A Soldier's Story of His Regiment (61st Georgia): And Incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade Army of Northern Virginia

Chapter 2

36 Major G. M. HanTey, wounded alia-htly one time and aeverely wounded one time. Lieutenant J. J. Doughtry, severely wounded at Monocacy , Md., July 9th, 1864. Lieutenant Charles Doughtry, severely wounded at Cold Harbor, Jun~ 2nd, 1864. Lieutenant Thomas Sessions, of "Washington Rifles," of Company A, killed at Monocacy, Md., 1864. Lieutenant Thos. Tutt, killed at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19th, 1864. Lieutenant William Beadlass, of company A, severely wounded at Hatcher's Run, (lost his leg), Feb. 6th, 1865. Sergeant Hopps, color bearer, killed. Sergeant Snead, color guard, wounded. Sergeant Jesse Robson, color guard, severely wounded (lost his leg). CHAPTER II. LA.WTON'S BRIGADE'S TRIP TO VIRGINIA-JOINS STONltWAI ,L JACKSON'S COMMAND-SltVltN DAYS' BATT~lt BltFORE RICHMOND. The brigade being formed, we were ordered to Richmond , Virginia. The brigade was composed principally of young men and was nearly 7,000 strong, and was the fiower of Georgia, and, I suppose, did as much hard and e:tIectual service as was done in the war, and, I suppose, had as fine commanders. Our first commander was General A. R. Lawton, who was assigned to the command of a division after the second battle of Manassas. Colonel Marcellus Douglas, of the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, commanded the 37 brigade. Colonel Douglas was killed at the battle of Sharpsburg, Md., and was succeeaed by Colonel E. N· Atkinson of the 'rwenty-sixthGeorgia Regiment, and remained in command until the battle ofFredericksburg, December 13th, 1862; where he was severely woundf'd, and Colonel C. A. Evans succeeded him in command and commanded until April, 1863. The famous General John B. Gordon was then assigned to the command of the brigade. He commanded until May, 1864, when he was promoted to the rank of major-general. Colonel C. A. Evans of the Thirty-first Georgia Regiment, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was assigned the command of Gordon's Brigade. He commanded the brigade until the fall of 1864, and was then assigned to the command of a division. And the noble Colonel John H. Baker, of the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment , was assigned the command of Evans'Brigade, and commanded it till near the close of the war. Colonel Jno. T. Lowe was the last commander, and surrendered the brigade at Appomatox. We all loved, respected and obeyed these dear commanders . We private soldiers were never ordered to go where our commanders would not go. They often went where they would not order us. They always led in battle, and made the old brigade famous, and was second to none in the armies of the Confederacy. We received orders in Charleston, S. C., about 9 o'clock one beautiful Sunday morning, while the church bells were ringing all over the city for divine services, to cook and prepare four days rations, and to strike (take down) our tents, pack our baggage, and be ready to leave Charleston at sundown. We hurried up all day and had everything ready and on the train, on .the Northeaatcm Railroad, on open dirt cars, and started when the aun 38 wa~ about a half hour high. We traveled day and nigh t and a great deal of the way in a very cold rain. At Goldsboro, N. C., we met a great many Yankee prisoners, who were captured at the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, which was fought on the last day of May, 1862. On the way to Richmond on those open cars and in the cold rain a great many of the boys got sick. Some died from the exposure. When we got to Petersburg, Va., we were formed in line and our officers came around with whisky and gave us all a " treat." The writer was used to but very little of strong drink and drank but very little. I decided I wanted a good drink for my benefit. So I backed out of my place in the line and went further dow11 the line, and when Capt. Tillman got there I drank again. It took the "shakes" out of me and warmed me up, and I felt much better. Then we drew about two pounds of boiled bacon and about a dozen hard tacks apiece, went into a large house out of the rain and stayed all night, and left next morning for Richmond. We stayed in ~ichmond about two days until the brigade...