Mary Gay - Life in Dixie during the War, 1861-1862-1863-1864-1865

The soldiers who went to Virginia knew from their own experience the scenes of Manassas, Malvern Hill, Fort Harrison, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Yet some of them were left to be surrendered by Lee at Appomatox Court House. The companies which were in the Western Army were in the leading battles of that Division, and were equally brave and abiding in their devotion to the cause.

For many of the foregoing facts concerning the troops from DeKalb, I am greatly indebted to Mr. Robert F. Davis, who went with DeKalb’s first company, and who, after braving the perils of the war, came off unscathed. He still lives near Decatur, and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

I greatly regret my inability, even if I had the space, to give the names of all the soldiers who went from DeKalb, and to tell of their deeds of bravery and endurance. It has not been intentional that many are wholly omitted. It has been my privilege to see but one muster-roll of our county troops – that of Company K, 38th Georgia Regiment, kindly furnished by Mr. F. L. Hudgins, of Clarkston, a brave soldier who was in command of the Company when Lee surrendered. This muster-roll shows that out of the 118 names, forty-six were killed (or died), and seventeen were wounded; that its first Captain, William Wright, resigned, and that three other Captains by promotion were all killed, i. e. , Gustin E. Goodwin, George W. Stubbs and R. H. Fletcher. Indeed, in nearly every instance, promotion in this Company meant death upon the battle field. And can we wonder that both the commissioned and the noncommissioned fell, when some of the principal battles in which they were engaged bore such names as Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Winchester, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse, Mechanicsville, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Louise Courthouse and High Bridge?

In memory of the dead, for the sake of the living and for the descendants of all mentioned therein, I copy the muster-roll of this company:

Company K., 38th Georgia Regiment :

Captain William Wright – resigned July, 1862.

1st Lieutenant Julius J. Gober – Died July 26th, 1862.

2nd Lieutenant Gustin E. Goodwin – Promoted captain; killed August 28th, 1862.

3rd Lieutenant George W. Stubbs – Promoted captain; killed July 24th, 1864.

1st Sergeant John S. Johnston – Killed June 27th, 1862.

2nd Sergeant W. R. Henry – Promoted to 1st Lieutenant; lost a leg December 13th, 1862.

3rd Sergeant J. A. Maddox – Killed at Wilderness, May 5th, 1864.

4th Sergeant F. L. Hudgins – Promoted 1st Sergeant; wounded at Malvern Hill; shot through the body at Gettysburg.

5th Sergeant E. H. C. Morris – Promoted 3rd Lieutenant; killed at Second Manassas, August, 1862.

1st Corporal F. M. Gassaway – Killed at Second Manassas, August, 1862.

2nd Corporal J. M. Walker – Died in camp.

3rd Corporal W. A. Ward – Died in camp.

4th Corporal James L. Anderson – Wounded at Manassas and Spottsylvania court house.

John H. Akers – Killed at Second Manassas, 1862.

A. W. Allman – Killed at Cedar Creek, October 19th, 1864.

John Adams – Died in camp.

Enos Adams —

Isaac W. Awtry —

W. A. Awtry —

H. V. Bayne – Disabled by gunshot wound. Still living.

Allen Brown —

Lewis Brown —

Killis Brown —

William M. Brooks —

H. M. Burdett —

J. S. Burdett —

John S. Boyd —

James E. Ball – Killed at Gettysburg, July, 1863.

W. H. Brisendine —

L. R. Bailey – Transferred to Cobb’s Legion.

John E. J. Collier —

James Collier – Died at Charlottesville, Va., 1862.

Z. J. Cowan —

J. J. Cowan —

G. G. Cook —

James E. Chandler – Killed at Sharpsburg, Md., September 17th, 1862.

W. B. Chandler – Died in camp, May 31st, 1863.

John W. Chandler – Killed at Second Manassas, August, 1862.

W. A. Childress – A physician in Atlanta.

J. H. Childers —

J. M. Dowis – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

W. H. Ellis —

John Eunis —

R. H. Fletcher – Promoted Captain; killed in 1865.

A. M. Gentry – Died at Savannah in 1862.

W. F. Goodwin – Promoted 3rd Lieutenant; killed at Gettysburg in 1863.

C. H. Goodwin – Killed at Coal Harbor.

Joseph Grogan —

J. H. Grogan —

J. D. Grogan – Killed at Sharpsburg, Maryland, September 17th, 1862.

Gideon Grogan – Killed at Sharpsburg, Maryland, September 17th, 1862.

