ALGENEVA-L Archives

From: "M. Daniels" <>
Subject: [ALGENEVA] Fw: Warriors of the Wiregrass
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 21:36:56 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Griffin (by way of Crilley <>)"
<>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 8:30 PM
Subject: Warriors of the Wiregrass


> Margie....great letter to AL....let's hope you get some results!!
>
> Don't know if you want to use this or not....doesn't matter to me...
>
> FYI
>
>
> > I am sending this notice to let people know that after 6 years, I have
> > compiled the histories of 14 Georgia regiments. I have donated
> > this work to
> > our SCV Camp in Moultrie GA. I am not doing this for my own gain, but
for
> > our history and memory of ancestors.
> >
> > Please pass on to all your fellow researchers that our camp will soon be
> > releasing a book "Warriors of the Wiregrass" which will have compiled 14
> > Georgia regimental histories about 600 pages. I have done this
> > for our SCV
> > camp and a printing quote is now in process. All proceeds will go to
our
> > SCV camp's heritage projects such as scholarships (we started a Lt.
Mobley
> > Scholarship last year an officer and ancestor killed in service to the
CSA
> > as part of Company I, 50th GA Vol Inf.), living history demos for
schools,
> > museum, monument and cemetery upkeep, etc. I will not keep a
> > nickel of the
> > proceeds and all sales will be through the camp only, so it will
> > be for our
> > ancestors benefit not mine.
> >
> > Once we get the printing done, I will pull the larger version of the
> > histories off the web and put a summary version and then post
> > info on how to
> > get the book.
> >
> > What I would like to ask you to do is:
> >
> > 1) if you are interested in a copy, email me back or email our camp
> > Commander Mr. Jack Bridwell at . This will put
you
> > on a list and we will contact you as soon as a firm price is quoted to
us
> > and we have a production schedule.
> >
> > 2)if you have an SCV camp, please pass this along at the next
> > meeting and in
> > any newsletters you may have.
> >
> > 3) if you have a web site, again please pass the word.
> >
> > 4) if you have an address book of persons interested in the WBTS, please
> > forward this information on.
> >
> >
> > I would appreciate it if you would pass the word in anyway you
> > can because
> > all proceeds directly go to support Southern Heritage.
> >
> > Thank you very kindly,
> >
> > John Griffin, Zillah, WA
> >
> > http://members.xoom.com/jagriffin/JAG.htm
> > JK McNeill SCV Camp #674, Moultrie, GA
> > http://members.xoom.com/JKMcNeillSCVcamp/SCVhomepage.htm
> >
> >
> > Below is the table of contents and introduction. If you have further
> > questions, please email Jack or myself.
> >
> > Table of Contents
> >
> >
> > Introduction i
> >
> > Acknowledgements ii
> >
> > Chapter 1 1st Regiment of Georgia, Mercer's Olmstead's
> > Volunteer Infantry
> > 1-1
> >
> > Chapter 2 4th Georgia (Clinch) Cavalry 2-1
> >
> > Chapter 3 10th Battalion Georgia Volunteer Infantry 3-1
> >
> > Chapter 4 11th Georgia Cavalry-State Guard 4-1
> >
> > Chapter 5 20th Battalion Georgia Cavalry Partisan Rangers 5-1
> >
> > Chapter 6 20th Georgia Volunteer Infantry 6-1
> >
> > Chapter 7 29th Georgia Volunteer Infantry 7-1
> >
> > Chapter 8 49th Georgia Volunteer Infantry 8-1
> >
> > Chapter 9 50th Georgia Volunteer Infantry 9-1
> >
> > Chapter 10 54th Georgia Volunteer Infantry 10-1
> >
> > Chapter 11 61st Georgia Volunteer Infantry 11-1
> >
> > Chapter 12 63rd Georgia Volunteer Infantry 12-1
> >
> > Chapter 13 64th Georgia Volunteer Infantry 13-1
> >
> > Chapter 14 Coffee County Revengers Newbern's Company,
> > Cavalry Georgia Local Defense Unit 14-1
> >
> >
> >
> > Appendixes
> >
> >
> > A- Bibliography: References and Sources Used A-1
> > B- How to Research Confederate Ancestors B-1
> > C- Recommended Readings: Books on CSA/WBTS History C-1
> > D- Confederate Iron Cross and Veterans Administration Markers D-1
> > E- About the Sons of Confederate Veterans E-1
> >
> >
> > Introduction
> > Warriors of the Wiregrass:
> > Histories of Selected Georgia Regiments
> > in the War for Southern Independence
> >
> > Before reviewing this book, I would like to give the reader the
background
> > on its production. This book is the culmination of over six years of
> > compilation of material on selected regiments that served Georgia and
the
> > CSA. What started as a question raised by my son in grade school over a
> > class assignment on a family history-American history connection, turned
> > into a quest to find information not only about individual ancestors,
but
> > also about the actions they saw in the War for Southern Independence.
