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I had two ancestors in this regiment.
1. 1st Sergeant William Hill Andrews. This is my Great X3 Grandfather.
and
2. Private Washington DeLafayette Andrews (KIA). This is my Great X3 Uncle.
This regiment completed its organization at Macon, Georgia, in April, 1861, and soon moved to Virginia. The men were mostly from Atlanta and Brunswick, and Glynn and Montgomery counties. It was brigaded under General Toombs and in April, 1862, contained 367 effectives. Transferred to G. T. Anderson’s Brigade, the unit fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days’ Battles to Fredericksburg. It then was ordered to Florida, assigned to G. P. Harrison’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and fought at Olustee. During the summer of 1864, it was stationed in the Charleston area and later saw action at Savannah and in North Carolina. The regiment reported 3 killed and 19 wounded at Savage’s Station, had 27 killed and 77 wounded at Second Manassas, and lost 3 killed and 25 wounded at Olustee. Only 45 officers and men surrendered with the Army of Tennessee. The field officers were Colonels William J. Magill, Richard A. Wayne, and Charles J. Williams; Lieutenant Colonels E. W. Chastain, Miller Grieve, Jr., and William Martin; and Majors E. R. Harden, A. A. Franklin Hill, William D. Smith, and John D. Walker.
Flag of the 1st Georgia Regulars
Stationed at Fort Pulaski
The Regiment was then sent north and occupied the area around Mannassas following the battle, then moved toward Richmond and participated in the Peninsula Campaign.
Battle of Garnett’s Farm on June 27-28.
Battle of Savage’s Station (Battle of the Peach Orchard) on June 29, 1862.
The regulars are one of the regiments in GT Anderson’s brigade near the top of the map.
Battle of Glendale (Battle of Frazier’s Farm) on June 30, 1862.
The Regulars arrived just as the battle was ending and occupied the field.
Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862.
The Regulars can be seen on the Confederate right in line under GT Anderson
After the defeat of the Federals on the Peninsula, the new Confederate commander Robert E. Lee must move his army north to confront another advancing Federal army under John Pope.
Skirmish along the Rappahannock River on August 23, 1862.
Battle of Thoroughfare Gap on August 28, 1862.
Though it was a minor engagement, it was tactically important to clear a path toward the Federals around Manassas. The Regulars were one of the several Georgia regiments heavily engaged.
Battle of Second Manassas on August 28-30, 1862.
The regulars lost 27 killed and 77 wounded and can be seen as Anderson’s brigade, DR Jones’ division near the bottom of the map.
Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill) on September 1, 1862.
The Regulars were not engaged here but moved onto the battlefield toward the end.
Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862.
The Regulars can be seen to the southeast of the town driving the 28th Massachusetts back toward the creek.
Battle of Fredericksburg on December 11-15, 1862.
The Regulars are in Anderson’s brigade John Bell Hood’s division. They can be seen at the very top of the map in a position that spares them from combat.
Following the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Regulars are sent south toward Macon, Georgia, then Jacksonville, Florida, then to the Chattahoochee Arsenal. The arsenal was located at the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers where the Apalachicola begins. The site is now inundated under Lake Seminole on the Florida-Georgia-Alabama border. The Regulars suffered in the tropical and disease ridden climate as well as poor rations consisting mainly of rice. On May 27, 1863, the gunboat CSS Chattahoochee exploded in the river killing 16 crew members and the Regulars witnessed the event.
Battle of Olustee on February 20, 1864.
In early 1864, the Federal commander of the coast areas based in Hilton Head, South Carolina ordered an expedition to acquire territory and capture the city of Tallahassee. All available Confederate troops, including the Regulars, were rushed to northeastern Florida to defend against the attempt. The western moving Federals ran up against the Confederates near Olustee Station on the Flordia, Atlantic, & Gulf Railroad.
The Regulars can be seen third from the left on the Confederate line. They suffered 3 killed and 25 wounded in the battle that prevented the Federal capture of Florida.
Following the battle the Regulars were moved from Jacksonville over rail to Madison, Florida, then marched to Quitman, Georgia, then over rail to Savannah. From there they moved to Charleston, South Carolina to help defend the city.
Battle of Waterloo Plantation on John’s Island (Battle of Bloody Bridge) on July 6-9, 1864.
Click the above link for a description of the battle.
The Regulars moved to James Island and occupied Batteries Haskell and Tatum from July 14 through moving back to Savannah where they arrived on August 2, 1864.
Batteries Haskell and Tatum can be seen in the middle foreground. The Regulars were harassed by Federal fire from Morris Island during their stay.
The Regulars remained in Savannah and participated in the Siege of Savannah conducted by General Sherman at the conclusion of the March to the Sea. General William Hardee commanded the Confederate defense effort.
I am not sure which brigade the Regulars were in. It was either Lewis or Baker as “Footprints of a Regiment” mentions considerable firing in Lewis’ front and the Regulars being next to “junior reserves” which would be the State Line on the militia left.
On December 9, 1964 General Hardee called for the evacuation of Savannah. By early January the Federals were probing into South Carolina with their eventual objective to move north to Virginia to link with General Grant to finish off the Confederates under Lee.
Skirmish near Pocotaligo, South Carolina on January 14, 1865.
Battle of River’s Bridge (Battle of Salkehatchie) on February 3, 1865.
Skirmish near Cheraw, South Carolina.
Battle of Averasborough on March 16, 1865.
The Regulars can be seen on the right flank of the ‘Confederate 2nd Line’ before falling back to the main line.
Battle of Bentonville on March 18-20, 1865.
Once again the Regulars were spared from the hard fighting by each day being on a different part of the line that was quieter than others.
The Regulars are in Fiser’s brigade, McLaw’s division on the extreme left of the Confederate line.
Here Fiser’s brigade is on the left side of the Confederate loop.
Fiser’s brigade is on the right side of the loop on this third day and the Regulars do see some sharp skirmishing.
Five days after the Battle of Bentonville on March 26, 1865, the 1st Georgia Regulars are surrendered by Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston with 45 officers and men accounted for.
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