James H. Gasaway – Disabled by gunshot.

William Gasaway – Disabled by gunshot.

John Gasaway – Discharged.

W. L. Goss —

F. L. Guess – Transferred to the 9th Georgia Artillery Battalion.

H. L. Head —

J. L. Henry – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

W. B. Heldebrand – Died recently.

H. H. Hornbuckle – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

Joshua Hammond – Killed at Sharpsburg, September 17th, 1862.

R. F. Jones – Killed at Coal Harbor.

J. W. Jones – Disabled by gunshot.

C. S. Jones – Killed in Richmond.

R. D. F. Jones – Disabled by gunshot.

J. M. Jones —

J. H. Jones – Disabled by gunshot.

James Jones —

John F. Kelley —

John H. Kelley —

James Kelley —

W. J. Little – Disabled by gunshot.

George Lee – Died in camp.

A. J. Lee – Discharged.

Wiley Manghon —

J. R. Mitchell – Killed December 13th, 1862, at Fredericksburg.

W. G. Mitchell – Disabled by gunshot.

E. J. Mitchell —

W. R. Maguire – Disabled by gunshot.

W. A. Morgan —

B. S. McClain – Died in camp.

John W. Nash – Killed December 13th, 1862, at Fredericksburg.

David N. Fair – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

W. B. Owen —

J. J. Pruett – Discharged.

John W. Phillips – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

John B. Thompson —

Will Thompson —

W. M. Richardson – Disabled at Second Manassas.

J. S. Richardson – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

D. D. Richardson – Died at Hanover Junction, 1862.

A. W. Stowers —

W. A. Smith —

J. M. Summey – Shot through at Coal Harbor.

S. J. Summey – Killed at Winchester, Va., June 13th, 1863.

James Toney – Musician.

C. W. Toney – Musician.

M. J. Tweedle – Wounded at Winchester, Va., September 19th, 1864.

S. J. Thomas —

R. L. Vaughn – Died at Savannah, Ga.

J. S. Vaughn – Wounded eight times at Coal Harbor.

W. T. Vaughn – Had both hands blown off.

J. C. Wiggins – Promoted Second Lieutenant; killed in June, 1864.

J. M. Wiggins —

R. W. Wiggins – Killed at Petersburg, Va., March 27th, 1865.

E. W. Wiggins – Killed at Sharpsburg, Maryland, September 17th, 1862.

G. W. Wiggins —

M. O. Wiggins – Disabled at Cedar Creek, October 19th, 1864.

G. W. Wade – Musician.

E. D. Wade —

F. M. Wade —

B. L. Wilson – Killed at Marie’s Heights, May 4th, 1863.

W. A. Wright —

W. R. Wood —

Amos Wheeler – Killed at Spottsylvania, May 12th, 1864.

J. H. Wilson – Killed at Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863.

Jordan Wilson – Killed at Coal Harbor, June 27th, 1862.

To a woman who lives and moves and has her being in the past, an invocation to time to “turn backward in its flight,” would seem superfluous. The scenes of other years being ever present, it would also seem that time, as a loving father, would linger fondly around her with panaceas for decay, mental and physical; that her heart would never grow old, and her person never lose the attractions of youth; but, in the economy of Him who doeth all things well, such is not the decree regarding aught that is mortal. And when the ravages incident to one’s career have destroyed personal charm, and divested the mind of sparkling gem, the soul yearns for the protection of childhood and the companionship of youth. Scenes of the past, though dyed with “the blood of martyrs,” are ever passing in kaleidoscopic beauty before the mind’s eye, and tones too sweet for mortal ear are ever thrilling the heart with strange, sweet, expectant pleasure. This train of reflection, only far more elaborate, seizes for its guiding star, on this occasion, a scene which at the time of its enactment was indelibly impressed upon my mind, and left living, glowing tints, illuming my pathway through subsequent life; a scene in which lovely girlhood, arrayed in pure white robes, lent a helping hand in the important work of supplying our soldiers with comforts, all the more appreciated because of the source from which emanating. With closed eyes, I see it now and listen to its enchanting melody. To render it more realistic than could be done by any description of mine, I subjoin a copy of the “Programme,” the original of which I have preserved: