Brunswick GA | Ray City History Blog

Tebeauville, Old No. Nine

June 6, 2020 at 12:58 am (African American, Civil War, Railroads, Reconstruction)
Tags: Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, Bainbridge GA, Bertha Street Park, Blackshear GA, Brunswick & Western Railroad, Brunswick GA, Frederic Edmund Tebeau, General Levi J. Knight, Glenmore GA, James Screven, John Screven, No. Nine GA, P. C. Pendleton, Philip Coleman Pendleton, Ray City GA, Satilla Locomotive, Satilla River, Savannah GA, Tebeau Creek, Tebeauville GA, Troupville GA, Valdosta GA, Ware County GA, Waycross GA, Withlacoochee River

Tebeauville, Old No. Nine

Prior to the Civil War General Levi J. Knight, of present-day Ray City, GA, invested in the development of railroads across Wiregrass Georgia. Two of Knight’s investments were in the Brunswick & Florida Railroad, and the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, the junction of which was at Tebeauville, GA. When the Civil War commenced, Knight’s railroads were still being constructed, largely with the labor of enslaved African-Americans. During early part of the war, Knight’s company of Berrien Minute Men was transported on these railroads to their posts at the coastal defenses of Georgia.

Depot at station No. Nine, Tebeauville, GA (now Waycross, GA) was the junction point of the Brunswick & Florida Railroad with the Savannah, Albany & Gulf Railroad and the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad.

Although the Brunswick & Florida Railroad had been chartered in 1837, construction did not commence until 1856. The track was started at Brunswick, GA but by 1857, only 36 miles of rail had been completed. If completed, the B&F could move men and materials from ports on the Gulf of Mexico to the Brunswick port on the Atlantic in 24 hours “in case of war between this country and a foreign nation.” And there were plans that the B&F would make connections to bring passenger and freight traffic to Brunswick from as far west as Vicksburg, MS.

The short line Brunswick & Florida Railroad would run from Brunswick to the Savannah, Albany & Gulf Railroad station number nine, which was also to be a junction with the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad. The Atlantic & Gulf was intended to serve the two coastal railroads as a “Main Trunk” stretching across South Georgia. At Bainbridge, GA it was planned to serve the steamboat docks on the Flint River creating a passenger and freight connection to the Gulf of Mexico.

The junction point of the B&F, A&G and the S, A & G, was ninth station to be constructed on the line from Savannah and was situated just south of the Satilla River. The eponymous community which sprang up there was No. Nine. Blackshear, GA. was No. Eight and Glenmore, GA was No. 10.

Philip Coleman Pendleton, agent for the Lowndes County Immigration Society

In 1857, Philip Coleman Pendleton had settled his family at No. Nine before the tracks of the S, A & G or the B & F even reached the station. At Tebeauville, Pendleton engaged in farming and timber. He also served as postmaster and stated the first Sunday school in Ware County. (Pendleton had come from Sandersville, GA where he was co-owner of the Central Georgian newspaper, with O. C. Pope, Sr.)

At that time [1857] a Savannah company headed by James Screven, father of the late John Screven, was building a railroad from Savannah to Thomasville. The western terminus [of the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad] was then at a point some twelve or fifteen miles east of Blackshear…The laying of the iron reached Mr. Pendleton’s place about a year later… The old stage road between Thomasville and Brunswick passed here, with a fork running to Burnt Fort, on the Satilla River. There was a post-office at this place called “Yankee Town.” It was so designated because northern people operated the stage coaches and they owned at this place a relay stable; but it passed away with the coming of the railroad, and Screven named the station ‘Pendleton’. The man thus honored took the first train to Savannah and caused the name to be changed to Tebeauville, after his father-in-law, Captain F. E. Tebeau, a member of one of the old Savannah families. Perhaps a year or so later a civil engineer came along surveying the route for the [Brunswick & Florida Railroad]. When he arrived at Tebeauville he made a side proposition to Mr. Pendleton to run the prospective city off in lots and to give him each alternate lot. Mr. Pendleton did not think that the man was authorized thus to approach him, and suggested that he tell the president of the road to see him in regard to the matter. Miffed at this rebuke, the engineer went back three or four miles pulling up the stakes as he went, and made a curve to miss Mr. Pendleton’s land. If one will stand at the crossing near Tebeau Creek, in the heart of Waycross, and look towards Brunswick, he can see the curve in the road [railroad tracks], caused by this effort of the engineer to make something on the side. – Georgia’s Men of Mark

The tracks of the Savannah, Albany and Gulf reached station No. Nine on July 4, 1859.

By 1859, 60 miles of B & F track had been laid stretching from Brunswick north around the headwaters of East River then westward toward Tebeauville. The B&F junction at station No. Nine completed a rail connection between Brunswick and Savannah and connected Brunswick with the “Main Trunk” Atlantic and Gulf Railroad.

Civil War era map of the Brunswick & Florida Railroad, running from Yankee Town (now Waycross), GA to Brunswick, GA - Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

Civil War era map of the Brunswick & Florida Railroad, running from Yankee Town, the post office at Tebeauville (now Waycross), GA, to Brunswick, GA – Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

Construction of the A & G was progressing westward from Tebeauville toward Lowndes County, GA. The steel rails were imported from Le Havre, France. There were 1200 enslaved African Americans at work building the Atlantic & Gulf, making the railroad perhaps the largest single “owner” of enslaved people in Georgia. In 1859, 75 percent of railroads in the south were built with the labor of enslaved people and one-third of all southern lines worked 100 or enslaved laborers.

African Americans maintaining a southern railroad. In 1859, 1200 African American slaves labored to build the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad across Wiregrass Georgia, laying a little over a mile of track every week. The first train reached Valdosta, GA on July 30, 1860. Image: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpb.02135/

African Americans maintaining a southern railroad.
In 1859, 1200 enslaved African Americans labored to build the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad across Wiregrass Georgia, laying a little over a mile of track every week. The jubilee train reached Valdosta, GA on July 31,1860. Image: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpb.02135/

The southern railroads were dependent on enslaved black laborers for construction and maintenance, and sometimes operations. The enslaved workers were either the “property” of the railroads or leased from “slave owners”. “Sometimes owners were actually reluctant to hire out their enslaved laborers because of the extreme danger associated with rail construction and train operations; if they did so, they often would take out insurance on their [human] property from working on the riskiest tasks. Of course, those contractual provisions were not always obeyed, leading contractors and slave owners to the courtroom.” – From Here to Equality.

About 20 miles west of Tebeauville, railroad superintendent Gaspar J. Fulton made a side investment in real estate. Fulton purchased land along the tracks from John Smith, of Clinch County. However, no station was established there until the 1880s (now Argyle, GA).

By February 1860, the A & G track had crossed the Alapaha River near Carter’s Bridge about nine miles south of Milltown (now Lakeland, GA). By March 12, hundreds of bales of cotton were being shipped to Savannah from Station No. 13 at Stockton, GA, which was described as “‘quite a brisk little place, with its hotel and livery stable’ to say nothing of its numerous refreshment saloons.” There were 50 bales of cotton shipped from “Alapaha” on March 10. By about the end of the month at Station No. 13, there were “about 120 bales of cotton for shipment, and the warehouses crowded with western freight.” The May 1, 1860 annual report of the A & G [inclusive of the S, A&G] stated that in previous 12 months [during which track was extended from Tebeauville, GA to Naylor, GA] there were 4.8 million feet of lumber and timber shipped over the railroad.

The residents at Troupville, GA, then county seat of Lowndes, were hopeful that the town would be the site where the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad spanned the Withlacoochee River. By July 1860, the Atlantic and Gulf track extended 62 miles to near the Withlacoochee but the route passed four miles southeast of Troupeville and crossed the river eight miles downstream, sorely disappointing the town’s residents. The many of the town residents packed up and moved to the tracks, some even moving their houses, and founded the city of Valdosta, GA.

The Satilla was the first locomotive to arrive at Valdosta, July 4, 1860. The engines of the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad (Savannah, Albany & Gulf) were named for the rivers of South Georgia. The Satilla is on exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI.

The Satilla was the first locomotive to arrive at Valdosta, July 30, 1860. The engines of the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad (Savannah, Albany & Gulf) were named for the rivers of South Georgia. The Satilla is on exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI.

John Screven, president of the A & R reported that the tracks reached Valdosta on July 25, 1860.

The Augusta Daily Constitutionalist reported the completion of the Atlantic & Gulf railroad to Valdosta, GA

When the Civil War broke out, the completion of the Brunswick & Florida, the Savannah, Albany and Gulf, and the Atlantic & Gulf railroads became strategically important, although the threatening “foreign nation” was the United States. Troops from all over Wiregrass Georgia were mobilized on the railroads. P. C. Pendleton “was engaged in planting and looking after his splendid timbered lands when the war came on… “Tebeauville, though not a town of much size, at the outbreak of the war in 1861, nevertheless furnished several recruits to Colquitt’s Brigade” … [Pendleton] raised a company of volunteers in Ware county and upon its organization became a major of the 50th Georgia Regiment. – J. L. Walker, State Historian, DAR

During the war, the Sunday School at Tebeauville was superintended by Mrs. B. F. Williams, wife a Confederate army surgeon. Mrs. Williams lived a few miles from Tebeauville at Sunnyside, near the Satilla River. She also helped to organize a non-denominational church “composed of ‘Hard-Shells,’ Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, that existed and flourished for years in perfect harmony. – J. L. Walker, State Historian, DAR

In 1861 the Berrien Minute Men, the Confederate infantry company raised by General Knight, traveled on the Brunswick & Florida from Station No. 9, (Tebeauville) to Brunswick. Per orders, Captain L. J. Knight took his company of Berrien Minute Men to the Georgia coast where they and other volunteer companies from South Georgia counties were garrisoned at Camp Semmes for the defense of the port at Brunswick, GA (Berrien Minute Men at Brunswick ~ July, 1861). The Confederate States government compensated the railroads for providing transportation.

Robert E. Lee visited Tebeauville, GA in 1861

Robert E. Lee stopped for a few hours in Tebeauville in 1861 while making a general survey of the Confederate coastal defenses. In a letter to his wife, transcribed in Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee, he referenced the Battle of Port Royal, in which the 29th GA regiment was engaged, and mentioned plans to visit Brunswick:

“Savannah, November 18, 1861.

“My Dear Mary: This is the first moment I have had to write to you, and now am waiting the call to breakfast, on my way to Brunswick, Fernandina, etc. This is my second visit to Savannah. Night before last, I returned to Coosawhatchie, South Carolina, from Charleston, where I have placed my headquarters, and last night came here, arriving after midnight. I received in Charleston your letter from Shirley. It was a grievous disappointment to me not to have seen you, but better times will come, I hope…. You probably have seen the operations of the enemy’s fleet. Since their first attack they have been quiescent apparently, confining themselves to Hilton Head, where they are apparently fortifying.

“I have no time for more. Love to all.

“Yours very affectionately and truly,

“R. E. Lee.”

In his 1914 Georgia’s Men of Mark, historian Lucian Lamar Knight included:

It is one of the local traditions, to which the old residents point with great pride, that when in command of the coast defense, at the outbreak of the war, General Robert E. Lee stopped for a short while in Tebeauville. Many of the people who lived here then remember to have seen this Man of the Hour who still lives in the hearts of the people today. Among the the citizens who resided here then were the Tebeaus, the Reppards, the Remsharts, the Parkers, the Grovensteins, the Millers, the Behlottes, the Sweats, the Smiths and the Cottinghams. To this day many old timers refer to the section of [Waycross] where the Tebeauville station was located as “Old Nine”.

At the time of General Lee’s survey, the campfires of the Berrien Minute Men were made at garrisons defending Darien, GA, the next port north of Brunswick. “As a result of [General Lee’s] coastal survey, upon his return to Savannah 3 days later, he notified the War Department in Richmond of the confirmation of his previous opinion that the ‘entrance to Cumberland Sound and Brunswick and the water approaches to Savannah [including Fort Pulaski] and Charleston are the only points which it is proposed to defend.'” National Park Service

The defenses of Georgia’s sea islands were abandoned, their guns and men redeployed to defend the three southern ports. The Berrien Minute Men were moved to garrisons around the port of Savannah.

Ultimately, Levi J. Knight’s investment in the B&F railroad became another casualty of the Civil War. “The Brunswick and Florida Railroad was in operation up to the fall of 1863, when the Confederate Government seized it under the Impressment Act, tore up the rails, and distributed the property of the Company among other railroads, which were considered as leading military lines. The line of the B&F had become a liability as U.S forces had occupied Brunswick in early 1862.

P. C. Pendleton moved his family to Valdosta, GA in 1862 where after the war he established the South Georgia Times newspaper. His former business partner, O. C. Pope moved to Milltown in 1866 where he taught in the Milltown Academy.

In late 1867 Major Philip Coleman Pendleton again passed through Tebeauville as a passenger on the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad from Valdosta to Savannah, where he was sailing for Scotland. He was on a mission for the Lowndes Immigration Society to recruit Scottish immigrants to settle at Valdosta, GA, and work the cotton, as Wiregrass planters had an aversion to hiring and paying formerly enslaved laborers to do the work.

The town of Tebeauville was incorporated in 1866. “In 1869, the State of Georgia provided about $6 million in bonds to rebuild [the tracks from Tebeauville to Brunswick]. The railroad was then reorganized as the Brunswick and Albany Railroad.” Tebeauville was designated county seat of Ware County in 1873. It was incorporated as “Way Cross” on March 3, 1874. Waycross gets its name from the city’s location at key railroad junctions; lines from six directions meet at the city.

Tebeauville Historic Marker, Waycross, GA

Tebeauville Historic Marker in Bertha Street Park, Waycross, GA, “On this site stood the old town of Tebeauville. Erected by the Lyman Hall Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Waycross, GA.

The B&A went bankrupt in 1872 after a bond was nullified by the Georgia General Assembly. It was reorganized in 1882 and was then named the Brunswick and Western Railroad.

The name Tebeauville remained in use for the station at Waycross at least as late as 1889, as evidenced in railroad schedules and newspaper references.

(See source citations below)

Sources:

Georgia.1836. Acts of the General Assembly of the state of Georgia passed in Milledgeville at an annual session in November and December 1835. An act to incorporate the Brunswick and Florida Railroad.pg 187.

United States. (1851). The statutes at large and treaties of the United States of America from. Boston: C.C. Little and J. Brown. pg 146

Dozier, Howard Douglas. 1920. A history of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Houghton Mifflin. pg 79.

Phillips, Ulrich Bonnell. 1908. A history of transportation in the eastern cotton belt to 1860. pg 358.

Georgia Telegraph. Dec 20, 1853. From Milledgeville. Macon, GA. Pg 2

Georgia Telegraph. June 13, 1854. Minutes of the stockholders of the Brunswick and Florida Railroad. Macon, GA. Pg 3

Southern Recorder, May 15, 1855. Brunswick and Florida Railroad. Pg 2

Georgia Telegraph. Apr 8, 1856. Minutes of the Board of Commissioners of the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad Company, First Meeting, Wednesday, Feb 27, 1856. Macon, GA. Pg 3

United States. 1857. Appendix to the Congressional Globe containing speeches, important state papers, laws, etc., of the third session, Thirty-fourth Congress. Naval Depot at Brunswick, Georgia: Speech of Hon. A. Iverson of Georgia in the Senate, January 20, 1957. pg. 270-275.

Poor, H. V. (1869). Poor’s manual of railroads. New York: H.V. & H.W. Poor; [etc., etc. Pg. 337.

Loyless, T. W. (1902). Georgia’s public men 1902-1904. Atlanta, Ga: Byrd Print. Pp 166.
Miller, S.F. 1858. The bench and bar of Georgia: memoirs and sketches, with an appendix, containing a court roll from 1790 to 1857, etc. (1858). J. B. Lippincott & Co. Philadelphia. Pg 170

Milledgeville Federal Union, Nov. 18, 1856. Commercial Convention at Savannah. page 3. Milledgeville, GA.

United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1,438 rolls. Census Place: Berrien, Georgia; Roll: M653_111; Page: 362; Image: 363.

Mitchell, S. Augustus. 1855. Mitchell’s new traveller’s guide through the United States and Canada. pg 87

Swayze, J. C., & H.P. Hill & Co. (1862). Hill & Swayze’s Confederate States rail-road & steam-boat guide: Containing the time-tables, fares, connections and distances on all the rail-roads of the Confederate States, also, the connecting lines of rail-roads, steamboats and stages, and will be accompanied by a complete guide to the principal hotels, with a large variety of valuable information. Griffin, Ga: Hill & Swayze.

Railga.com. Brunswick & Florida Railroad. https://railga.com/brunfl.html

Walker, J. L. (1911, Nov 11). Tabeauville. Waycross Evening Herald.

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Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 6

October 21, 2017 at 12:44 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War)
Tags: 26th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, 29th Georgia Regiment, 4th Georgia Battalion, Alexander Robert Lawton, Alfred B. Findley, Altamaha Delta, Altamaha River, Barrett's Island, Berrien Minute Men, Bird Island GA, Blackbeard Island GA, Brunswick GA, camp fever, Champion's Island, Confederate Subsistence Department, Darien GA, Daufuskie Island SC, David D. Mahon, Doboy Island, Doboy Island GA, Dr. John T. Clower, Edward Morris, Ellis H. Hogan, Fernandina FL, Fort Pulaski, Francis M. Dixon, George Harlan, Hiram F. Harrell, James Madison Harrell, James Newman, Jekyll Island GA, John Lindsey, John R. Langdale, John W. McClellan, Jones Island SC, Malcolm McCranie, measles, Nightingale's Plantation, Ochlocknee Light Infantry, Ray's Mill GA, Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States, Robert H. Goodman, Samuel Cooper, Sapelo Island, Savannah GA, St. Catherines Island, St. Simons Island, Thomas County Volunteers, Thomas J. Lindsey, Thomasville Guards, Tybee Island GA, Venus Point SC, William Anderson, William Hall, William P. Clower, Wolf Island GA

Berrien County in the Civil War
29th Georgia Regiment on Sapelo Island
Part 6: In Regular Service

Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island

During the Civil War, two companies of men that went forth from Berrien County, GA were known as the Berrien Minute Men. From October 1861 to January 1862, the campfires of the Berrien Minute Men were made at Sapelo and Blackbeard islands protecting the approaches to Darien, GA on Doboy Sound and the Altamaha River. The Berrien Minute Men arrived in early October and were stationed on Sapelo Island along with the Thomas County Guards, Thomas County Volunteers and Ochlocknee Light Infantry. Regimental officers were elected by the first of November. Through the fall, the men bided their time on the tidewater, fighting boredom and disease…

According to Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States “An officer may draw subsistence stores, paying cash for them at contract or cost prices, without including cost of transportation, on his certificate that they are for his own use and the use of his family.” The officers of the 29th GA Regiment were authorized to purchase provisions at Darien GA. Records of the Subsistence Department show Major Levi J. Knight signed for 59 pounds pork, 195 lbs flour, 112 lbs meal, 299 lbs rice, 46 lbs coffee, 162 lbs sugar, 2 lbs candles, 12 1/4 lbs soap, 16 quarts salt for his officers and their families during the month of January 1862.

Finally, the 29th Regiment was reported ready for service.

On January 14, 1862, Brigadier General Alexander Robert Lawton informed Adjutant Inspector General Samuel Cooper that the regiment had been properly mustered in as the 29th GA Volunteer Infantry.

Head Quarters, Dept of Geo

Savannah Jany 14th 1862

General S. Cooper
Adjt Inspector General
Richmond
General
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter of the 10th inst from the Ajt General’s Office, inquiring if Col R Spalding’s 29th Geo Regiment has been properly mustered in or not.
In reply I beg leave to say that it is a full regiment and has been for some months regularly in service
I have the honor to be, very Respy
Your Obdt Servt
A R Lawton
Brig Genl Comg

Brigadier General A. R. Lawton letter of January 14, 1862 confirming readiness of the 29th GA Infantry

Brigadier General A. R. Lawton letter of January 14, 1862 to Adjutant Inspector General Samuel Cooper confirming readiness of the 29th GA Infantry. (In 1864, General Cooper stayed the execution of Confederate deserter Burrell Douglass. Cooper is credited for the preservation of Confederate service records after the war).

A Regimental Surgeon, William P. Clower, was finally appointed on January 18, 1862. Surgeon Clower’s brother, John T. Clower, would later serve as the doctor in Ray’s Mill (now Ray City, GA). The surgeon was a welcome addition, but the health conditions of the Regiment did not immediately improve. James Madison Harrell was sent home sick. Alfred B. Finley, who joined the Berrien Minute Men at Darien, contracted measles and lost an eye to complications; despite that disability he would continue to serve with the 29th Regiment. Hiram F. Harrell contracted measles and died at Darien, GA. Edward Morris contracted measles and “camp fever” and never recovered; he died a few weeks later at Savannah, GA.

The 29th Regiment’s tenure on Sapelo would soon be over. Before the end of January, the 29th GA regiment would be called up to the coastal defenses at Savannah. When the regiment finally left Darien, John Lindsey, William Hall, and James Newman and John R. Langdale were left behind, sick. William Anderson, who had been on sick leave in October, had a relapse and was also left in Darien. Thomas J. Lindsey, David D. Mahon and Robert H. Goodman were detailed to Darien as nurses. John W. McClellan was also detailed to remain at Darien. Malcolm McCranie died of measles at Darien on February 2, 1862 and Ellis H. Hogan died February 25, 1862. In the Ochlocknee Light Infantry, George Harlan was disabled and discharged at Darien on February 17, 1862, and Francis M. Dixon died of typhoid pneumonia at Darien the following day.

A Civil War letter from Camp Security dated February 12, 1862, describes the prevalence of tonsillitis and measles among the men. This letter, signed Gussie, was probably written by Augustus H. Harrell, of the Thomasville Guards. Of the 350 or so men at the camp, less than half were fit for duty. There weren’t enough guns to arm all of the soldiers; some of the men carried a pike as their primary weapon.

The defense of Georgia’s sea islands quickly proved untenable against the strength of the Union Navy. By early December 1861 U.S. forces had occupied Tybee Island off the coast of Savannah and were landing ordnance and constructing batteries there. By the end of January 1862 U.S. Navy vessels were maneuvering to enter the Savannah River and threatened to cut off Fort Pulaski from Savannah. On the South Carolina side, U.S. troops occupied Daufuskie Island and constructed batteries on Bird Island and at Venus Point on Jones Island.

General Lee was desperate to shore up Confederate artillery defending Savannah, Georgia’s chief seaport. To strengthen the Savannah defenses, General Lee instructed General Mercer at Brunswick to remove the batteries on St. Simon’s and Jekyll islands if the defense of those positions became untenable, and to forward the artillery to Savannah. By this time the sea island planters had moved their property inland, and the residents of Brunswick had abandoned the city. By February 16, 1862, General Mercer reported the guns had been removed from Jekyll and St. Simons and shipped to Savannah and Fernandina. At the retreat of the 4th Georgia Battalion and Colonel Cary W. Styles 26th Georgia Regiment from Brunswick, General Mercer wanted to burn the city as a show of determination not to be occupied by U.S. forces.

With the withdrawal of the 29th Georgia Regiment from Sapelo Island, the Confederates abandoned the defense of Darien altogether. Indeed, the Savannah Republican newspaper of June 27, 1862, reported “two Yankee gunboats had passed Darien some four or five miles up the river, seemingly to destroy the railroad bridges across the Altamaha… A gunboat had been up the river as far as Champion’s Island – Nightingale’s Plantation…she was seen lying at Barrett’s Island, about three miles from the town, having in charge a two mast schooner that had been hid up the river.” The schooner was believed to have been loaded with rice. The coast around St. Simon’s, Doboy, Sapelo and St. Catherines was said to be infested with Yankee steamers. The coastal inhabitants feared that crops in fields bordering the rivers would be destroyed by the Union forces; “They have already stolen a goodly number of our slaves, thus curtailing our provisions crops…”

Current navigational chart showing Sapelo Island, Blackbeard Island, Doboy Island, Queens Island, Wolf Island, GA. The Berrien Minute Men, Company G & K, 29th Georgia Regiment, were stationed at Sapelo Island and Blackbeard Island during 1861, defending the Altamaha River delta from Union forces.

Current navigational chart showing Sapelo Island, Blackbeard Island, Doboy Island, Queens Island, Wolf Island, GA. The Berrien Minute Men, Companies G & K, 29th Georgia Regiment, were stationed at Sapelo Island and Blackbeard Island during 1861, defending the Altamaha River delta from Union forces.

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Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 4

August 12, 2017 at 6:50 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War)
Tags: Berrien Minute Men, Brunswick GA, Cary W. Styles, Engineering Corps of the Confederate Army, General William H.T. Walker, Levi J. Knight, McIntosh County Ga, Ocklocknee Light Infantry, Randolph Spalding, Sapelo Island, Savannah GA, Spalding's South End Mansion, Thomas County GA, Thomas Spalding Wylly, Thomas Williamson Alexander, Thomasville Guards, William H, William W. Echols

Berrien County in the Civil War
29th Georgia Regiment on Sapelo Island
Part 4: Berrien Minute Men and the Election of Officers

Randolph Spalding, first Colonel of the 29th Georgia Infantry Regiment, elected November, 1861

Randolph Spalding, first Colonel of the 29th Georgia Infantry Regiment, elected October, 1861

During the Civil War, two companies of men that went forth from Berrien County, GA were known as the Berrien Minute Men. October, 1861 to January, 1862, the campfires of the Berrien Minute Men were made at Sapelo and Blackbeard islands protecting the approaches to Darien, GA on Doboy Sound and the Altamaha River. The Berrien Minute Men arrived on Sapelo Island in early October.

Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island

The two companies of Berrien Minute Men arrived on Sapelo Island without knowing who their regimental officers would be, or even which regiment they were in. The other companies in the no-name regiment on Sapelo were the Thomasville Guards and the Ocklocknee Light infantry, companies from Thomas County that had served with the Berrien Minute Men in the briefly constituted 13th Georgia Regiment at Brunswick, GA. Two other companies of the new regiment were still in Savannah.

The custom among the volunteer regiments of that time was that field officers were elected by popular vote of the troops, with the appointments officially made after confirmation by Army command. It was during the first few weeks on Sapelo Island, that the regiment held elections for the field officers. Among the candidates for Colonel were: Captain William H. Echols, a graduate of West Point and captain in the Engineering Corps of the Confederate Army; Cary Wentworth Styles who had commanded the 13th Regiment at Brunswick, and who, after the War founded the Atlanta Constitution; and Randolph Spalding (1822-1862), who was master of the South-end Mansion on Sapelo Island and a son of Sapelo plantation founder Thomas Spalding.

William Holding Echols, a Captain of Engineers in the Confederate States Army, was a candidate for Colonel of the 29th GA Regiment.

The Berrien Minute Men and the Thomas county companies had experienced the leadership of Colonel Styles when they served with the 13th Georgia Regiment at Brunswick, and William W. Knight was of the opinion that they would never accept Styles as Colonel of the regiment. The companies in Savannah preferred Echols, but the majority of the Regiment on Sapelo Island favored Randolph Spalding. The election was held on October 22, 1861.

October 23, 1861 Savannah Republican reports election of Levi J. Knight as Major of the 29th Georgia Regiment

Savannah Republican
October 23, 1861

Election of Officers. – An election for field officers of a new regiment to be composed of companies now in camp at our Parade Ground and on Sapelo Island, took place yesterday. The vote of the Companies in this city [Savannah] show a majority of 20 votes for Echols over Spalding for Colonel. Alexander received a large majority for Lieutenant Colonel, and L. J. Knight the same for Major. The vote from Sapelo has not been received.

October 24, 1861 Savannah Republican reports election of Levi J. Knight as Major of the 29th Georgia Regiment

Savannah Republican
October 24, 1861

Military Election. – The election of field officers for the new regiment now encamped here and at Sapelo, resulted in the choice of Randolph Spalding Colonel by a majority of 20 votes. ——- Alexander was chosen Lieutenant Colonel, and Levi J. Knight, Major.

Randolph Spalding was chosen as Colonel, perhaps due to the home field advantage. He was a successful planter on the mainland and on Sapelo Island where he was master of the Spalding’s South End mansion. In addition, he was a Representative from McIntosh County for several terms. He later served on the staff of General William H.T. Walker. (He would die in camp at Savannah in March of 1862.)

Thomas Williamson Alexander was elected Lieutenant Colonel.

Thomas Williamson Alexander was elected Lt. Colonel of the 29th Georgia Regiment

Levi J. Knight advanced to Major of the newly formed Regiment. Thomas Spalding Wylly, a nephew of Colonel Randolph Spalding and grandson of Thomas Spalding, became Captain of Berrien Minute Men Company C. Wylly was educated and experienced traveler, having joined an expedition to California in 1849. (Wylly later transferred to Clinch’s 4th GA Cavalry.) John C. Lamb was elected Captain of Berrien Minute Men Company D.

Thomas Spalding Wylly succeeded Levi J. Knight as captain of the Berrien Minute Men. Image source: Wendy Wylly

With the election of officers, the Berrien Minute Men and the other companies on Sapelo were another step closer to completing the organization of the regiment. Over the next few months the worst foes the regiment would face in their backwater post were low morale, boredom, and disease.

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Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 1

July 16, 2017 at 2:04 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War)
Tags: 13th Regiment Georgia Infantry, Altamaha Delta, Altamaha River, Angus McDermid, Basil Hall, Berrien County GA, Berrien Minute Men, Bilious Fever, Blackbeard Island GA, bloody piles, Brunswick GA, Camp of Instruction, Camp Spalding GA, Charles Otis Boutelle, Chocolate Plantation, Company C 29th Georgia Regiment, Company D 29th Georgia Regiment, Darien GA, Doboy Sound, Earthwork on Sapelo Island, Enoch J. Connell, Eugene Willenbucher, Georgia Fever Bark, John Fletcher Hagan, John Isom, Levi J. Knight, Lowndes County GA, Malaria, miasma, Ochlocknee Light Infantry, Peter Dekle, Rice, Robert Goodwin Mitchell, Robert Hamilton Harris, Sapelo Island GA, Savannah GA, Sea Island Cotton, Spalding's South End Mansion, Sugar Cane, Thomas County GA, Thomas L, Thomas L. Lamb, Thomas N. Connell, Thomasville Guards, Union Blockade, William A. Jones, William H. Way, William P. Clower, William Washington Knight, yellow fever

Revised

February 28, 2024

Berrien County in the Civil War
29th Georgia Regiment on Sapelo Island
Part 1: Arrival on Sapelo

1863 Sketch of Civil War Earthwork on Sapelo Island. near Sapelo Lighthouse, Doboy Sound, Georgia. From a reconnaissance made, under direction of C. O. Boutelle, Assistant U.S.C.S., by Eugene Willenbucher, Draughtman C. S. January 1863

Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island

During the Civil War, two companies of men that went forth from Berrien County, GA were known as the Berrien Minute Men. The first company, organized by Captain Levi J. Knight served temporarily with the 13th Georgia Regiment at Brunswick, GA, before going on to Savannah to join in the formation of a new regiment. After brief training in the Camp of Instruction at Savannah and in coastal batteries defending the city, Knight’s company of Berrien Minute Men was detailed for duty on Sapelo Island. The second company of Berrien Minute Men rendezvoused with Captain Knight’s company after they had been deployed to Sapelo and was also enjoined in the formation of the new regiment. The two companies were mustered in as Companies C and D of the as yet unnamed Regiment.

From October, 1861 to January, 1862, the campfires of the Berrien Minute Men were made at Sapelo and Blackbeard islands protecting the approaches to the port of Darien, GA on Doboy Sound and the Altamaha River. Company C proceeded first to Sapelo, followed by Company D. Darien was about 55 miles south of Savannah and 20 miles north of Brunswick, GA. The environment of Darien, the sea islands and the Altamaha River basin were ideal for the cultivation of rice and long staple Sea Island cotton, and the agricultural economy of the southern tidewater was strategically important to the fledgling Confederate States.

According to historian Buddy Sullivan, “The soils of the Altamaha delta were extremely fertile, both for the production of cotton and sugar cane, but most especially for that of rice.” In the peak decade of the 1850s, the Altamaha delta produced over 12 million pounds of cleaned, hulled rice; “Darien was the center of some of the most extensive rice cultivation on the southeastern tidewater.” The tidewater agriculture was particularly labor intensive and “paralleled by the prevalence of malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases and their connectivity with tidal marshes, mud and water attendant to the breeding of mosquitoes…Slaves toiled in the wet, marshy rice fields under harsh, demanding conditions.”

“Captain Basil Hall, an English travel writer who visited the Altamaha district in 1828, observed that the growing of rice was ‘the most unhealthy work in which the slaves were employed, and that in spite of every care, they sank in great numbers. The causes of this dreadful mortality are the constant moisture and heat of the atmosphere, together with the alternating flooding and drying of fields on which the Negroes are perpetually at work, often ankle deep in mud, with their bare heads exposed to the fierce rays of the sun.'”

Slaves working in the rice fields.

When mosquito swarms peaked in the summer and early fall, the white plantation families of the Altamaha district left the care of the crops to their slaves and migrated to the drier Georgia uplands; they returned to their low country plantations with the first frosts. Although the proliferation of mosquitoes in the summer months coincided with the incidence of malaria and yellow fever, no connection was made between the events. Instead the common belief was that the tropical diseases were “caused by the “miasma,” a noxious effluvium that supposedly emanated from the putrescent matter in the swamps and tidal marshes, and thought to float in the night air, especially in the night mists as a fog.”

It is perhaps no accident that the deployment of the Berrien Minute Men to Sapelo Island coincided with the waning of the fever season. It appears Captain Knight’s company of Berrien Minute Men (Company C, later reorganized as Company G) embarked from Savannah in September and had arrived on Sapelo and taken up station on Blackbeard Island by the first of October, 1861. Sapelo and Blackbeard islands are adjacent, being separated only by Blackbeard creek and a narrow band of marsh.

The Confederate soldiers on the islands had access, albeit limited and inconvenient, to the post office at Darien, GA on the mainland about 10 miles up the Altamaha River. A handful of surviving letters written by the men on Sapelo paint a picture of Confederate camp life on Georgia’s sea islands, including correspondence from William Washington Knight, John W. Hagan and Angus McDermid of the Berrien Minute Men, Robert Hamilton Harris and Peter Dekle of the Thomasville Guards, and Robert Goodwin Mitchell of the Ochlocknee Light Infantry.

After a number of the men on Blackbeard Island were reported sick, rumors circulated back at home that the regiment was stricken with Yellow Fever. The families of the Berrien Minute Men had reason to be fearful. In 1854, a yellow fever outbreak had killed thousands of people on the southeastern coast, including as many as 400 victims at Darien, GA. But in his letters home, Private John W. Hagan of Berrien county wrote, “as to the reports which was going the roundes in Lowndes in regard to yellow feavor that is all faulce. Some of the men of Blackbeard did not take care of themselves & by exposure and exerting too mutch they became bilious.” Hagan knew something about yellow fever. His father, John Fletcher Hagan, had died of yellow fever in 1853. In Hagan’s estimation, “the health of the men on this island is very good…there is but four or five on the Sick Report at this time and nothing is the matter with [them] but colds & risings &c.“

The Berrien County men may have just been unacclimated to the muggy heat of the coast, or the men may have contracted malaria in the coastal marshes. Levi J. Knight, Jr. later wrote that one of the Berrien Minute Men, Private Enos J. Connell, became “unfit for duty, rendered so by a protracted illness contracted on Blackbeard Island… the disease when first contracted was said by his physician to have been Billious fever.” Enos J. Connell never entirely recovered and was eventually discharged in June 1862. Private Thomas N. Connell, died at Blackbeard Island on October 2, 1861, the cause of death being given in his service record as “bilious fever.” Bilious fever, a now obsolete medical diagnosis, was often used for any fever that exhibited the symptom of nausea or vomiting in addition to an increase in internal body temperature and strong diarrhea. Bilious fever (Latin bilis, “bile”) refers to fever associated with excessive bile or bilirubin in the blood stream and tissues, causing jaundice (a yellow color in the skin or sclera of the eye). The most common cause was malaria. What treatment the sick men may have received on Sapelo Island is not described, but one known remedy for intermittent fever was quinine derived from the Georgia Fever Bark tree, which grew in the Altamaha River Valley.

If not actually ill, some men were plain sick and tired of the heat, bugs, exertion and boredom of camp life.

Company D of the Berrien Minute Men (later reorganized as Company K) had yet to reach Sapelo Island. The company had been recruited and enlisted in Berrien County on October 1, 1861. Among the men of Company D were privates Angus McDermid, John W. Hagan, William A. Jones, and William Washington Knight, a son of Captain Levi J. Knight. Soon, the new recruits traveled by train to Savannah arriving on Monday night, October 7 and were mustered into Confederate service.

The bustling war-time city of Savanah was a new experience for the country boys from Berrien county. Seventeen-year-old Angus McDermid was astounded by the big city and the assemblage of thousands of troops and cheering civilians, waving girls and appreciative soldiers.

“I got hear last night at 7 oclok and this morning I have bin all over town. I never have seene the like … It is a site to any body. Yesterday evening I saw thirteen companies and this morning I saw to [two] thousand soaldiers. They was all in campes. Sutch boyes I never hav seen yet in my life a coming yesterday. The girles would wave their hankerchifs as we would pas them. The way the boyes would haller and wave their hats. I have seen more today than I ever did in all my life.”

Late in the evening on Tuesday, October 8, 1861, the men of Company D boarded a steamer which made the passage to Sapelo Island under the cover of darkness to evade U.S. Navy ships which had been blockading the mouth of the Savannah River since May 27th. The 10-hour ride on the steamboat was another novel experience. For Angus McDermid, it was an adventure. “I love to ride on it,” he wrote.

There was a wharf on the north end of Sapelo at the Chocolate Plantation, then owned by the Spalding family. But the steamboat landed Company D on the south end of Sapelo perhaps at the Spalding’s South End mansion. Company D disembarked at daybreak on Wednesday, October 9, 1861 and then proceeded to encamp at Camp Spalding, where they drew rations. For the first time, the men of Company D encountered Federal soldiers, prisoners of war held in handcuffs on Sapelo Island. Angus McDermid wrote that off in the distance they could hear the sound of enemy cannon fire. Sighting ships of the U.S. Navy blockading the port of Darien, the men realize there is an imminent threat of attack.

Visiting the camp hospital, Private William W. Knight found of the Berrien men, “only three that were sick much. Several had been sick but were able to wait on themselves.” William A. Jones was crippled with a severe infection on his knee. Captain Levi J. Knight had been among the sickest, but was somewhat recovered; “He has the bloody piles,” John Hagan wrote. Assistant Surgeon William H. Way, of Thomas County, GA, was the only medical officer with the Regiment at the time. William P. Clower would later serve as Surgeon of the Regiment.

Within an hour of landing at South End on Sapelo, Private Knight started the eight to ten mile trek to the camp of his father’s company on Blackbeard Island. He was accompanied by Sergeant John Isom, who was returning to Company C.

At the bivouac on Blackbeard Island, Private Knight found his father still convalescing. “Father looks very bad, but he is gaining strength very quickly,” he wrote. No sooner had Pvt. Knight and Sgt. Isom arrived at the camp on Blackbeard, than Captain Knight’s company packed up and marched back to Camp Spalding on the south end of Sapelo. Pvt. Knight described the round trip as “seventeen miles, part of it the roughest country on this globe.“

The soldiers would spend the coming weeks establishing camp and the routine of regimental life on their sea island outpost.

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Berrien Minute Men at Brunswick ~ July, 1861

July 8, 2017 at 1:13 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War, Knight Family)
Tags: 13th Regiment Georgia Infantry, 26th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, 29th Georgia Regiment, Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, Berrien Minute Men, Branchville VA, Brig John Welsh, Brooks County GA, Brunswick & Florida Railroad, Brunswick GA, Brunswick Rifles, C.S.S. Jeff Davis, Camden Rifles, Camp Semmes GA, Cary W. Styles, College Park GA, Company A 29th Georgia Regiment, Cox Seminary, Echol, Edwin A. Jelks, General Lafayette McLaws, Glynn Guards, John Bernard, John Welsh, Levi J. Knight, Lowndes Volunteers, Martha Love, Milltown GA, Ocklocknee Light Infantry, Paul J. Semmes, Peter Early Love, Petersburg VA, Piscola Volunteers, Reverend Robert Flemming, Robert Hamilton Harris, Savannah GA, Schooner S. J. Waring, Seaboard Guards, Thomasville GA, Thomasville Guards, Weldon NC, William Tillman, Wiregrass Minute Men

Berrien County in the Civil War
Berrien Minute Men at Brunswick, July, 1861

Civil War letter of Robert Harris, 29th Georgia Regiment, while encamped at Brunswick, GA.

Civil War letter of Robert Hamilton Harris, 29th Georgia Regiment, while encamped at Brunswick, GA.

Even before the secession of Georgia, Levi J. Knight, pioneer settler of Ray City, GA, had gathered a company of men, styled the Berrien Minute Men, to serve as volunteer infantry. Knight, an old Indian fighter, politician, railroad investor, developer and social leader of south Georgia, anticipated of the formation of the Confederate States Army. In the winter of 1860, he convened a meeting at Nashville, GA, seat of Berrien County which then included present day Lanier, Atkinson, Cook and Tift counties, as well as present day Berrien, where the company endorsed the Resolutions of the Berrien Minute Men. In the spring of 1861, the Berrien Minute Men encamped and drilled at Nashville, GA. On May 17, a Grand Military Rally was held at Milltown (now Lakeland), GA on behalf of the Berrien Minute Men.

The following month, Knight’s company of Berrien Minute Men was ordered to report for muster into the Thirteenth Regiment of Georgia Volunteers.

<em>Savannah Daily Morning News</em>, July 24, 1861 reports Berrien Minute Men have received orders to join the formation of the 13th Georgia Regiment, in replacement of Colonel Paul J. Semmes regiment. Semmes regiment, the 2nd GA Regiment, which had been on station at Brunswick, GA had been ordered to Virginia.

Savannah Daily Morning News, July 24, 1861 reports Berrien Minute Men have received orders to join the formation of the 13th Georgia Regiment, in replacement of Colonel Paul J. Semmes regiment. Semmes regiment, the 2nd GA Regiment, which had been on station at Brunswick, GA had been ordered to Virginia.

Savannah Daily Morning News
July 24, 1861

        The following named companies will compose the Thirteenth Regiment Georgia Volunteers, which will take the place of Colonel Semmes’ regiment, now under orders for Virginia, viz:

        Wiregrass Minute Men, Capt. C. W. Styles,
        Brunswick Riflemen, Captain B. F. Harris, Brunswick.
        Lowndes Volunteers, Capt. G. T. Hammond, Valdosta.
        Ochlocknee Light Infantry, Captain W. J. Young, Thomasville.
        St. Mary’s Volunteers, Capt. A. B. Dufour, Darien.
        Seaboard Guards, Captain John C. Nichols, Waynesville.
        Berrien Minute Men, Captain Levi J. Knight, Nashville.
        Piscola Volunteers, Captain William A. Lane, Quitman. –Atlanta Intelligencer, July 21st.

Per orders, Captain L. J. Knight took his company of Berrien Minute Men to the Georgia coast where they and other volunteer companies from south Georgia counties were garrisoned at Camp Semmes for the defense of the port at Brunswick, GA. Camp Semmes, south of the city, had been established by Colonel Paul J. Semmes, commanding officer of the 2nd Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry. The defense of Brunswick had been the responsibility of the 2nd Regiment until that unit was ordered to Virginia.

Around mid-June, General Lafayette McLaws, Brigadier General A. R. Lawton, and Captain William W. Echols had visited Brunswick to inspect the troops at Camp Semmes. Colonel Semmes and the 2nd Regiment had established security checkpoints for all vessels entering the port of Brunswick.

July 4, 1861 Colonel Semmes publishes a circular with requirements for all ships making port at Brunswick, GA. The Berrien Minute Men were among the companies detailed for defense of Brunswick.

Savannah Republican
July 8, 1861

CAMP SEMMES.
Brunswick, GA., 4th July, 1861.

Public attention is respectfully directed to the annexed circular, and notice given that all boats are expected to conform to its requirements. Passengers are ordered not to take passage in any boat until assured by its master of his intention not to disregard the same; and in order to avoid accidents or detention to themselves, to compel, if need be, his compliance therewith.

PAUL J. SEMMES,
Col. 2d Reg’t G.V., comd’g Camp Semmes
and the adjacent coast.

Circular.

HEAD-QUARTERS 2D REG’T G.V.,
CAMP SEMMES, BRUNSWICK, GA., June 25, 1861.

         I. On and after this day, all boats or vessels of any description, passing up or down the river, will be required to set their colors, or, if they have none, to heave to and report themselves to the officer of the day, at Camp Semmes, during the day.
        After sun-down every vessel will heave to and reply to the questions of the sentinel or officer of the day. One shot will be fired across the bow of any vessel attempting to pass without heaving to, when ordered, and if, after one shot, she attempts to proceed, she will be fired into.
         II. The sentinels on the posts facing the river will be instructed to hail all vessels passing up or down the river which do not set their colors, during the day, and to hail all vessels or boats after sun-down as follows: Steamer, or schooner, or boat, ahoy! (as the case may be,) heave to! The sentinel will then call for the corporal of the guard, who will in turn call for the officer of the day or officer of the guard. The officer of the day will inquire, “What boat (or other craft) is that? – where are you from? – Where are you bound? -have you anything to communicate?” &c. If the replies be satisfactory, the officer of the day will permit the vessel to pass on. If any vessel, after a fair challenge attempt to pass, the sentinel will fire across her bow, and call – “The Guard:”

By order of
Col. Paul J. Semmes

W. G. Clemons, 2d Lieut. Co. G.,
Acting Adjutant.

Among the companies replacing the 2nd Regiment at Brunswick were the Berrien Minute Men with the Thomasville Guards, Piscola Volunteers, Seaboard Guards, Brunswick Rifles, Glynn Guards, and Wiregrass Minute Men.

It is a noble thing to fight for our country, and glorious to die in her cause…O, who wants not be a soldier! ~ Robert Hamilton Harris, Thomasville Guards, July, 1861

While encamped there, Robert Hamilton Harris, of the Thomasville Guards, described the camp and his experiences in a letter to Martha (Mattie) Love, his girl back home in Thomas County, GA. She was a daughter of Peter Early Love, U. S. Congressman and former Solicitor General serving old Lowndes County, GA.

A portion of this correspondence has been preserved and scanned in the collection of Civil War letters of Robert Hamilton Harris, housed in the Digital Library of Georgia. Unfortunately, the extant portion of this letter is not dated. However, we can surmise from contemporaneous events described by Harris that it was written about mid-July 1861.

The partial letter begins in mid-sentence with the description of a ship:

the prize (a boat) before she reaches Savannah. Our men will probably blow her up should any U. S. vessel attack them. She is laden with near $40000 worth of sugar, and was captured by the Jeff Davis on the coast of Newfoundland.

This “prize” was the Yankee brig John Welsh which was captured by the Confederate privateer C.S.S. Jeff Davis at about 6:00 A. M. on Saturday, July 6, 1861. This event was widely reported in Confederate and Union newspapers. According the Civil War Naval Encyclopedia, privateers were privately owned vessels sailing under special commissions from their governments in time of war that authorized them to capture ships of an enemy power, be they warships or merchant vessels. The privateer Jeff Davis was reconnoitering off Delaware when she discovered the merchantman John Welsh. The John Welsh had departed Trinidad, Cuba, on the 22nd of June for Falmouth, England, having on board a cargo of 300 hogsheads and 475 boxes of sugar. She was owned by John Welsh, esq., of Philadelphia. The value of the ship and cargo was estimated at $75,000. The officers and crew of the John Welsh were taken aboard the Jeff Davis as prisoners and a prize crew was installed. They sailed the John Welsh to Savannah where she was to be condemned as a prize and sold at auction. Although Robert Harris’s letter made no mention of it, the following day, July 7, the privateer Jeff Davis captured the schooner S. J. Waring and detailed a prize master and crew to take her to Beaufort, SC. Three of the original crew, two seamen and the African-American cook, William Tillman, were left on board. Tillman, however, managed to retake command of the ship, killing the Confederate prize master, first mate and second mate. For his successful action in retaking the ship and sailing her back to New York, William Tillman became the first African-American hero of the Civil War, and received a reward of $6000.00

Harris’ letter goes on to describe the volunteer infantry companies at the Brunswick rendezvous, and the camp life of the men. This gathering of the companies was prior to their official mustering in to the Confederate States Army:

There are seven companies now encamped in Brunswick, viz. the Thomasville companies, the Berrien Minute Men, Piscola Volunteers, Brunswick Riflemen, Seaboard Guards, and the Wiregrass Minute Men, all of them very fine companies. We will soon be ready for double our number of Federals, and then we will feel easier.
Our boys seem to enjoy themselves, and I know I do. We have very hard fare, and have to endure a great many hardships, but we are healthy and have fine bathing facilities. Some of us are in the water nearly all the time. I plunge in regularly every morning at daylight, and spend half an hour or so in the delightful exercise of swimming, after which I don’t go in again during the day. I think this is the best plan. A very large shark showed himself in our bathing place this morning, but we all went in as soon as he left, for we can’t forego this healthful pleasure because we happen to see a shark in the neighborhood.

Four of these companies, the Piscola Volunteers, Brunswick Rifles, Seaboard Guards, and Wiregrass Minute Men, would later be reorganized into the 26th Georgia Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, along with companies from Lowndes, Ware, Clinch, McIntosh, Pierce and Twiggs counties.

Harris’ letter mentions that one man of his company, John Bernard, had attempted suicide by cutting his throat. But Dr. [Edwin A.] Jelks of the Piscola Volunteers [Brooks County, GA] was able to suture the wound and keep the man alive, at least temporarily. Jelks, who was a relative of Harris’ intended, went on to become Surgeon of the 26th GA Regiment. The 26th Georgia was also the regiment Albert Douglass would join after deserting the Berrien Minute Men in 1862.

Harris also included with his letter a sketch of Brunswick, showing the position of the regimental camp south of the city.

1861 map of Brunswick, GA showing location of the encampment of Captain Levi J. Knight's company of volunteer infantry, the Berrien Minute Men.

Robert Hamilton Harris’ 1861 sketch of Brunswick, GA showing location of the encampment of Captain Levi J. Knight’s company of volunteer infantry, the Berrien Minute Men.

The camp was situated south of the city on the bank of the Turtle River, with the river front on the west, cedar groves to the north and south, and woods to the east. The Berrien Minute Men (marked B.M.M.) were positioned on the northeast corner of the regimental grounds with the rest of the companies on the north side and on the riverfront. The regiment kept a picket guard on the southernmost tip of the peninsula. The marsh on the east side of the peninsula Harris incorrectly labeled “Bloody Marsh” -the actual Bloody Marsh is on the east side of St. Simons Island. Brunswick’s wharves on the Turtle River are shown, as well as Oak Grove Cemetery, the Darien Road, the Waynesville Road.

Harris’ map also depicts a “prize” ship anchored off the Brunswick wharf. This may have been a U.S. vessel captured by the privateer schooner Triton, of Brunswick, GA. The Triton was the very first privateer to be commissioned by the Confederate government. Confederate president Jefferson Davis had authorized privateers on April 17, 1861 and the Triton was commissioned on May 10, 1861, the day the orders were published. The Triton was a small, 30-ton schooner, armed with a single six-pounder gun.

The railroad shown on Harris’ map would have been the shortline Brunswick & Florida Railroad, which connected at Glenmore, GA with the Savannah, Albany & Gulf Railroad and the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad. The Atlantic & Gulf was intended to serve as a “Main Trunk” for the two coastal railroads, and it was planned to stretch across south Georgia to steamboat docks on the Flint River at Bainbridge , creating a passenger and freight connection to the Gulf of Mexico. By 1860, the Atlantic and Gulf had reached the site of Valdosta, GA, bypassing the Lowndes County seat at Troupville, GA.

Civil War era map of the Brunswick & Florida Railroad, running to Brunswick, GA – Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

The captain of the Berrien Minute Men, Levi J. Knight, was an investor in both the Brunswick & Florida Railroad, and the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad. The state of Georgia had also invested half a million dollars in Brunswick & Florida stock because of the railroad’s perceived strategic value. An advantage of these connections, it was said, was that the railroad could move men and materials from ports on the Gulf of Mexico to the Brunswick port on the Atlantic in 24 hours “in case of war between this country and a foreign nation.” The B&F connection to the Savannah, Albany & Gulf also provided convenient transportation between Brunswick and Savannah, GA.

The Savannah newspapers noted that the Berrien Minute Men and the rest of the 13th Regiment arrived in Savannah on July 30, 1861 via railroad. At that time, they received equipment issued by the Confederate army.

Savannah Daily Morning News
July 31, 1861

Arrival of Troops
The Berrien Minute Men and Piscola Volunteers (Brooks county) arrived yesterday afternoon by the Albany and Gulf Railroad, and are encamped, together with the other companies belonging to the 13th Georgia regiment, on the parade ground. The following is a list of the officers of the former:
Captain – Levy J. Knight
1st Lieutenant – Thomas S. Wylly
2nd Lieutenant – Wm. Giddens
3rd Lieutenant – John C. Lamb
Ensign – Wm. Y. Hill
They number some eighty-five men, rank and file.
Those of the latter are:
Captain – Wm. A. Lane
1st Lieutenant – J. D. Morton
2nd Lieutenant – M. J. Culpepper
3rd Lieutenant – J. M. Rushin
This corps numbers some seventy men.

In August, the seven companies Harris noted at Camp Semmes were joined by the Camden Rifles and the Glynn Guards. On Saturday, August 19, 1861 these nine companies were formally mustered into the 13th Georgia Regiment, under the command of Colonel Cary W. Styles, of Ware county.

It appears that the Lowndes Volunteers and St. Mary’s Volunteers were late for reporting at Camp Semmes, and were not mustered into the 13th GA Regiment. The Lowndes Volunteers later mustered into the 26th GA Regiment. Another Lowndes company (Company I, 12th Georgia Regiment) under the command of Captain James W. Patterson was already in Virginia. General McLaws encountered them June 21, 1861 at Branchville, VA.

In a letter written from Petersburg, VA McLaws described traveling with the Captain Patterson’s company of Lowndes company over the period from about June 21 to June 24.

We succeeded in starting [from Weldon, NC] about 8 P.M. in an extra train consisting of twenty freight cars and one passenger car. I have said we, because on arriving at Branchville, from Augusta a company of 116 Volunteers from Lowndes County Ga got into the train, and from that time, there was an end to all individuality. I managed to preserve my seat entire, by piling my overcoat, pillow & carpet bag beside me. But they were all around me, in all various attitudes conceivable, and dressed and undressed as suited their humor or degree of heat, artificial or natural, they had steamed up to at the time – one person, the wit of the party, said that if any body would give him a dollar he would sit in his shirt tail, and for an additional half would then pull off his shirt. Most of them pulled off their shoes, some had socks and others none and many were only partially provided. As the heat increased the fetid odor was tremendous – which added to the insane idea peculiar to volunteers that it was the patriotic duty of each and every one to hurrah and yell on passing through any settlement,made the time pass remarkably slow. And whenever we stopped a moment there was a general rush out in search of water, and then when the conductor shouted “get aboard” various fellows would say “I cant find a board but can get a shingle if you want one!” – all of which added to the general hilarity and made the night rather a sleepless one. When the crowd was put into the baggage cars, the noise was none the less but it was further off, so that second night passed more quiet. But today the passenger car was crowded with them again, and the odors and the singing and the patriotic yelling was truly remarkable. The Lowndes company, however, are a very fine looking body of men and in fact are remarkably well behaved, and have a Captain who has them under complete control by the mere force of his personal influence, his name is Patterson and I have no doubt he will do credit to his state.

Unfortunately, through a lack of coordination there was some duplication in the numbering of the Georgia regiments, and as it happened, there was already a 13th GA Regiment in service in Virginia. In a short time Col. Styles regiment was reorganized, with the majority of the companies remaining at Brunswick to form the nucleus of the 26th GA Regiment while the Berrien Minute Men, Thomasville Guards, and Ocklocknee Light Infantry were ordered on to Savannah, GA to be mustered into the 29th Georgia Regiment.

About Robert Hamilton Harris:

Robert Hamilton Harris (April 19, 1842-April 29, 1929) of Thomasville, Georgia, was the stepson of Rev. Robert Fleming. During the United States Civil War Harris served in Company A, 29th Regiment of the Georgia Infantry, reaching the rank of captain. For nearly twelve years after the Civil War, he studied and practiced law. During this period he served as Solicitor of the County Court in Thomas county, railroad attorney, and Mayor of Thomasville. Harris became an ordained minister in 1878. He served as a circuit preacher in rural southern Georgia and as a pastor of Baptist churches in Columbus and Cairo, Georgia, as well as Troy, Alabama. In 1900, he accepted a professorship at Cox Seminary in College Park, Georgia, where he remained until his retirement in the 1920s. On October 13, 1863, Robert Harris married Martha (Mattie) Love (March 5, 1845-December 28, 1900). Martha Love was the daughter of Peter Early Love (1818-1866) of Thomasville (Love served in the U.S. Congress, 1859-1861) [In the 1840s, Love was Solicitor General of the Southern Circuit of Georgia, and served at the Lowndes Superior Court of 1845 which convened in Troupville, GA.]

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Albert Douglass: Soldier Grey and Sailor Blue

March 18, 2017 at 12:47 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War)
Tags: 26th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, A. T. Crippen, Abigail Shaw, Albert Benjamin Douglass, Allen D. Douglass, Antietam, Battle of Brawner's Farm, Battle of Gaines' Mill, Battle of Sharpsburg, Berrien Minute Men, Brunswick GA, Burrell Douglass, Cairo IL, Camp Fort, Charles James Munnerlyn, Chimborazo Hospital, Cincinnati OH, Company A 24th Battalion Georgia Cavalry, Company B 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry, Company B 7th Florida Infantry, Company K 29th Georgia Regiment, Cow Cavalry, Edward T. Kendrick, Edwin A. Jelks, Elizabeth Douglass, Fort Brooke FL, Fort Broome, Francenia Douglass, Franklinville GA, General Hospital Camp Winder, Groveton VA, John H. Godwin, Lawton's Brigade, Lovingston Hospital, Lowndes County GA, Martin Shaw, Memphis Hospital, Oglethorpe Barracks, Piscola Volunteers, Receiving and Wayside Hospital, Red River, Richmond VA, Ridge Hospital VA, Robert Douglass, Rose Douglass, Samuel Cooper, Sapelo Battery, Satilla Rifles, Savannah GA, Seaborn Douglass, Second Battle of Manassas, St. Simons Island, USS Gazelle, USS Great Western, Waynesville GA, William H. Outlaw, William R. Brogdon, William R. Douglass, William W. Turner, Winchester VA, Winder Hospital

Special thanks to Wm Lloyd Harris for sharing research and contributing portions of this post.

Albert Benjamin Douglass

In 1862, Albert Benjamin Douglass appeared as one of the deserters from the Berrien Minute Men, 29th Georgia Infantry. He actually had a quite colorful record of service, prompting reader Wm Lloyd Harris to write with additional details relating “the rest of the story.” Harris is a great great grandson of Albert B. Douglass.

Military service was something of a tradition in the Douglass family. Albert’s father and four brothers served in the Indians Wars in Florida. Albert and all four of his brothers served in the Civil War. Before the Civil War was over Albert B. Douglass enlisted with at least four different units, was discharged once, and deserted three times. He fought for both the North and the South, and served in the Army and the Navy.

At the start of the Civil War, Albert Benjamin Douglass joined a company of Berrien county men going forth to be mustered into the 29th GA Regiment at Savannah, GA. In fact, according to Harris, his grandfather may have enlisted even earlier in another militia unit.

“A. B. Douglass appears as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company H, 25th Battalion Provincial Guard Georgia Infantry Regiment a local militia unit. The fact that the unit is termed ‘provincial’ typified early temporary military formations awaiting formal recognition or organization.”

Albert Benjamin Douglass was born in 1833, probably in Hamilton County, FL. His father, Seaborn Douglass, was born in Montgomery County, GA about 1800 and came to Hamilton County, FL in the late 1820s. Seaborn Douglass and his family appear in the 1830 census of Hamilton County. The Douglass place in Hamilton County, FL was apparently located about eight miles from the home of Captain Archibald McRae.

Abert Douglass’ four brothers, Allen D. Douglass, Burrell Douglass, William Douglass, and Robert Douglass, and his father, Seaborn Douglass, all served in the Indian Wars 1835-1858.

By 1838, Seaborn Douglass had moved his family to Lowndes County, GA. County tax records show Seaborn Douglass was late to pay his poll tax that year, although no taxes were assessed for any land holdings or slaves in Lowndes County. Seaborn Douglass appeared in the 1840 Lowndes County census with his children; an unknown daughter (b. 1821), Allen Dickerson Douglass (1822 – 1919), Burrell Douglass (1825 – September 8, 1884), William Riley Douglass (1830 – ca. 1895), Robert Douglas (1833-1862), Albert Douglas (1835 – ), Rose or Rosean Douglass (1839 – 1905), and an unknown daughter (b. 1840), although no spouse is found in his household. Seaborn Douglass is believed to have died about 1843 in Lowndes County, Georgia.

About 1851, Albert Douglass, then a young man of 19, married Abigail Shaw. She was a daughter of Martin Shaw, Sr., who was a pioneer settler of Lowndes County. Martin Shaw had been one of a handful of residents at old Franklinville, GA, first seat of government of Lowndes County, and had served as Lowndes’ first Sheriff.

Albert and Abigail Douglass appear in the 1860 census of Berrien County, Georgia. Albert was enumerated as 28 years old, Abigail as 35. Their daughter Francenia Douglass listed as age 6. Also in the Douglass household was the seven-year-old boy William W Turner. The Douglas place was near that of Abigail’s father, Martin Shaw. Nearby were the farms of Jonathan A. Knight, Thomas Giddens and of William R. Brodgon, where William H. Outlaw was residing.

CIVIL WAR SERVICE OF THE DOUGLASS BROTHERS

All five sons of Seaborn Douglass served in the Confederate States Army.

Allen D. Douglass
Served in the 1st Battalion, Florida Special Cavalry, Company B. This unit was part of Lieutenant Colonel Charles James Munnerlyn’s famous “Cow Cavalry,” which was detailed to protect the supply of Florida cattle to feed the Confederate Army.
William R. Douglass
Served with the 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry, also known as the “Cow Cavalry,” alongside his brother, Allen Dickerson Douglas, during the Civil War.
Burrell Douglass
Enlisted September 22, 1862 at Camp Fort, Waynesville, GA, with Company A , 24th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry, under the command of Captain T.S. Hopkins ( This unit later merged with the 7th Georgia Cavalry, Company G). While the Battalion was stationed at Camp Lee, Bryan County, GA, Burrell and a number of other soldiers became dissatisfied with the leadership of Colonel Edward C. Anderson. Burrell Douglass deserted on May 21, 1863 and returned to his home and family in Wayne County, GA. Descendants believe he deserted and returned home because his wife was about to give birth, and his company had received orders to go to Virginia. About a year later in March or April, 1864 he enlisted with another company, Captain Mann’s “Satilla Rifles.” As soon as his name hit the war department he was arrested for his earlier desertion and placed in Olglethorpe Barracks in Savannah. On April 11, 1864 he was court-martialed and found guilty. He was sentenced to be shot “by musketry.” However, the execution was suspended on May 30, 1864, by order of Major General Samuel Cooper (Cooper is credited for the preservation of Confederate service records after the war). Douglass remained in custody until Jefferson Davis issued a pardon for Confederate deserters who resumed service. Burrell’s records noted on November 19, 1864, “pardon and released to duty.” That was about the time Sherman was arriving in Savannah. Burrell fought as an irregular in the Confederate Army (wherein an undisclosed injury was received) until the end of the war. Buried at Mount Plesant Cemetery, Ware County, GA.
Robert Douglass
Enlisted in the 7th Florida Infantry, Company B, on March 19, 1862. Died of “disease” in Knoxville, Tennessee, August 15, 1862. His wife, Elizabeth, received a widow’s pension as attested by Florida Confederate Pension Records. Buried in the Bethel Confederate Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Albert B. Douglass in the Civil War

Records indicate Albert Douglass was enlisted in Berrien Minute Men, Company K, 29th Georgia Regiment. This was the second company of Berrien Minute Men to come forth from Berrien County, GA. This second company, organized in the fall of 1861, was successively known as Company B Berrien Minute Men, Captain Lamb’s Company, Company D 29th GA Regiment, and Company K 29th GA Regiment. The company mustered into the 29th Georgia Regiment at Savannah, GA. Months passed as the regiment trained and served picket duty on the Georgia coast. The Berrien Minute Men were stationed at a number of camps on the coastal islands and marshes, first at Sapelo Battery, off the coast of Darien, GA, then in Chatham County, GA at Camp Tatnall, Camp Causton’s Bluff, Camp Debtford, Camp Mackey, and Camp Young.

Albert Douglass must have been among those men who chaffed at the defensive nature of these assignments. The only Regimental return on file for Albert Douglass, Company K, 29th Georgia Regiment, shows that by December, 1862, he was “absent without leave.” In the following months. the 29th Georgia Regiment advertised a reward for his capture as a Confederate deserter. Wanted notices were run in the Savannah, Georgia newspapers offering $30 dollars for his apprehension and giving his physical description as “32 years of age, 6 feet high, fair complexion, grey eyes, auburn hair.” Among his fellow deserters were Elbert J. Chapman, who would be executed for desertion, and Benjamin S. Garrett, who was shot for being a Union spy.

Albert Douglas’ regimental return for December 1862 shows him absent without leave;

It appears that Albert Douglass must have left the Berrien Minute Men by the summer of 1862. The research of Wm Lloyd Harris reveals that Albert Douglas(s) had actually deserted the 29th Georgia and enlisted in the 26th Georgia Infantry subsequently fighting with Army of Northern Virginia in Virginia. As early as June 1862 he appeared with the 26th Regiment, Company A, the Glynn Guards, in Richmond, Virginia.

Douglass was no doubt familiar with many men of the Glynn Guards and of the 26th Regiment. The 26th Regiment [originally called 13th Regiment] had mustered in at Brunswick, Georgia in the summer of 1861, completing its organization in October, 1861. Its companies were recruited in the counties of Charlton, Berrien, Glynn, Twiggs, Clinch, Ware, Coffee, and Wayne. In fact, several companies of the 26th Regiment had camped with the Berrien Minute Men in July, 1861 at Brunswick, including the Glynn Guards, Piscola Volunteers, Seaboard Guards and Wiregrass Minute Men. The surgeon of the 26th was Edwin A. Jelks, who had been with the Brooks County company, the Piscola Volunteers, at Brunswick in 1861 during the same time the Berrien Minute Men were there.

After serving in the Department of Georgia at St. Simons Island and Savannah, the 26th GA Regiment moved to Virginia where it was brigaded under Generals A. R. Lawton, John B. Gordon, and C.A. Evans.

The 26th Georgia Regiment and the rest of Lawton’s Brigade experienced their first engagement at the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, sometimes known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River. This battle took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles. John Jefferson Beagles was also at this battle, serving with the 61st Georgia Regiment in Lawton’s Brigade.

Albert Douglass was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, for dysentery, June 29, 1862. Returned to duty, July 10, 1862.On August 14, 1862, he was admitted to Lovingston Hospital, Winchester, VA with a complaint of fever and convulsions.

Douglass returned to duty on August 27. The following day, in the late afternoon and evening of August 28, 1862 the 26th Georgia Regiment suffered horrific casualties at the Battle of Brawner’s Farm, at Groveton, VA. That same afternoon, The Berrien Light Infantry, Company I, 50th Georgia Regiment was engaged just about ten miles west of Groveton driving federal forces out of Thoroughfare Gap through the Bull Run mountains, and taking up and occupying position. These actions were a prelude to the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) August 29-20. During the battle, 0n August 29, both the 26th GA and the 50th GA regiments were in positions at Groveton. Among the men from the Ray City area serving with the 50th GA Regiment were Green Bullard, Fisher J. Gaskins, Lemuel Elam Gaskins, Joseph Gaskins, John Jasper Cook and John Martin Griner.

Douglass’ regiment lost 37 killed and 87 wounded at Second Manassas.

On September 17, 1862 the 26th Regiment fought in the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), again suffering heavy casualties. The regiment reported 6 killed, 49 wounded, and 6 missing at Sharpsburg.

Douglass was admitted to 1st Division, General Hospital Camp Winder on October 19, 1862 and transferred to Hod Hospital on December 23. He was back on the morning report of Winder Hospital on December 24, and then transferred to Ridge Hospital. He was admitted to Receiving and Wayside Hospital (General Hospital No. 9) on June 4, 1863 and the following day he was discharged from the Confederate States Army.

At least one man of the 26th GA regiment, perhaps it was Douglass, called himself a friend of Old “Yaller” Elbert J. Chapman. Chapman, like Douglass, left the Berrien Minute Men to go fight with other units, but Chapman was executed for his desertion.

After being discharged, Albert Douglass returned home. On July 18, 1863 he joined Captain Stewart’s Independent Company at Lake City, Florida; he was mustered into Company E, 9th Regiment, Florida Infantry. He was transferred to Company H, 9th Regiment on October 1, 1863. Albert Doulass appeared in a series of units. In August, 1863 he served as Provost Guard. In October, 1863 he was detached to serve guard duty, Signal Corps. In November, he was detached from Captain Stewart’s Company and transferred to the Signal Corps. He was present for duty from December 1863 to April 1864. On April 30, 1864 he was detached to the Pioneer Corps. Two months later, he deserted to surrender to Union Army forces.

After his surrender, Albert Douglass was transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he pledged the Oath of Allegiance to the United States on November 26, 1864. On December 5, 1864 at the age of 32, he enlisted for a two-year term in the Union Navy, as an Ordinary Seaman. At the time of enlistment he was residing in Washington, Davies County, Indiana. His place of birth was given as Atlanta, GA; his occupation listed as “farmer.” His Physical description was recorded as brown eyes, sandy blonde hair, florid complexion, 5’11” tall with a scar on his left arm.

Douglass was initially assigned to “R. S. Cairo.” This ship is sometimes thought to be the ironclad gunboat USS Cairo, but the USS Cairo was sunk in 1862 during a U.S. Navy excursion in support of the campaign for Vicksburg, MS. Actually, R.S. Cairo refers to the Navy Receiving Ship at Cairo, IL, where new recruits were mustered into the navy. This ship was the sidewheel steamer USS Great Western. There are no known images of the Great Western.

After completing receiving, Albert Douglass was assigned as an Ordinary Seaman to the tin-clad USS Gazelle, January 14, 1865. The Gazelle, also a sidewheel steamer, patrolled between the mouth of the Red River and Morganza, Louisiana, and convoyed transports. She was armed with six 12-pound rifled cannons. There are no known images of the USS Gazelle.

Apparently, Albert Douglass was on active duty aboard the USS Gazelle a scant two days before once again falling to illness. Aboard the Gazelle, Albert Douglass received the usual treatment for chronic diarrhea – a cocktail of Opium, Lead Acetate, and Tannic Acid – to no effect. This was followed by a three-day course of Opium, Silver Nitrate, and Powdered Acacia – also to no effect. Douglass was finally given an enema of five grains of Silver Nitrate in three ounces of aqua (distilled water) “without any apparent beneficial results.”

Douglass was sent to Memphis Hospital, Memphis, TN. Federal forces had occupied Memphis since 1862 and the city had become a major medical center. “Wounded prisoners came by boat and wagon to be treated at hospitals that began to specialize as the war progressed. Prior to the war the city had one hospital. By the end of the war, there were 15. The Union used the hotels and warehouses of Memphis as a “hospital town” with over 5,000 wounded Union troops being brought for recovery. “

According to the Records of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Douglass was transferred on February 7, 1865 with chronic diarrhea. His sea bag contained his hammock, blanket, mattress, jacket, trousers, drawers, two flannel shirts, stockings, boots, handkerchief, and cap.

Transcription of Hospital Ticket
7 Feb 1865
USS Gazelle
To W. Grier
Surgeon
You are hereby requested to receive Albert Douglass, Ordinary Seaman affected with chronic diarhea in the hospital under your direction and to provide for him accordingly according to the rules and regulations of the US Navy.
Receipt: 1 hammock, 1 blanket, 1 mattress, 1 jacket, 1 trousers, 1 drawers, 2 shirts flannel, 1 stockings, 1 boots, 1 handkerchief, 1 cap.
Respectfully, A.T.Crippen
Surgeon’s Steward in charge
Approved
Archy S. Palmer
Acting Ensign, Commanding

Albert Douglas hospital papers. Memphis Hospital, Memphis, TN

Transcription of Hospital Record describing his shipboard treatment prior to his admission to Memphis Hospital.
30 March 1865

Albert Douglass, Ordinary Seaman was born in the state of Georgia. Was admitted to sick list on the 21st of Jan 1865. Says he was affected with diarrhea two weeks before he reported to me. I do not know how he contracted the Disease as he was affected with it when he came aboard this Ship Jan 19th. Ha been treated with plumbi acetas gr ii; Tannin gr iii; Opii Pulv gr SS; three times per day for three days.
Pulvi acaci gr iii; Opii gr i: Argenti nitros gr 1/12; every 24 hours for three days.
Enema argenti Nitras gr v to Agua 3i ounce without any apparent beneficial result.

A. T. Crippen
Surg’s Stew in charge
Have treated with stimulants ever since.

Federal military records show Albert Douglass deserted the Union Navy while in the hospital, on March 30, 1865.

It appears that Albert never returned home to Abigail, and his whereabouts following his desertion from the US Navy in 1865 remain unknown. Abigail was last documented in the 1900 Lowndes County, Georgia, census in the household of John H. Godwin. second husband of her daughter Francine. Francine’s first husband was Henry Clay Surrency. Abigail Shaw Douglass is believed to have died circa 1905. It appears that Abigail believed that Albert perished during the war as she identified herself as a widow for the remainder of her life.

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US Navy record also reflects that Albert was listed with an alternate name of Arthur Doyle, no doubt to deflect future trouble in the event he was captured by southern forces. (note that his initials AD remain a tie to his actual name).

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GEORGIA DOUGLASES WEBSITE

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Campfires of the Berrien Minute Men

March 4, 2017 at 8:09 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War)
Tags: Acworth GA, Atlanta Campaign, Atlanta GA, Baldwin FL, Battle of Atlanta, Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Battle of Nashville, Battle of Peachtree Creek, Berrien Minute Men, Big Black River, Brunswick & Florida Railroad, Brunswick GA, Calhoun GA, Camp Causton's Bluff, Camp Debtford GA, Camp Finnegan, Camp Holmes, Camp Mackey GA, Camp Security GA, Camp Spaulding GA, Camp Tatnall GA, Camp Troup GA, Camp Wilson GA, Camp Young GA, Capers Battery, Capers Beach, Cassville GA, Causton's Bluff, Charleston SC, Chattahoochee River, Chattanooga TN, Chickamauga, Company C 29th Georgia Regiment, Company D 29th Georgia Regiment, Company G 29th Georgia Regiment, Company K 29th Georgia Regiment, Dallas GA, Dalton GA, Darien GA, Deaconsville MS, Elbert J. Chapman, Etowah Iron Works, Forest City MS, Fort McAllister, Franklin TN, Genesis Point, Georgia Ordinance of Secession, Grooverville GA, Hindman's Division, Jackson MS, Jacksonville FL, John Carroll Lamb, Jonesboro GA, Kingsville NC, Lake City FL, Lawton Battery, Levi J. Knight, Little River AL, Lovejoy Station GA, Marietta GA, Masonboro Sound, McDowell's Landing, Meridian MS, Milltown GA, Missionary Ridge, Monticello FL, Morris Island, Morton MS, Murphreesboro TN, Nashville GA, Nashville TN, No. 9 Brunswick & Florida Railroad, Oatland Island, Overall's Creek TN, Pine Mountain GA, Pocotaligo SC, Resaca GA, Sapelo Battery, Sapelo Island GA, Savannah GA, Scott County MS, Smith's Island GA, Springhill TN, Tebeauville GA, Thomas S. Wiley, Thomas S. Wylly, Thunderbolt Battery, Utoy Church Atlanta, Vernon City, Vicksburg MS, Walker's Division, Waycross GA, White Marsh GA, Whitemarsh Island, Wilmington NC, Yazoo City MS

March 9, 2024

Berrien Minute Men

Berrien County, Georgia sent forth in the Civil War two companies of men known as the Berrien Minute Men.

The first company, organized in the summer of 1861 by Captain Levi J. Knight , was designated at various times as Captain Knight’s Company, Captain Wylly’s Company, Company A Berrien Minute Men, (old) Company C 29th GA Regiment, (new) Company G 29th GA Regiment. After completing organization at Sapelo Island and Darien, this company spent most of their service on Smith’s Island at Battery Lawton defending Savannah.

The second company, organized in the fall of 1861 was successively known as Company B Berrien Minute Men, Captain Lamb’s Company, Company D, and Company K 29th GA Regiment. After completing organization at Sapelo Island and Darien, this company garrisoned various batteries around Savannah, made expeditions to North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee before participating in the defense of Atlanta and resistance to Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Company D, Berrien Minute Men at Camp Tattnall, near Savannah, GA; Receipt of supplies, Capt. J. C. Lamb

At Camp Spaulding, Sapelo Island, GA; Levi J. Knight, Jr. elected 2nd Lieutenant, Company C

Date……………………..	Event
1860 Nov 28	Muster Roll of Levi J. Knight’s Company, the Berrien Minute Men
1860 Dec 10	Organization of Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men, Nashville, GA
1861 Jan 19	Georgia Ordinance of Secession passed ~ John C. Lamb, a signer
1861 May	Grand Rally at Milltown for Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men
1861 May 23	Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men in camp and drilling at Nashville, GA
1861 July	Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men encamped with other Georgia companies at Brunswick, GA
1861 Summer	Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men muster in at Savannah, GA

1861 July 30	Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men and other companies of the 13th Regiment arrive at Savannah, GA via the Albany & Gulf Railroad; Capt L.J. Knight receives equipment issued for the company
1861 August	Knight’s Company of Berrien Minute Men, at Savannah, GA
1861 August 1	Levi J. Knight formally elected Captain of his company
1861 August 19	Knight’s company of Berrien Minute Men and other companies formally mustered in to the 13th Georgia Regiment, Colonel Cary W. Styles, Commanding
1861 August 20	Berrien Minute Men transported via Brunswick & Florida Railroad (South Georgia & Florida R.R.) from station No. 9 at Tebeauville (now Waycross), GA some 60 miles to Brunswick, GA
1861 August 28, or abt	Berrien Minute Men & 13th Regiment encamped “in the neighborhood of Brunswick”
1861 Fall	A second company of Berrien Minute Men was organized – successively known as Company B Berrien Minute Men, Captain Lamb’s Company, Company D, and Company K 29th GA Regiment.
1861 October 1	Men enlisted in Berrien County in Captain Lambs’ Company; about this time Company C present on Sapelo Island.
1861 October 2	Levi J. Knight elected Major of the 29th GA Regiment;
1861 October 5, Monday
1861 October 6
1861 October 7, Monday	Lamb’s Company of Berrien Minute Men arrived Savannah, GA, 7-8:00 in the evening;
1861 October 8, Tuesday	Lamb’s Company mustered in as Company D, 29th GA Regiment. (This company was later known as Company K.) Company D steamed from Savannah late Tuesday evening headed for Sapelo Island, GA
1861 October 9, Wednesday	After a 10 hour steamboat ride, Company D landed on Sapelo Island at daybreak Oct 9th
1861 October 10, Thursday	Company D at Camp Spalding, Sapelo Island; Company C at Blackbeard Island
1861 October 11, Friday	Berrien Minute Men, Company C, 29th GA Regt moved to Sapelo Battery, GA
1861 October 12
1861 October 14	John C. Lamb formally elected captain of his company of Berrien Minute Men “Company B” (Company D, later Company K)
1861 October 16	At post of Sapelo Island Battery, GA; 2nd Lt. Levi J. Knight, Jr. arrived at this post
1861 October 22	Berrien Minute Men, Co. C At Camp Spaulding, Sapelo Island, GA; Thomas S. Wylly elected Captain
1861 Winter	Berrien Minute Men Company C at battery on southern end of Blackbeard Island, GA
1861 Nov 6	Levi J. Knight,Sr accepts formal commission as Major of the 29th Regiment
1861 Nov 7	Jonathan D. Knight transferred from Company C of Berrien Minute Men & elected 2nd Sgt of Lamb’s Company of Berrien Minute Men Company “D”
1861 Nov 28	Col. Randolph Spalding with companies of the 29th GA regt at Camp Lawton near Savannah. It appears the two companies of Berrien Minute Men and two other companies remain near Darien, GA
1861 December 1	Near Darien, GA
1861 December 18	At Camp Security, GA
1862 January	Darien, GA; Company C (later G) officer’s purchase of “subsistence stores…for their own use and the use of their families”
1862 January 22	At Masonboro Sound, six miles east of Wilmington, NC
1862 February 4	At Darien, GA; John Knight discharged with hepatitis
1862 February 17	At Darien, GA Co D, (Later K); commutation of beef ration, Capt. J. C. Lamb
1862 February 20	Camp Wilson, GA; Company C & Company D, receipt of firewood by Major Levi J. Knight, Sr; Company D, receipt of fuel, Capt J. C. Lamb Camp Tattnall, Company C, receipt of shoes, Capt T.S. Wylly
1862 February 21	Captain Wylly’s Company of Berrien Minute Men ordered from Camp Wilson on the night of the 21st to Fort Jackson to relieve the Savannah Republican Blues
1862 February 22	29th Regiment moved from Camp Wilson to new Camp Tattnall
1862 March 7	Company C – “the old Berrien Company” “Captain Wylly’s Company” on Smith’s Island (Battery Lawton) supporting Fort Jackson
1862 March	Berrien Minute Men at Camp Tattnall, GA
1862 March 13	Camp Tattnall, GA; Company D, receipt of firewood, Capt. Lamb
1862 March 15	Company D, Camp Tattnall, GA; receipt of coffin, Capt. Lamb
1862 March 16	Camp Tattnall, GA; Letter of Angus McDermid
1862 March 18	Camp Tattnall, GA
1862 March 20	Camp Tattnall, GA
1862 March 24	Camp Tattnall, GA, Company D; receipt of lumber and shoes, Capt J.C. Lamb
1862 March 26	Camp Tattnall, GA; Company D, receipt of coffin, Capt J. C. Lamb
1862 March 28	Col. William J. Young appoints William F. Stark of Co. H as Commissary of the 29th Regt and requests a commission for same
1862 April 1	At Camp Tattnall, GA; receipt of coffin, firewood, Maj. Lamb; forage
1862 April 8	Asst Commissary W.F. Stark receiving regimental equipment at Camp Tattnall, GA
1862 April 15	Asst Commissary W.F. Stark receiving regimental equipment at Camp Tattnall, GA
1862 April 16	Berrien Minute Men, Company D, 29th Georgia Regiment moved to Causton’s Bluff
1862 April 17	At Camp Tattnall, GA
1862 April 18	At Causton’s Bluff, GA
1862 April 23	At Causton’s Bluff, GA; Company D, receipt of supplies, Capt J. C. Lamb. “Captain Lamb’s Company has moved from Camp Tattnall to a place on the river below fort Jackson and about one mile and a half from our camps [Camps of the 50th Georgia Regiment] -Ezekiel Parrish, letter of April 23, 1862
1862 May	Company C at Battery Lawton, Smiths Island Company D at Causton’s Bluff near Savannah, GA, receipt of supplies, Capt Lamb
1862 May 1	At Causton’s Bluff, GA; receipt of coffin, firewood, Maj. Lamb; forage
1862 May 7	Company C – Levi J. Knight,Jr. elected Captain – Barzilla Knight elected 2nd Lieutenant Company D -Jonathan D. Knight, elected Lieutenant
1862 May 7	At Camp Debtford election of officers were held May 7 Thomas S. Wylly elected captain of the Berrien Minute Men Col. W. J. Young at Causton’s Bluff
1862 May	Company C & Capt Levi J. Knight, Jr. at Smith’s Island
1862 May 8	29th regiment at Causton’s Bluff, GA; regiment on picket duty on Oatland and Whitemarsh islands
1862 May 10	Company D (later K) at Camp Debtford Major Levi J. Knight resigns; John C. Lamb elected major of the Regiment;Major Lamb reported for duty at Advanced Batteries, Savannah River, Ga, in place of Major Knight resigned, not willing to be re-elected.
1862 May 13	Major J.C. Lamb at Causton’s Bluff signs certificate of disability for G. W. Fletcher.
1862 May 17	at Causton’s Bluff; Receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight
1862 May 19	Major Lamb absent at “Detached service on duty on Savannah River near Fort Jackson since 19th May, 1862 by verbal order Gen. W. D. Smith”
1862 May 22	at Causton’s Bluff; Wiley E. Baxter elected 2nd Lieut. Co. K; Receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight; receipt of supplies, Maj.
1862 May 26	at Causton’s Bluff; receipt of supplies, Maj. J. C. Lamb
1862 May 29	Asst Commissary W.F. Stark receiving regimental equipment at Caustons Bluff, GA
1862 June	Major Lamb in command Camp Mackey, Advanced Savannah River Batteries; Captain Levi J. Knight, Jr in command of Company C at Lawton Battery, Smith’s Island; Col.W.J. Young at Causton’s Bluff
1862 June 1	Company D (later K) At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA; Receipt of fuel by Capt J. D. Knight
1862 June 2	Company D (later K) at Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA (at this time Causton’s Bluff is an open battery)
1862 June	Company D (later K) Berrien Minute Men at Camp Mackey, near Savannah, GA
1862 June 9	Company C (later G) At Smith’s Island, near Savannah, GA; Harrison Jones discharged
1862 June 12	Company D (later K) At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA
1862 June 19	Company D (later K) At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA
1862 June 26	Company D (later K) At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA
1862 June 27	Company D (later K) At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA
1862 July	Company D (later K) At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA; Receipt of fuel by Capt J. D. Knight; Col. W. J. Young present
1862 July 4	Independence Day at Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA
1862 July 5	At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA
1862 July	Major Lamb stationed at Camp Troup, but absent on temporary “detached service on Savannah River” ; Captain Levi J. Knight, Jr. & Company C (later G) at Camp Debtford
1862 July	Examination of Officers acting since election of May 7, 1862
1862 July 17	at Causton’s Bluff; receipt of picket tents by Capt J. D. Knight
1862 July 19	at Causton’s Bluff; receipt of supplies by Maj. L. J. Knight
1862 July 27	Picket duty on Whitemarsh Island below Causton’s Bluff and at Capers? Battery
1862 July 30	At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA; receipt of coffin by Capt J. D. Knight
1862 August	Regimental station at Camp Troup, but Major Lamb absent on temporary “detached service on Savannah River” GA; Company C (later G) present at Camp Anderson
1862 August 24, Sunday	Roll call, “Inspection and Review this morning as usual.” W.F. Stark preached in the morning. “.. Bro. Daniel preached in the afternoon.”
1862 August 25	“There has been some heavy firing this evening towards Hilton Head” presumed to be Federal firing on blockade runners – W.F. Stark
1862 August 26	Regiment begins move in a hard rain to camp “on the Thunderbolt Road, three miles from Savannah”; CSS “Savannah went down St. Augustine Creek headed toward Thunderbolt,” observed from Causton’s Bluff; “Yanks have been firing guns all day”
1862 August 27	Company C still At Causton’s Bluff, near Savannah, GA; “Weather continues wet and disagreeable” but the regimental move continues.
1862 August 28	“A part of Capt. Knight’s Company & part of the staff moved today” along with Capt. Henderson’s and Capt. Turner’s companies. “The balance will get off tomorrow.” – W.F. Stark
1862 August 29	Capt Levi J. Knight, Jr stationed at Camp Anderson, but absent sick in Savannah
1862 September
1862 September 1	At a camp three miles from Savannah, GA on Skidaway shell road. ; Company C (later G) present at Camp Anderson
1862 September 2	At a camp two miles from Savannah, GA on Thunderbolt shell road. ; Company C (later G) present at Camp Anderson
1862 September 5	At Causton’s Bluff; receipt of wall tent by Capt. J. D. Knight
1862 September 11	At a camp near Savannah, GA
1862 September 13	At Camp Troupe
1862 September	At Causton’s Bluff; receipt of coffin by Capt J. D. Knight
1862 September 25	General Mercer reports seven companies 29th Georgia Regiment at Causton’s Bluff, along with Eight companies 25th Georgia Regiment and three unattached companies (apparently including Company F, 1st Georgia Reserves)
1862 October	Company C (later G) & Captain Levi J. Knight, Jr at Lawton Battery, Smith’s Island
1862 October 1	Pickets of Berrien Minute Men Company D, 29th Georgia Regiment fire on a Federal boat approaching Proctor’s Point.
1862 October 3	Maj. J. C. Lamb receives supplies at Causton’s Bluff; Regt. still encamped on Shell Bluff Road; Receives orders in the evening to prepare for departure to Jacksonville, FL
1862 October 4	29th Regiment at Camp Troup
1862 October 4	Company D (later K) In route by train from Savannah to Grooverville, Brooks County; marched to Monticello, FL
1862 October 5	Company D (later K) In route by train from Monticello to Lake City, FL
1862 October 6	Company D (later K) In route by train from Lake City to Camp near Baldwin, FL
1862 October 7	Company D (later K) Picket duty near Baldwin, FL
1862 October 8	29th Regiment At Camp Finnegan FL; Issue of supplies by Commissary W.F. Stark
1862 October 9	29th Regiment At Camp Finnegan FL; Issue of supplies by Commissary W.F. Stark
1862 October 10	Company D (later K) At Camp Finnegan FL; receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight; 29th Regiment At Camp Finnegan FL; Issue of supplies by Commissary W.F. Stark
1862 October 13	receipt of fresh beef by Commissary W.F. Stark at Groover Station, Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, ~170 miles from Savannah
1862 October 20	Major Lamb transferred from Savannah River Batteries apparently returning to station near Savannah
1862 October 21	Company K (formerly D) Return from expedition to Jacksonville, FL
1862 October 22	At midnight the 29th and 30th Regiment to start by train for Pocotaglio to support Col. Walkers position
1862 October 25	Berrien Minute Men Company K at “a camp near Savannah, GA”
1862 November	Company G (formerly C) & Captain Levi J. Knight, Jr present at Smith’s Island, but Capt L.J. Knight, Jr “in arrest”; Col W J Young at Camp Young
1862 November 1	Company K (formerly D) at Camp on Shell Road receipt of fuel by Capt J. D. Knight at Causton’s Bluff; receipt of forage, Maj J. C. Lamb
1862 November	Major Lamb Stationed at Camp Young three miles from Savannah
1862 November 9	At a camp near Savannah, GA
1862 November 10	Company K at a “camp near Savannah”, GA
1862 November 11	At a camp near Savannah, GA. Benjamin S. Garrett, Company K, writes, “We can her the canon agin at a distance. Suposed to be at Coffees bluf a bout a mile from here….Wee do not have half a nuf to eat. Only as we by [buy] it.”
1862 November 14	Camp Young, Near Savannah, GA; Receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight
1862 November 14	Causton’s Bluff, receipt of hospital tent by Maj. J. C. Lamb
1862 November 21	Camp Young, Near Savannah, GA; receipt of tents by Capt J. D Knight
1862 November 25	Near Savannah, GA
1862 November 28	Savannah River Batteries
1862 December	Company G at Lawton Battery
1862 December 1	Camp Young, receipt of forage, Major Young
1862 December 14	Company K Embarked 8:00pm by train to Wilmington, NC Sunday Dec 14
1862 December 15	Company K in transit by train to Wilmington, NC
1862 December 16	Company K in transit by train to Wilmington, NC
1862 December 17	Company K in transit by train to Wilmington, NC
1862 December 18	Company K in transit by train to Wilmington, NC; Berrien Minute Men Co. G, present at Lawton Battery, but Capt Levi J. Knight, Jr., suspended from rank & commission by order Genl Beauregard
1862 December 19	Company K arrives at Wilmington, NC on Friday evening, Dec 19
1862 December 20	Company K At Kingsville [Kinston], NC
1862 December 22	Company K at Camp Clingman, two miles from the railroad station at Wilmington; Lt Barzilla Knight, commanding Co. K, receipt of 45 blankets at Wilmington, NC
1862 December ?	Col W J Young & Major Lamb present at station Camp Clingman [encampment of General Thomas Lanier Clingman’s Brigade]
1862 Dec 26 Friday	Company K went to Kinston, NC
1862 Dec 27 Saturday	Company K at Kinston, NC
1862 December 28 Sunday	Company K at Kinston, NC – boarded train for Savannah at 7:00pm in letters of W.W. Knight
1862 December 29 Monday	Company K in transit by train to Savannah
1862 December 30 Tuesday	Company K arrived by train at Savannah; “back at Camp Young Tuesday night 9:00 pm”
1862 December 31	Elbert J. Chapman, “Old Yaller” AWOL
1863 January	Camp Young, GA; receipt of fuel, Major Lamb
1863 January 1	Camp Young, GA; receipt of forage, Company D; receipt of forage, Major Lamb
1863 January 3	Berrien Minute Men Co K returned to Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 January 7	at Camp Young; receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight
1863 January 7	In route to Wilmington, NC
1863 January 12	At Wilmington, NC; receipt of salt by Capt J. D. Knight
1863 January 15	at Camp Holmes; Receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight
1863 January 21	On station at Wilmington, NC
1863 January 22	Receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight at Camp Holmes
1863 January 31	Receipt of supplies by Capt J. D. Knight at Camp Holmes
1863 February	On station at Wilmington, NC
1863 Feb 11	Camp Young, near Savannah, GA; receipt of forage, Major Lamb
1863 Feb 12	Camp Young, near Savannah, GA; receipt of stationary by Capt J. D. Knight
1863 Feb 13	Capt J. D. Knight and Sgt Jonas Tomlinson detailed for 15 days “gathering conscripts” in Berrien County, GA
1863 February 20	At General Review of Infantry and Cavalry at Savannah, GA
1863 Feb 24	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA; receipt of stationary supplies, Major Lamb
1863 Feb 25	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 March 1	Company C At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA, 1st Lieut. Edwin B. Carroll, comdg
1863 March 3	At Genesis Point [later named Fort McAllister], Near Savannah, GA
1863 March 6	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 March	At Camp Young, receipt of forage, Major Lamb
1863 March 12	Reward offered for deserters from Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 March 13	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 March 14	Inspection of 29th GA Regiment at Camp Young, 3 miles from Savannah, GA
1863 March 17	At Camp Young, 3 miles from Savannah, GA
1863 March 19	At Camp Young, 3 miles from Savannah, GA
1863 March 26	Angus McDermid, Co. K, near Charleston, SC
1863 March 27	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 April 1	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA; Receipt of fuel by Capt J. D. Knight; Receipt for supplies, Major Lamb
1863 April 2	At Camp Young, near Savannah, GA
1863 April 9	Berrien Minute Men & brigade dispatched to Charleston
1863 April 11	29th Regiment encamped at Morris Island, SC four miles from Charleston
1863 April 19	Returned to Savannah, GA
1863 April 27	Dispatched to Pocotaligo, SC
1863 April 29	at Coosawhatchie, SC; receipt of supplies by Captain J. D. Knight
1863 May 4	Returned to Savannah, GA
1863 May	Berrien Minute Men and the 29th GA Regt departed Savannah for Jackson, MS
1863 May 1	At Vaughan Station, MS about 32 miles east of Yazoo City and 1 mile west of Big Black River ; receipt of forage, Company D; Receipt of forage for private horses, Major Lamb
1863 May 12	At McDowell’s Landing, MS
1863 May 13	Arrived at Meridian, MS
1863 May 14	In route by train toward Jackson, MS
1863 May 15	At Forest City, MS
1863 May 17	“fought all day…the battle was awful
1863 May 28	At Deaconsville, MS about 20 miles east of Yazoo City, “six miles west of Vanus Station”; Deserter Elbert J. Chapman captured
1863 May 29	Departed Camp near Deaconsville, MS;
1863 May 30	On the march
1863 June 3	Camp near Yazoo City, MS
1863 June 4	moved to Camp three miles south of Yazoo City, MS
1863 June 5	Camp near Yazoo City, MS (three miles south)
1863 June 18	At Vernon City, MS
1863 June 24	Camp near Vernon, MS; Captain J.D. Knight receives supplies
1863 July 2	At a camp in the field, 25 miles from Vicksburg, MS
1863 July 5	At Big Black River, MS
1863 July 6	Withdrawn from Big Black River, MS
1863 July 7	Marching in retreat toward Jackson, MS
1863 July 8	Arrived at Jackson, MS
1863 July 9	Company K, A day of rest; Company G (formerly C) at Savannah, requisition for stationary, Capt E.B. Carroll, comdg
1863 July 10	Ordered to the line of battle near Jackson, MS
1863 July 11	Supporting artillery batteries
1863 July 12	Supporting artillery batteries on the left of Walker’s Division
1863 July 13	Supporting artillery batteries on the left of Walker’s Division;
1863 July 13	Major Lamb killed in retreat from Vicksburg, MS; Company G in Savannah, receipt for stores, Capt E.B. Carroll, cmdg
1863 July 13	Retreated to a position “across railroad bank”; supporting artillery
1863 July 14	Supporting artillery at railroad bank near Jackson, MS
1863 July 15	Supporting artillery at railroad bank near Jackson, MS
1863 July 16	Supporting artillery at railroad bank near Jackson, MS
1863 July 17	Retreating from Jackson, MS
1863 July 19	At a camp in the field; receipt of clothes; receipt by Capt J. D. Knight of equipment replacements for articles lost in retreat from Jackson
1863 July 20	At a camp in the field near Forest City, MS
1863 July 21	Deserter Elbert J. Chapman executed
1863 July 22	At Scott County, MS
1863 July 23	Camp near Forrest City, Scott County MS;
1863 August 10	Company K, Camp near Morton, MS; “Camp in Field” Expense Voucher of Capt J, D. Knight
1863 August 15	Company G (formerly C) in Savannah, special requisition of materials, Capt. E.B. Carroll commanding
1863 August 20	Company G (formerly C) in Savannah, special requisition of clothing, Capt. E.B. Carroll commanding
1863 August 21	Company K Receipt of supplies at Morton MS
1863 August 23	Company K Embarked train in MS bound for Atlanta
1863 August 25	Company G (formerly C) in Savannah, receipt of expenses, Capt. E.B. Carroll commanding
1863 September	Company G (formerly C) in Savannah, receipt of firewood, Capt. E.B. Carroll commanding
1863 September 5	Company K (formerly D) at camp in the field; receipt of shoes, William W. Knight, 2nd Sgt commanding
1863 September 7	Duty at Battery Cheves
1863 September 15	James Island, SC; Magazine explosion kills Seaborn J. Lastinger
1863 September 19	In battle at Chickamauga; Col.Young lost right arm & resigned.
1863 October 15	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah – reciept of shoes, Capt. E. B. Carroll, comdg
1863 October 18	Camp Near Chattanooga, TN
1863 October 22	Camp Near Chattanooga, TN
1863 October 31	Company K (formerly D)In the field; receipt of clothing “the men being in a destitute condition” Sgt William W. Knight commanding
1863 November 2	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah – receipt of stores, Capt. E. B. Carroll, comdg
1863 November 10	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah – receipt of padlocks for commissary house, Capt. E. B. Carroll, comdg
1863 November 24	Near Missionary Ridge
1863 November 25	Near Missionary Ridge
1863 December 6	Company K (formerly D) Dalton, GA; receipt of clothing, on account of “the destitution of the men,” 2nd Sgt William Washington Knight, commanding
1863 December 13	Company G (formerly C) at Lawton Battery – Capt. E.B. Carroll requests 20 days leave.
1863 December 31	Dalton, GA; Capt J. D. Knight purchased new uniform
1864 January	In winter quarters at camp near Dalton, GA
1864 January 1	Company G (formerly C) in Savannah, receipt of stationary, Capt E.B. Carroll, cmdg
1864 January 12	Company K, Dalton, GA, Capt J. D. Knight purchased new shoes
1864 February 15	Company G (formerly C) in Savannah, receipt of shoes and blankets, Capt E.B. Carroll, cmdg
1864 February 29	near Dalton, GA
1864 March 12	Dalton, GA
1864 March 30	near Dalton, GA
1864 April	Company G (formerly C) at Lawton Battery, receipt of firewood, capt E.B. Carroll, comdg
1864 April 1	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah, receipt of coffin & drum, administrative supplies, capt E.B. Carroll, comdg
1864 April 9	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah, receipt of materials, capt E.B. Carroll, comdg
1864 April 26	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah, receipt of ammunition, capt E.B. Carroll, comdg
1864 April 26	Company G (formerly C) at Savannah, receipt of equipment, capt E.B. Carroll, comdg; Company G. ends detached duty in Savannah to rejoin the 29th GA Regiment
1864 April 30	provost duty in Dalton, GA
1864 May	Retreating from Dalton, GA
1864, May 11	In battle at Resaca, GA
1864 May 16	Camp near Calhoon, GA
1864, May 17	In battle at Adairsville, GA
1864 May 18	Camp in the field near Cassville, GA
1864 May 21	Camp in the field near Etowah Iron Works.
1864 May 29	Forsyth, GA
1864 June 1	Camp near Dallas, GA
1864 June 5	Camp in the field near Acworth, GA
1864 June 15	In line of battle; near Pine Mountain, GA
1864 June 16	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864 June 17	Camp near Marietta, GA
1864 June 19	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864 June 20	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864 June 21	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864 June 22	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864, June 23	Battlefield near Marietta, GA
1864 June 24	Battlefield near Marietta, GA
1864 June 26	Supporting General Hindman’s Division
1864 June 27	At Kennesaw Mountain, GA
1864 June 28	Camp near Marietta, GA
1864 July 2	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864 July 3	In line of battle near Marietta, GA
1864 July 4	In line of battle, four miles below Marietta
1864 July 5	Withdrawn to works near Chattahoochee River, GA
1864 July 7	Battlefield near Chattahoochee River, GA
1864 July 9	Fell back to pickets south of Chattahoochee River
1864 July 11	Camp in the field, near Atlanta, GA
1864 July 19	In Line of battle near Chattahoochee River
1864 July 20	In line of battle at Battle of Peachtree Creek
1864 July 21	In line of battle near Atlanta
1864 July 22	Company G and K At the Battle of Atlanta, near Decatur, GA. Capture of Edwin B. Carroll
1864 July 29	Camp near Atlanta, GA
1864 August 1	Officers at Johnson’s Island Military Prison
1864 August 7	Near Atlanta, GA; “fought the Yankees”
1864 August 8	Camp in the field near Atlanta, GA
1864 August 12	Camp in the field near Atlanta, GA
1864 August 17	Inspection report Utoy Church, Atlanta
1864 August 26	Camp in the field near Atlanta, GA
1864 August 31	Battle of Jonesboro, GA
1864 September 2	Lovejoy Station, GA
1864 October 19	Skirmish at Little River, AL
1864 November 29	Springhill, TN
1864 November 30	Franklin, TN
1864 December 4	Overall’s Creek, TN
1864 December 7	In battle at Murphreesboro
1864 December 16	In battle at Nashville, TN; 29th regiment surrounded and captured

