18th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 18th Georgia Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. Originally brigaded with the three Texas regiments of John Bell Hood's Texas Brigade
, it was transferred to Thomas R.R. Cobb's Georgia Brigade after the Battle of Antietam
in late 1862. After General Cobb was mortally wounded at Battle of Fredericksburg
, the original colonel of the 18th Georgia, William T. Wofford
, became Brigadier General of the Georgia Brigade.
of Cass County; Lieutenant Colonel Solon Z. Ruff of the Georgia Military Institute
, Cobb County; Major Jefferson Johnson, Floyd County; Adjutant John C. Griffin, Cobb County. Transferring to Camp MacDonald at Big Shanty (Marietta), the regiment drilled for two months after which the "Fourth Brigade" was broken up and sent north on August 2, 1862.
The 18th Georgia was composed of ten companies, mostly from central counties in Georgia.
(Manassas) and served garrison duty for two weeks in Goldsboro, North Carolina. In November they were sent north to the area of Dumfries, Virginia
along the Potomac where they were attached to the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas regiments to form a "full" brigade.
For the next year they would be an integral member of the Texas Brigade
as it fought from the Peninsula to Antietam. The regiment was first engaged at the Battle of Eltham's Landing
and the Battle of Seven Pines
. It served conspicuously during the Seven Days Battle where, along with their Texas compatriots, they broke the line at the Battle of Gaines' Mill
, effectively ending McClellan's campaign, and resulting in casualties of 37 killed and 106 wounded.
Two months later, the regiment distinguished itself again at the Second Battle of Bull Run
where members captured two stands of colors (those of the 24th and 10th New York regiments), and where, along with the Texas Brigade
, they spearheaded Longstreet's assault on Pope's left, nearly wiping out the 5th New York Zouaves
and captured a battery of four guns. Casualties were 37 dead and 87 wounded. Three weeks later, the 18th fought at the Battle of Antietam
losing 14 killed and 30 wounded.
Under orders of the Confederate War Department, the 18th Georgia Infantry was transferred from the Texas Brigade
to the Georgia Brigade and went into camp at Fredericksburg, Virginia. In the ensuing Battle of Fredericksburg
, the regiment fought behind the stone wall on Marye's Heights sustaining loses of only 14 killed and 30 wounded while inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Originally brigaded with the three Texas regiments of John Bell Hood's Texas Brigade
Texas Brigade
The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
, it was transferred to Thomas R.R. Cobb's Georgia Brigade after the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
in late 1862. After General Cobb was mortally wounded at Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, the original colonel of the 18th Georgia, William T. Wofford
William T. Wofford
William Tatum Wofford was an officer during the Mexican-American War and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, became Brigadier General of the Georgia Brigade.
Organization
The regiment was organized at Camp Brown, Cobb County, Georgia on April 22, 1861 under a special act of the Georgia legislature and was originally designated First Regiment, Fourth Brigade, State Troops under the following officers: Colonel William T. WoffordWilliam T. Wofford
William Tatum Wofford was an officer during the Mexican-American War and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
of Cass County; Lieutenant Colonel Solon Z. Ruff of the Georgia Military Institute
Georgia Military Institute
The Georgia Military Institute was established on in Marietta, Georgia, on July 1, 1851. It burned during the Civil War and was never rebuilt. The current GMI is a reactivation of the name for a Georgia National Guard Officer Candidate School curriculum.-Mission:In January 2010, the Georgia Army...
, Cobb County; Major Jefferson Johnson, Floyd County; Adjutant John C. Griffin, Cobb County. Transferring to Camp MacDonald at Big Shanty (Marietta), the regiment drilled for two months after which the "Fourth Brigade" was broken up and sent north on August 2, 1862.
The 18th Georgia was composed of ten companies, mostly from central counties in Georgia.
- Company A: Cobb CountyCobb County, GeorgiaCobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta, which is located in the center of the county. The county was named for Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States representative and senator from Georgia...