> >
> > Most of this research was done nearly 3000 miles away from the
> > archives and
> > primary sources of information. Growing up in Washington State,
> > but having
> > my father's family all from South Georgia, I had a natural curiosity
while
> > growing up about our family history, particularly as it related to the
War
> > Between the States. As a public school and later college student, the
> > questions were there, but I did not have the knowledge on how to
> > proceed nor
> > resources to investigate. It was quite a struggle initially do to
research
> > so far away. I have included sections in the Appendix that will help
guide
> > others in their research of Confederate ancestors, hoping to
> > remove a hurdle
> > in their investigations.
> >
> > I am not a professional historian nor researcher. I was simply a father
> > helping his son with a school project. I knew I was a descendent of
> > settlers of Wiregrass Georgia and had an interest in discovering
> > the role my
> > ancestors may have played in a struggle that is paramount in the
thoughts
> > and writings of American history. Through inter-library loan, microfilm
> > rental, the advent of CD-ROM technology and Internet resources
> > this project
> > grew in the ability to review the tremendous amount of material
> > available to
> > the public. The problem was that the material was scattered within and
> > between resources and so I began an effort to compile the sources into
one
> > document. With that being said I want to explain what this
> > compilation tries
> > to do.
> >
> > It was written as a family history document. A document that an average
> > person in our family could pick up and read and get a brief
> > understanding of
> > some of the genealogy and history of ancestors who fought in this
> > conflict.
> > While there is much written at the Corps, Division, and even
> > Brigade levels,
> > the Regimental and Company levels are more scattered through many
> > works. I
> > decided to try to compile as much information as I could from references
> > that related to the individual regiments and sometimes even specific
> > companies. When those were not available I tried to move up to
> > Brigade and
> > sometimes Division information to help give an understanding to
> > the actions
> > faced.
> >
> > I often rely on the writings of men who were there in 1860-1865
> > by post from
> > the "OR's" (Official Records of the War of the Rebellion project),
> > Confederate Military History and Southern Historical Society Papers. I
> > would rather the reader study the words recorded by the actual
> > participants
> > rather than my observations of what I think they are saying. I
> > have tried to
> > reference all these postings so if someone has the inclination to
> > take this
> > work and move forward, they will have a better starting point that I
did.
> > The layout and formatting was done with the interest of
> > readability for the
> > average person interested in beginning to learn more about Georgia
> > regiments. Readability, referencing, and interest, I hope,
> > compensate what
> > this work may lack in formal historical formatting and footnoting.
> >
> > I felt the introduction should include help in understanding the
Military
> > organization of Georgia as it can be quite confusing. Georgia, like most
> > states, had a militia since colonial times. Georgia was organized into
> > Militia Districts. These were referred to as military districts or
> > divisions long before the talk of secession or war. There were thirteen
> > military divisions of militia in the Georgia, each containing two
> > brigades.
> > The thirteen divisions contained at least 109 regiments and 342
> > battalions.