March 9, 2024

3 Comments

Back Story on Benjamin William Furlong

September 9, 2011 at 10:04 pm (Furlongs of Berrien, Law and Order)
Tags: A. J. McRea, Alapaha GA, B. B. Gray, B. W. Furlong, Ben W. Furlong, Benjamin William Furlong, Berrien County GA, Brunswick & Albany Railroad, Brunswick & Western Railroad, Brunswick GA, C. M. Mayo, Charles W. Furlong, Church Brock, Enigma GA, Furlong Bros., Gray's Mill, Haints of Berrien County, J. L. Boyt, Jesse Webb, John Furlong, John Ray, John W. Furlong, O. R. Giddens, Pine Bloom Georgia, Pocahontas Furlong, R. B. Reppard, Ray City GA, Sam Lee Mills, Sniff Georgia, Vanceville, W. J. Nelson, Waycross GA, Will Harrell, William Furlong

Previous posts on this blog have concerned 1880s Berrien County desperado Benjamin William Furlong. The story of Ben Furlong, and reports of his ghost, are interesting passages in Berrien County history. A recent reader comment prompted a further look for Furlong’s trace. (see Ghost.)

Ben Furlong was a wiregrass sawmill man and at the same time an outlaw whose infamous deeds were published around the globe. While Ben Furlong had no direct connection to Rays Mill (now Ray City), GA he was well known to the citizens of Berrien County, and to all of south Georgia. His ‘stomping grounds’ centered around the town of Alapaha, which in the 1880s was the rail head for Berrien County. Anyone doing business with the Brunswick & Western Railroad risked crossing paths with Furlong. Indeed, his orneriness was known all up and down the B & W line from Brunswick to Albany. Dozens of criminal charges were levied against him in the Superior courts of Berrien and Dougherty counties.

As previously told, his final victim, Jesse Webb, was shot, knifed, brutalized and murdered at Sniff Mill, situated on the route of the Brunswick & Albany Railroad near the county line between Berrien and Coffee counties. Furlong was directly implicated in the murders of at least three other men, and his brother and partner, John Furlong, was gunned down in Texas after fleeing Georgia. Ben Furlong was feared by foes, friends, lovers and lawmen. Previous posts provide additional information on Ben Furlong’s “life of singular desperation.”

Ben Furlong was born about 1854 in Louisiana. Some time before 1869 he came to Georgia with other Furlong family members. By the age of 15 he was working for his brother-in-law ” in a responsible position” at a sawmill located in Pine Bloom, GA in Coffee County. The timber trade is one that he would follow for his short life, when he was not pre-occupied with drinking, drugs, murder, or other mayhem.

Furlong fled Pine Bloom after a fight in which he cut the throat of one of the sawmill workers. He was gone from the area for several years, but eventually returned. He was never charged with the murder.

Later he worked at other Berrien county sawmills at Vanceville and Sniff, GA.

Detail of Augustus S. Mitchell’s 1883 County Map of the States of Georgia and Alabama, showing location of Vanceville, Alapaha, and Rays Mill, GA. The mapped location of Pine Bloom is in error – the actual location of Pine Bloom was about two miles east of Willacoochee. [Special thanks to Bryan Shaw for this explanation – see comment below.]

1880 Census enumeration of Ben W. Furlong in Ware County near Waycross, GA.

It appears that Ben Furlong married sometime before 1874. In the census of 1880 he and his wife, Pocahontas (age 22), were enumerated in Ware County in the 1231 Georgia Militia District, near Waycross, GA. Ben was working there as a “timber sawyer” while Pocahontas was keeping house. Their children were John W. Furlong (age 5), William Furlong (age 3), Benjamin Furlong (age 2) and Charles W. Furlong (age 4 months.) (see 10th census, 1880, Georgia at Archive.org)

1881 South Georgia Pamphlet.

The following year, when Ben Furlong was about 27 years old, may have been the high point in his short life. (Here, the timeline of his documented activities seems to differ from the chronology given in the accounts of his life that were written after his death.) That year, 1881, he and his brother, John Furlong, were operating a sawmill at Vanceville, GA, a stop on the Brunswick & Albany railroad a few miles west of Alapaha, GA. The Brunswick & Albany provided a direct connection to the port at Brunswick, GA and access to world markets. There was a Navy yard at Brunswick, and it was said, “Hardly any other point along the Atlantic, from Maine to Florida, affords such facilities for ship building, with an unlimited supply of materials at hand.” At Vanceville, the Furlongs were in the perfect position to profit from the demand for lumber and naval stores.

The railroad pamphlet Southern Georgia described Vanceville GA:

Vanceville, at the 125 mile-post, is a new and bright looking little settlement. Here Furlong Bros. have a sawmill which cuts 15,000 feet of lumber per day. They have a tramway started, the engine and iron on the ground. The country is rolling and beautiful. There are many lovely building sites on this road. Nature has made them beautiful, and in a few short years our eyes may be permitted to see beautiful gardens, vineyards and orchards, where now the wiregrass flourishes.

1883 Stock certificate of the Reppard Land, Lumber & Sawmill Company of Georgia. R. B. Reppard provided financial backing for the sawmill operated by John and Ben Furlong at Vanceville, GA.

Furthermore, the Furlong Brothers secured the financial backing of R. B. Reppard, a timber magnate of Savannah. Reppard’s company, the Reppard Land, Lumber & Sawmill Company of Georgia, owned a dozen sawmills and vast tracts of timber in South Georgia. Reppard invested $30,000 dollars in a sawmill at Vanceville, and set up Ben and John Furlong to run it.

It was perhaps the very success and prosperity of their enterprise that brought about Ben Furlong’s downfall. Later newspaper reports asserted, “The charge of such a large business turned Furlong’s head completely. He began drinking heavily, neglected his wife and family, and took to the companionship of wantons.”

By July of 1882 the growing aberration in Ben Furlong’s behavior was becoming apparent to everyone. Reports of his alcohol fueled aggression began appearing in the press, even in staid publications such as The Sunny South, a weekly literary magazine published in Atlanta from 1874 to 1907.

Sunny South
July 1, 1882

B. W. Furlong a lumber merchant of Vanesville, has been arrested in Albany for shooting at Mr. Will Harrell on the train. Whiskey.

At the western terminus of the B& W railroad the local newspaper, The Albany News and Advertiser, gave an expanded account of the shooting:

Atlanta Weekly Constitution
July 11, 1882 Pg 3

Shooting on a Train

From the Albany News and Advertiser.
B. W. Furlong, a prominent lumber man who operates at Vanceville, on the Brunswick and Albany road, was arrested in Albany on Thursday night, at the insistence of Mr. Will Harrell, who swore out a warrant charging assault with intent to murder. Both parties came up on the train that evening and got into a row with each other. Furlong was quite drunk, drew a pistol and fired at Harrell. Quite a row ensued before matters grew quiet. When the train reached Albany the warrant was sworn and the arrest made, as stated. Furlong was not incarcerated, but was allowed liberty under the surveillance of an attending officer. He claims to have been crazed by drink, and did not know what he was doing. He was brought before Judge Warren late yesterday afternoon and waived a committal trial. Bond was fixed and given for his appearance here ond day next week.

In the summer of 1883, further stories about the excesses and abuses of Ben Furlong were appearing in newspapers all over the state, from The Valdosta Times, The Brunswick Advertiser, The Columbus Daily Enquirer, to The Atlanta Weekly Constitution :

The Atlanta Weekly Constitution
August 7, 1883 pg 2

Albany was full of rumors Sunday and Monday to the effect that a Mr. Furlong, of Furlong’s mill, about four miles this side of Tifton, had cruelly whipped his wife, and when she ran from him, he took the large end of his buggy whip, with which he had been beating her, and struck her on the head. One report was to the effect that he killed her, but it was learned since that such was not true. The deed was committed on Thursday, and Furlong defied arrest. A large posse of men, however went down and arrested him.

The Atlanta Weekly Constitution
August 9, 1883 pg 2

A white man named Furlong, in Coffee county, brutally beat his wife – Mrs. Furlong, is in a deplorable condition – not expected to live. Her body is only a mass of bruised flesh, while one of her jaws is broken. The cause of the trouble was a woman – another man’s wife, with whom Furlong was too intimate. She has been arrested as an accessory to the crime.

The Columbus Daily Enquirer
August 7, 1883 Pg 3 Brunswick Advertiser: A disgraceful affair occurred at Vanceville on the Brunswick and Western road, the past week. Mr. Ben Furlong, becoming enraged with his wife, chastised her severely with a whip, and because she attempted to get away struck her with the butt of the whip, knocking her senseless. He then stood in his doorway with a double-barrel gun and told all outsiders to keep off, or he would kill the first man who attempted to enter. He remained master of the situation for several days, and finally surrendered. Meanwhile his poor wife was lying extremely ill without attention.

By the fall, Furlong was again in trouble in Albany, GA the western terminus of the Brunswick & Albany, which by then had become the Brunswick & Western. The story from The Albany News was repeated in The Atlanta Weekly Constitution:

Atlanta Weekly ConstitutionOctober 18, 1883 Albany News: B. W. Furlong, who beat his wife so mercilessly in Berrien county some time ago, and who spent several days in jail in this city, has been on the rampage again for the last week or two, and although under bond to keep the peace and for his appearance at the next term of Berrien superior court, has been into two or three more difficulties and making himself a nuisance generally. Upon learning that Furlong was not keeping his promise to them, and that he was behaving badly again, three of his bondsmen, Messrs. W. J. Nelson, of Alapaha, B. B. Gray, of Gray’s mills, and Colonel J. L. Boyt, of Dougherty county, notified the sheriff of Berrien county that they would not remain on his bond any longer. The sheriff refused to relieve them of their responsibility, however, until Furlong was delivered to him. With the intention of arresting Furlong and delivering him over to the sheriff, Mr. Nelson, accompanied by Mr. A. J. McRea, marshal of Alapaha, started Sunday night to Albany, where they expected to find Furlong. They met him at Sumner, however, and started back to Alapaha with him. They did not tell him what their purpose was, but he evidently suspected that something was wrong, and just after the train started, jumped off, and has since been making himself scarce.

A few days later, The Cuthbert Enterprise supplied a brief follow-up report which was repeated in The Atlanta Constitution:

Atlanta Constitution
October 20, 1883 Pg 2

B. W. Furlong, the wife-beater of Berrien County, has been surrendered to the sheriff by his bondsmen. Two indictments against him at the last April term of Dougherty superior court, and Messrs. C. M. Mayo and John Ray became his bondsmen. There is also an indictment against him for assault and battery.

Columbus Daily Enquirer
October 23, 1883 Pg 3

Furlong the wife-beater, got drunk in Albany, Wednesday night, and has been surrendered by his bondsmen who thought that he had left them in the lurch.

Alarmed by Furlong’s scandalous and violent behavior, R.B. Reppard sent a man to Vanceville to take over the operation of the lumber mill. Ben’s brother, John, didn’t wait to be discharged and absconded with $10,000 dollars of the company’s funds. He was later shot and killed by a Texas lawman in a dispute over payment in a land auction.

Meanwhile, Ben Furlong’s “reckless and dangerous” behavior continued to infuriate his neighbors. In the summer of 1884, O.R. Giddens came gunning for Furlong, seeking satisfaction for some wrong. This time fate intervened, and the man was killed before he could confront Furlong. Perhaps Giddens’ rage drove him to the fatal error…another man killed after crossing paths with Furlong.

The New York Times
June 17, 1884

Vindictive Mr. Giddens Killed.

Albany, Ga. Jun 16. The night train on the Brunswick and Western Railroad ran over and killed O. R. Giddens, a well-known citizen of Berrien County, near Allapaha. Mr. Giddens had a grudge against a man named Furlong, and it is claimed, was in waiting for the purpose of killing him. The train was delayed several hours, however, and Mr. Giddens, in walking up and down the track to pass away the time, fell asleep on the track and so came to his death.

Detail from an 1895 railroad map, shows the location, from East to West on the line of the Brunswick & Western Railroad, of Sniff, Alapaha, Enigma, Vanceville, and Sumner,GA.

A detail from the George Cram Railroad and County Map of Georgia, 1885 shows the location of Sniff, Georgia. According to The Mercantile Agency special edition of Bullinger’s postal and shippers guide for the United States and Canada, January 1883 edition, Sniff, GA was located in Coffee County, placing it on the east bank of the Alapaha River. Sniff, GA would be the stage for the final desperate acts of Benjamin William Furlong. In June of 1886, state newspapers were again reporting on Ben Furlong’s violent encounters, this time involving the shooting of a Brunswick and Western railroad engineer.

Milledgeville Union Recorder
June 22, 1886 pg 6

Probably Fatal Difficulty

News reached the city [Albany, GA] by the Brunswick train on Wednesday night that B. W. Furlong shot Church Brock, at Sniff, on Wednesday morning.
    The News and Advertiser was unable to get full and reliable particulars of the difficulty, but it seems that Furlong owed Brock some money, and that when the latter asked him for it on Wednesday morning hot words followed. Furlong cursed Brock, using very severe language, and when Brock started to strike him Furlong drew his pistol and shot him. The ball taking effect in the abdomen.
   One of the News and Advertiser’s informants stated that Brock had a monkey-wrench in his hand, and another said he did not think he had anything. We give both statements with knowing which, or whether in fact either, is strictly correct.
    It is thought that Brock will die.
    Furlong is well known in Albany, and Brock has been an engineer on the B. & W. Railroad, but was running as a fireman on a freight train on Wednesday. He is a Brunswick man, and was carried home on Wednesday. – Albany News

The Macon Weekly Telegraph
June 29, 1886 Pg 5

John Brock, an engineer on the Brunswick and Western railroad, was shot while the train was stopping at Lee’s Mill on Wednesday afternoon, by Ben W. Furlong, a mill manager. The men had some difficulty previously, on account of a small sum alleged to be due Furlong by Brock, and when the train stopped, Brock went into the depot, and furlong followed, abusing Brock. The latter was about to strike him, when Furlong pulled out a self-cocker and shot Brock, the ball entering his right side and passing out on the left below the navel. The wound is painful, but not serious.

Just a few weeks following the shooting of Church Brock, Furlong’s despicable behavior slid even further into the depths. The End of a Noted Desperado told the story of Furlong’s torturous execution of Jesse Webb in early September, 1886. Before that month was out Furlong took his own life, overdosing on Laudanum. Laudanum, essentially a liquid heroin, was also known as opium tincture or tincture of opium. It was an alcoholic herbal preparation of opium that was popular in patent medicines in the late 1800s. The obituary of Benjamin William Furlong appeared in the Macon Weekly Telegraph:

Macon Weekly Telegraph
September 28, 1886   Pg 11

DEATH OF B. W. FURLONG.

A Well Known Mill Man Ends His Life With a Dose of Laudanum.

Albany News.
    News reached the city yesterday morning of the death of Mr. B. W. Furlong, at his home at Sniff, on the Brunswick and Western railroad, on Friday evening. He died from the effects of a dose of laudanum which he took, it is supposed with suicidal intent.
    Coupled with other reports as to what caused him to end his own life, it is rumored that he killed a negro not many days ago and sank his body in the Alapaha river. He had been on a protracted spree just before his death, and had involved himself in a good deal of trouble.
    Mr. Furlong was well known in this city and all along the line of the Brunswick and Western railroad, having been engaged in the saw mill business on this line of road for several years past. While he was a very clever and companionable man when sober, he appeared to place no value upon his own life when on one of his protracted sprees, and was generally regarded as a reckless and dangerous man.

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The Marriage of John David Miley and Lessie Lee Guthrie

November 30, 2010 at 1:11 am (Guthrie Family, Uncategorized)
Tags: Berrien County GA, Brunswick GA, Hahira GA, John David Miley, John Guthrie, June Guthrie, Lessie Lee Guthrie, Narcissus Miley, Ray City GA, Sam Guthrie

John David Miley, of Hahira, and Lessie Lee Guthrie, of Ray City, were married February 24, 1926 inValdosta, GA. They were married at Christian Parsonage by Reverend Richard Wallace. Mrs. Wallace served as the witness.

Lessie Guthrie was raised in Ray City and spent most of her life here. Her ancestors were among the pioneer families that settled Berrien County, and many of the Guthrie family connection still reside in the Ray City area.

Lessie Guthrie Miley and John David Miley, 1928, Brunswick, GA.

Following their wedding, John D. Miley took a job at the A & P Grocery, in Waycross, GA. At the first opportunity, though, he took the Civil Service Entrance Exam, and got a position with the U.S. Postal Service working at the Post Office in Brunswick, GA. Thereafter, John D. Miley worked with the postal service the rest of his life. Even when he served in the military, his service was in mail delivery.

The Ray City News, Jan 3, 1929 edition mentioned, “Mrs. John D Miley of Brunswick is visiting relatives here.”

Personal mention in the Ray City News, Jan 3, 1929.

Lessie Guthrie Miley with daughter Diane Miley, circa 1934

In the early 1930’s John D and Lessie had two children, Diane and David. But by 1935, they were experiencing marital difficulties.

Lessie left Brunswick and took the childen to Florida. They lived for a short time with Lessie’s brothers, Sam and John Guthrie, in an apartment in Winterhaven, FL. John D. Miley came to see her, they reconciled, and he took his family back to Brunswick.

The marriage of Lessie Lee Guthrie and John David Miley lasted another four years. They separated in 1939 while living in Hollywood, Florida.

John David Miley, Jr., "David", circa 1939.

Lessie was left alone there with her two children. Her mother-in-law, Narcissus

Miley, came from Hahira, GA to take them back to Georgia. Narcissus arranged for a large railroad crate to be delivered to Lessie’s place of residence. She packed all of Lessie’s possessions, her electric appliances, clothes, everything right down to the doilies. The railroad picked up the crate and they all rode the train together back to Hahira. Lessie and the kids stayed with Narcissus in Hahira about a week. Then June Guthrie, Lessie’s brother, came to get them and took them back to the Guthrie farm on Park Street, Ray City, GA.

Later, Lessie wrote, “We came back to Ray City on Easter Sunday, 1939. John D. left us December 1938 – one week before Christmas. We remained in Hollywood, until Granny Miley, went and brought us back on Easter Sunday.”

For more on the Guthrie and Miley families, and the history of Ray City, GA visit http://raycity.pbworks.com/

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Organization and Command of the Berrien Minute Men

August 16, 2010 at 7:47 pm (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War, Knight Family, Uncategorized)
Tags: Blackbeard Island GA, Brunswick GA, Captain Levi J. Knight's Company, Company G 29th Georgia Regiment, Company K 29th Georgia Regiment, John C. Lamb, Johnson's Island OH, L.E. Lastinger, Levi J. Knight, Levi J. Knight Jr, Sapelo Island GA, Savannah GA, Whig Party

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 recruits who left for the front in the latter part of September and arrived at Savannah and went from there to Sapelo Island where they 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 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.

The relationship between the two men was that of uncle and nephew. Levi J. Knight, the nephew, born 1833 in Lowndes County, GA was a son of Sarah and John Knight, who was a brother of Captain L. J. Knight.

Levi J. Knight (b. 1833) joined the Berrien Minutemen, the company of men being raised by his uncle Levi J. Knight (b. 180?). At first he served as 4th Sergeant of Company C, 29th Regiment. He was elected 1st Lieutenant October 22, 1861, and Captain on May 7, 1862 when the unit was reorganized as Co. G. He was shot through the right lung at Atlanta, Ga. July 22, 1864. He survived the injury and was captured with his unit near Nashville, Tenn. on December 16, 1864. He was released at Johnson’s Island, Ohio on June 16, 1865.

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Ray City History Blog

Tebeauville, Old No. Nine

Tebeauville, Old No. Nine

Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 6

Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 4

Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 1

Berrien Minute Men at Brunswick ~ July, 1861

It is a noble thing to fight for our country, and glorious to die in her cause…O, who wants not be a soldier! ~ Robert Hamilton Harris, Thomasville Guards, July, 1861

Albert Douglass: Soldier Grey and Sailor Blue

Albert Benjamin Douglass

CIVIL WAR SERVICE OF THE DOUGLASS BROTHERS

Albert B. Douglass in the Civil War

Campfires of the Berrien Minute Men

Back Story on Benjamin William Furlong

The Marriage of John David Miley and Lessie Lee Guthrie

Organization and Command of the Berrien Minute Men

Ray City History

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