— "Acworth Infantry" - Company B: Newton CountyNewton County, GeorgiaNewton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 62,001. The 2010 Census showed a population of 99,958. The county seat is Covington....
— "Newton Rifles" - Company C: Jackson CountyJackson County, GeorgiaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population in 2000 was 41,589. Explosive growth is evident with a population of 63,544 in the 2009 Census estimates. The county seat is Jefferson.-History:...
— "Jackson County Volunteers" - Company D: Dougherty CountyDougherty County, GeorgiaDougherty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 96,065. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 95,859. It is included in the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
— "Davis Invincibles" - Company E: Gordon CountyGordon County, GeorgiaGordon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 44,104. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 52,044. The county seat is Calhoun.- History :...
— "Stephens Infantry" - Company F: Bartow CountyBartow County, GeorgiaBartow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 100,157. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2009 estimate, the county's explosive growth resulted in a population of 96,217, a 26.5% increase in less than ten years...
— "Davis Guards" - Company G: Bartow CountyBartow County, GeorgiaBartow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 100,157. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2009 estimate, the county's explosive growth resulted in a population of 96,217, a 26.5% increase in less than ten years...
— "Lewis Volunteers" - Company H: Bartow CountyBartow County, GeorgiaBartow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 100,157. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2009 estimate, the county's explosive growth resulted in a population of 96,217, a 26.5% increase in less than ten years...
— "Rowland Highlanders" - Company I: Dooly CountyDooly County, GeorgiaDooly County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,525. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 11,592. The county seat is Vienna....
— "Dooly Light Infantry" - Company K: Bartow CountyBartow County, GeorgiaBartow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 100,157. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2009 estimate, the county's explosive growth resulted in a population of 96,217, a 26.5% increase in less than ten years...
— "Rowland Infantry"
Initial deployment and service
The 18th Georgia briefly guarded prisoners in Richmond captured at the First Battle of Bull RunFirst Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
(Manassas) and served garrison duty for two weeks in Goldsboro, North Carolina. In November they were sent north to the area of Dumfries, Virginia
Dumfries, Virginia
Dumfries is a town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,937 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dumfries is located at ....
along the Potomac where they were attached to the 1st, 4th and 5th Texas regiments to form a "full" brigade.
For the next year they would be an integral member of the Texas Brigade
Texas Brigade
The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
as it fought from the Peninsula to Antietam. The regiment was first engaged at the Battle of Eltham's Landing
Battle of Eltham's Landing
The Battle of Eltham's Landing, also known as the Battle of Barhamsville, or West Point, took place on May 7, 1862, in New Kent County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. Brig. Gen. William B. Franklin's Union division landed at Eltham's Landing and was attacked...
and the Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
. It served conspicuously during the Seven Days Battle where, along with their Texas compatriots, they broke the line at the Battle of Gaines' Mill
Battle of Gaines' Mill
The Battle of Gaines's Mill, sometimes known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War...
, effectively ending McClellan's campaign, and resulting in casualties of 37 killed and 106 wounded.
Two months later, the regiment distinguished itself again at the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
where members captured two stands of colors (those of the 24th and 10th New York regiments), and where, along with the Texas Brigade
Texas Brigade
The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
, they spearheaded Longstreet's assault on Pope's left, nearly wiping out the 5th New York Zouaves
5th New York Volunteer Infantry
The 5th New York Volunteer Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment that fought during the American Civil War, led by Colonel Abram Duryée. It is also known as the "Duryée's Zouaves," named after their colorful Zouave uniforms...
and captured a battery of four guns. Casualties were 37 dead and 87 wounded. Three weeks later, the 18th fought at the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
losing 14 killed and 30 wounded.
Under orders of the Confederate War Department, the 18th Georgia Infantry was transferred from the Texas Brigade
Texas Brigade
The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
to the Georgia Brigade and went into camp at Fredericksburg, Virginia. In the ensuing Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, the regiment fought behind the stone wall on Marye's Heights sustaining loses of only 14 killed and 30 wounded while inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy.