Battle of Atlanta Living History
Gilliam Park in East Atlanta
July 17-19, 2009
66th Georgia Infantry
History
| The 66th Georgia Infantry was the last regular Confederate
Army Regiment raised in the State of Georgia. The regiment was raised by
James Cooper Nisbet and Algernon Hamilton in 1863. The 66th gathered on what
is now the Mercer campus in Macon Georgia. After having difficulty raising
companies due to interference with conscription officers, Colonel Nisbet and
Lt. Colonel Hamilton were actually able to raise 13 companies. Ten of these
companies went on to become the 66th Georgia. The other 3 companies were
designated the 26th Georgia Infantry Battalion which was commanded by Major
John Nesbit, the brother of Colonel James Nisbet.
The 66th Georgia was unique in that all officers and non-commissioned officers were appointed by Colonel Nisbet instead of being elected by their commands which was the common practice at that time. The primary requirement the Colonel had for these appointments was they had to be a combat veteran. The officers and staff for the 66th was as follows: |
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Company A
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Company B
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Company C
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Company D
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Company E
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Company F
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Company G
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Company H
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Company I
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Company K
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Once formed and accepted into service the 66th was ordered to Fort Cobb along the Chattahoochee River. While stationed along the Chattahoochee, the regiment began to suffer from various illnesses such as yellow fever. It was not long after that the 66th was then ordered north to Chattanooga to join Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee. Upon joining the Army of Tennessee, the regiment was assigned to General Hardee's Corps, Wilson's Georgia Brigade, and Walkers Division.
It appears that the 66th Georgia was using Gilham's Drill Manual. Due to a recent find in a rare bookstore, we know that Capt. Briggs Napier, Captain of Company A, was presented a copy of Gilham's Manual in August of 1863 by his brother-in-law Stanford E. Chaille. While it is generally excepted that most units in the Army of Tennessee were using Hardee's Revise Light Infantry Manual by this time, it is also well known that several Georgia Units continued to use Gilham's Manual through out the war. The existence of this original manual belonging to Capt. Napier would further support this.
The veteran troops of the Army of Tennessee were a motley bunch when compared to the newly arrived 66th. According to Colonel Nisbet in Four Years on the Firing Line "they looked strange to us (coming from Lee's army), dressed in all sorts of colors, with no shelters except the crudest kind." The 66th by comparison was well equipped with new uniforms and sibley tents acquired while they were stationed at Fort Cobb. The 66th was assigned to Wilson's Brigade in Walker's Division along with the 26th Georgia Battalion commanded by Maj. John Nibet. When they arrived Colonel Nisbet found himself to be the ranking officer in the Brigade due to causalities suffered during the Battle of Chickamauga. Colonel Nisbet was soon placed in command of the Brigade while Lt. Colonel Hamilton took command of the Regiment.
Missionary Ridge
The
66th was placed in the Confederate lines surrounding Chattanooga along
Missionary Ridge to the west of the Craven House. They were between Gen. Cheatham
and Gen Cleburne's men. Together they held off repeated attempts by federal
forces to dislodge them from the top of Missionary Ridge on November 25th 1863.
They believed they had been victorious not realizing the rest of the Confederate
line had not had the same success against the enemy. Bragg's Army is sent
retreating back to Dalton Georgia. The 66th is part of the rear guard that
slowed the pursuing Federal forces long enough for most of the Southern Army to
escape.
While on the retreat from Missionary Ridge the 66th stopped at Chickamauga Station to draw rations. Col. Nisbet describes the scene in great detail. "Sides of meat were strung on the bayonets, and sacks of hard-tack were packed out and distributed; but the men wanted syrup; and 'twas too thick to go in their canteens. They knocked the head of a sorghum barrel in and scooped syrup in their hats. Soon the barrel was half emptied; and they had to lean over to reach it. Some people will joke even at a funeral. There was a devilish fellow who would watch his chance and kick their feet from under those who (in turn) bent over the barrel. Down they would go in the sticky, saccharine fluid in the barrel. Then all hands would jerk the poor fellow out. All dripping with sweetness; When the fellow got out of the depot, the soldiers would "sop" on him; he was very popular!" (Four Years on the Firing Line, James Nisbet - Pg 255)
Dalton
The 66th went in to winter quarters around Dalton Georgia with the rest of the Army of Tennessee during the Winter of 1863. During this time they drilled and resupplied. This winter brought with it several snow falls. For many in the 66th this was their first time seeing snow. Another first for many was snowball fights. These seemed to break out frequently between companies, regiments and brigades as mock battles. During one of these Col Nisbet and the 66th's cook ware were captured. Now amount of counter attacks could set them free. Ultimately diplomacy won out and the 66th was able to retrieve their Colonel and cook ware. It was also during this time that General Clement H. Stevens from South Carolina took command of the Brigade.
Col. Nisbet was impresses by General Stevens saying "He was a man about sixty (60) years old of splendid physique, well versed by military education and experience, in the art of war; and although a strict disciplinarian, he soon gained the confidence and esteem of his officers and men." ("Four Years on the Firing Line" by James Nisbet, Pg 263) General Stevens apparently did not feel the same way about the 66th Georgia. He voiced his opinion of his new command saying "My present brigade is a very inferior one. First, because it is a very small one and next because two of the commands, the 66th Geo. Regt. and the 26th Geo. Battalion are of such inferior physical material that they will melt away before the end of one week's march." ("Our Connection with Savannah" by Russell K. Brown)
Resaca
On May 1st the 66th Georgia and the 26th Battalion received orders to relieve the 1st Florida guarding the Western and Atlantic Railroad Bridge spanning the Oostanaula River. When they arrived they found an artillery battery and a company of cavalry was there to keep them company. A few days after their arrival at the bridge, a cavalry patrol brought in a black girl that reported her horse had been taken by Yankees. From that time on, there were numerous cavalry skirmishes along Snake Gap Road as the two sides pushed south from Dalton and Chattanooga.
The
66th soon found itself facing Gen. McPherson's much larger federal force.
Luckily elements of Gen. James Cantey's Brigade had begun to arrive from Rome
Georgia via the railroad. This included the 37th Mississippi and 47th Alabama
regiments. Gen. Cantey sent the 37th Mississippi out to a
position where the Little Creek crossed Snake Gap road. He them placed the 47th
Alabama on a ridge that overlooked the breast works that the 66th along with the
artillery battery occupied. Gen. Cantey hoped to keep the Federals from
occupying a location from which they could shell the railroad bridge.
McPherson's men pushed the 37th Mississippi and the 47th Alabama back to the 66th's breast works. Gen. Cantey then ordered the 66th and the 26th GA Battalion to push the yanks off the ridge that had been occupied by the 47th Alabama. Upon receiving this order, Colonel Nisbet is reported to have said "I don't know how far such a small force can drive a Division; but I can show them there's somebody here that can fight." ("Four Years on the Firing Line" by James Nisbet, Pg 274) The units advanced firing several volleys into the enemy but were unable to push them off the ridge. The 66th and 26th Battalion were finally forced to retreat back to their mainlines. While not able to push McPherson's men from the ridge, they did apparently stop McPherson from advancing long enough for reinforcements to arrive. One of these was a Tennessee unit which upon seeing what the 66th Georgia and 26th Battalion had done said "Bully for the bloody old 66th Brigade!"
When Johnston retreated back toward Cassville, the 66th was detailed to assist Wheeler's Cavalry covering the retreat. During this action the 66th was almost surrounded and captured. The regiment was able to fight its way free and rejoined the army. Col. Nisbet was not happy about almost getting captured and blamed Gen. Wheeler for abandoning his regiment as the cavalry escaped. They apparently exchanged heated words with both men threatening to proffer charges against the other. Neither followed through with their threats.
Kennesaw
By
June 19, 1864 the 66th joined the rest of the Army of Tennessee on the Kennesaw
line. Their brigade was placed just north of the Nose's Creek and southeast of
Pigeon Hill. This placed the on the south end of the main Confederate line and
in the center of Gen. Walkers portion of the line. The 66th shared the trenches
with the 1st Confederate Regiment. The two units rotated in and out of the
trenches each pulling 12 hour shifts.
The 66th was under constant fire from the enemy during the seventeen days they manned the Kennesaw Line. The men erected what shelter they could to ward off the sun and rain including brush arbors. This did not keep the trenches from filling up with water from the rain which was a constant bother.
Gen. Sherman's forces were able to advance his forces and works to within 200 yards of the Confederate lines. The lines were so close at some points that the men taunt each other, play music together and other unapproved activities. One of the taunts lead to a plan to take some prisoners during a night time raid. One night after the 66th had repelled a Federal assault, the Yanks shouted "You'd better try our works, damn you!" To which the 66th responded "All right Yank; we will come over and get your colonel some of these cool evenings." ("Four Years on the Firing Line" by James Nisbet Pg 203) This led to 200 volunteers crawling out of their works to catch the Federal videttes off guard capturing many of them. The raiders were assisted by the weather which was dark and rainy. They were able to capture a Yankee Colonel along with several other officers and enlisted men.
On July 2nd the 66th abandon the Kennesaw Line and marched toward the Chattahoochee River all the while under constant harassment from Gen. Sherman's forces. Gen. Johnston's army crossed the river on July 13th taking up defensive positions behind Peachtree Creek. Shortly after getting his army to safety across the river, Gen Johnston was relived of command and Gen John Bell Hood assumed command of the Army of Tennessee. According to Col. Nisbet "Twas a sad day for us!"
Peachtree Creek
On
July 20th the 66th was ordered forward to attack the Yanks before all of
Sherman's forces were able to cross Peachtree Creek. The Confederate forces
hoped to catch the federals by surprise. Unfortunately the Confederate attack
was delayed until late afternoon allowing time for much of Sherman's army to get
across the creek and fortify their position.
The 66th was formed on the left of Steven's Brigade with the 1st Georgia on their right. They advanced forward capturing the enemy works in their front. It appears the rest of the Brigade was not as successful because the 66th started taking enfilading fire on their left. Soon the fresh federal troops were seen moving against them. At this point General Stevens rode forward to order a retreat. Just as he gave the order to retreat he was mortally shot. Captains Briggs Napier, commander of Company A, and Charles Williamson, commander of Company D, were both wounded carrying the Generals body from the field. Napier's wound was on the leg and required amputation and put an end to his active participation in the war.
The Battle of Peachtree Creek was the bloodiest the 66th had yet to participate in, losing one forth of all their officers and men. This included Lt. Charles Gray and Capt. Thomas Parks. Col. Nisbet claimed after the war he had never been under heavier fire.
Sources and links:
66th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
66th Georgia Infantry Regiment
http://www.rootsweb.com/~gataylor/taya-66.htm
GA 66th Infantry Regiment, Company A. Roster
Four Years on the Firing Line By Colonel James Cooper Nisbet - Free Download
