lowndes County, GA
- The Commission of Major General Levi J. Knight
Levi J. Knight fought in the Indian War of 1836-1839 and served as Captain of the Lowndes Militia. After the resignation of Major General Ezekiel Wimberly, Knight was elected Major General of the 6th Division of Georgia Militia on December 4, 1840. In that same election, John McPherson Berrien was elected to the U.S. Senate, a position he held until 1850.
Announcement of the election of Levi J. Knight to Major General of the Militia, Milledgeville Recorder, Dec 8, 1840.
Milledgeville Recorder, Dec. 8, 1840, pg 3
Levi J. Knight of Lowndes county, was elected, on Friday last, Major General of the sixth Division G.M., in place of Gen. E. Wimberly, resigned.
Election of Major General Levi J. Knight, Columbus Enquirer, Dec. 9, 1840.
Columbus Enquirer, Dec. 9, 1840 — page 2
MILLEDGEVILLE, Dec. 5th, 1840.
Messrs Editors: On yesterday at 12 o’clock, the following elections transpired.
For. U.S. Senator, 6 years, 4th March next.John McPherson Berrien, 153, elec.
M. Hall McAlister 117
Scattering, 6
Blank 2Major General 6th Division G.M. in the place of E. Wimberly, resigned:
Knight of Lowndes, 198
Slappey of Twiggs, 58
Blank, 9
Following the election, Knight received an official commission as Major General, by order of the Governor.
Executive order commissioning Levi J. Knight as Major General of the Georgia Militia, Dec 11, 1840.
Knight, Levi J
Executive Department
Milledgeville 11th Dec 1840Ordered
That the Secretary of State prepare a
Commission for Levi J Knight elected a
Major General of the 6th Division
Georgia Militia on the 4th instant,
By the GovernorJ. V. Harris
S. E. D.
For ten years Levi J. Knight served in the militia as Major General.
General Knight was responsible for the local defense and security in the 6th Division of the state militia, and had authority to call out militia units for civil defense. The organization and Command of the state militia was explained by South Georgia Historian Folks Huxford:
The early state militia was divided into divisions, then into brigades, then regiments, then into battalions, then into companies. Company officers were a captain, first and second lieutenants and an ensign. Company officers were elected by popular vote of the privates.
Five companies made up a battalion headed by a Major. Every county constituted at least one battalion; some counties had more than five companies, therefore had more than one battalion.
Ten companies or two battalions made up a regiment. Regimental officers consisted of a Colonel and a lieutenant-Colonel.
Five regiments made up a brigade commanded by a Brigadier-General. Two brigades composed a Division commanded by a Major-General. The latter officer was under the direct orders of the Adjutant-General, the personal representative of the Commander-in-Chief who was, of course, the Governor.
In the 1850 Census of Lowndes County, GA General Knight owned real estate valued at $5000. His occupation was listed as farming. The census enumerates Levi J. Knight (47) with the following in his household: Ann D. (48), William W. (21), John (18), Mary A. (14), Levi A. (12), Jonathan D. (10), Keziah A. (7), and also Elizabeth Clements, age 80, blind, born in Ireland. Sons William and John assisted with farming. The General’s neighbors were his son-in-law, Hardeman Sirmans, and William Patton, who was Justice of the Peace.
In 1850 Levi J. Knight resigned his commission as Major General of the 6th Division of the Georgia Militia, an office he held since 1840, tendering his resignation in a letter to Governor George W. Towns.
1850 Resignation of Major General Levi J. Knight
Troupville September 16th 1850
To his Excellency
George W Towns Sir
You will please
accept this as my resignation of
the office of Major General of the
Sixth Division Georgia Militia. I am
Respectfully your obedient
and humble Servant
Levi J. KnightAppling, Clinch, Iwin, Laurens
Lowndes, Pulaski, Telfair, Twiggs
andWlkinsins, Ware & Wilkinsin
a
Ray City History Blog 
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