> > The regiments and battalions were composed of at least 1257 district
> > companies from the military districts within the Georgia. These
companies
> > were organized as companies of infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
> > In addition
> > there were at least 114 volunteer companies. During Indian Wars and wars
> > such as 1812 and other border skirmishes, the militia was called up for
> > fighting and defensive actions. By 1860 many militia units began
serious
> > drilling in what was considered modern tactics. When the war broke out,
> > these companies became the backbone of Confederate forces in Georgia,
and
> > although many of these companies entered into Confederate service, the
> > structure of the Georgia State militia remained intact. In fact,
> > during the
> > Atlanta Campaign the State furnished General Joseph Johnston with four
> > brigades of Georgia militia under the command of Major General Gustavus
W.
> > Smith.
> >
> > This book contains pre war militia units that were raised to
> > become Georgia
> > Volunteer Infantry and assigned to Confederate Armies, Volunteer
regiments
> > that were raised after the firing on Fort Sumtner, regiments that were
> > raised late in the war, and units of State Guard and Local Defense
Troops.
> > In addition an infantry battalion and cavalry regiment are covered. The
> > example of an artillery branch of Georgia troops is not included.
Having
> > found no ancestors from Georgia as regular artilleryman, I have not done
> > research into this branch. Other than that, I hope the reader can
> > appreciate the diversity of assignment, duty and purpose of the various
> > regiments contained here.
> >
> > An area that I would like to see expanded in this work is the inclusion
of
> > letters, diaries and journals from the men who formed these
> > regiments. Many
> > items are housed in archives, libraries, societies and museums and in
> > private collections in Georgia. Currently my resources do not allow
> > sufficient time in Georgia to obtain copies to share with the
researcher.
> > Perhaps in the future, this project will be expanded to include
> > representation of these accounts.
> >
> > These compilations have been written over a six-year period.
> > Older versions
> > have been updated often as new resources have been found and
> > reviewed. This
> > will explain some of the formatting differences between the chapters.
Each
> > chapter is dedicated to those ancestors who served in the
> > regiments. It is
> > my attempt to bring a very human aspect to the men who fought for
Georgia
> > and fought for their new nation the Confederate States of America.
> >
> > Unfortunately in the expedience of educating our young people,
> > the Southern
> > people are often tagged as evil, backward, racists slave mongers. In
> > actuality less than 7% of the Southern population owned slaves. It is
not
> > the purpose of this book to argue the causes behind the formation of the
> > Confederate States; however one must not be trapped in the popular,
> > politically correct interpretation that this war was fought solely over
> > slavery. I direct persons interested in learning the many
> > complex issues of
> > constitutional law, economics, tariffs and taxation, states
> > rights, national
> > politics and sovereignty to the "Recommended Reading" list in the
> > Appendix.
> > Throughout history from ancient times to the present day, we see power,
> > exploitation and control, greed and money at the root of most conflicts.
> > Review these sources and then draw your own conclusions. I would add
that
> > after researching the ancestors that fought, suffered and died in this
> > conflict, there has to be more to the story than you find in a standard
> > American History textbook. Two old saying: "Victors write the recorded
> > history" and "Don't take my word for it. Look it up", could certainly
> > apply here.
> >
> > Again it is my hope that you may overlook some of these amateur
> > compilation
> > incongruities and find this work of benefit for your understanding of
the
> > men who fought for home, family, Georgia and the sovereignty of the
> > Confederate States of America. To all that honorably served the CSA, the
> > state of Georgia, and their descendants who wish to learn of the truth
of
> > their fight, this work is dedicated.
> >
> > John Griffin, Zillah, WA
>
> http://members.xoom.com/jagriffin/JAG.htm
> JK McNeill SCV Camp #674, Moultrie, GA
> http://members.xoom.com/JKMcNeillSCVcamp/SCVhomepage.htm
>
>
>
>

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• [ALGENEVA] Fw: Warriors of the Wiregrass by "M. Daniels" <>