Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler Camp #863, Conyers, Ga. Gen. Joe’s Dispatch

Volume 10, Issue 5 September, 2014

Camp Officers: Camp Cmdr: Joe Underwood Battle at Lovejoy Station [email protected] From the Nash Farm Battlefield website 1st Lt. Cmdr: Tommy Cook About a mile from the railroad One of Long’s regiments was the road forks, the two prongs formed near the fork of the road, 1st._ [email protected] striking the railroad about a mile the Fourth Michigan was being 2nd. Lt. Cmdr: Jerry New apart. A few hundred feet in front placed there, and the enemy tried of and parallel to the railroad again and again to take our bat- 2nd_Lt. [email protected] another road ran. The Fourth tery. It fought magnificently, and Camp Adjutant: Steve Camp Michigan was sent by the right- the guns were made to radiate in hand road to the railroad, which it all directions and did splendid [email protected] This past week marked the 150 reached without any trouble; the work, our men supporting them Coming Events anniversary of Kilpatrick’s Saber rest of the brigade took the left- well. One of the guns, by the Charge at Lovejoy Station. The hand prong of the road, having rebound, had broken its trail off September 9, 2014 - Regular event was reenacted at Nash Farm the last mile or two driving off short, so that it could not be meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph on Saturday, August 23rd and the about a dozen cavalrymen. As we drawn from the field. When the Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic photos in this article are from that neared the railroad, the firing rest of the pieces had been with- Lodge, Conyers, Georgia event. Below are descriptions of became hotter and hotter. drawn Colonel Minty called for the battle from diaries of a Yankee men to draw off the piece by October 14, 2014 - Regular and a Confederate of the actual hand. Captain Burns took about meeting of Maj. Gen. Joseph The Seventh Pennsylvania Cav- Wheeler Camp #863 - Masonic event taken from the Friends of alry was dismounted and sent twenty men of the Fourth Michi- Lodge, Conyers, Georgia Nash Farms Battlefield website. forward to the woods-one battal- gan Cavalry down and helped ion, four companies, of it had pull it off, though the enemy was Captain Burns account of the been advance guard. Hotter grew very close to us. While this was taking place, heavy firing was battle at Lovejoy Station; Our the firing, and the horses of the brigade moved on and turned advance that had been dis- heard in our rear, for the cavalry sharply to the right, in a south- mounted came hurrying back. with which we had been fighting westerly direction, to strike the The Fourth had followed us, and had us in a railroad again about eight miles (Regulars) were then dismounted pretty tight box, as follows: a below Jonesboro. I stayed on the and sent in. Captain Burns was brigade of infantry in our front

hill with Captain Burns, for a short sent back to hurry up two of and a party on our left, a division time, to witness the skirmishes Long’s regiments; but before this moving on our right and but a short distance off, three brigades Inside this issue: between Long and the enemy. could be done the Seventh Penn- From where we were all our ma- sylvania and Fourth Regulars of cavalry in our rear. “Our Commanders Comments” 2 By: Commander J. H. Underwood neuvers could be distinctly seen, as were driven from the woods in also the enemy, who would ad- some confusion. We had run on a Stoneman and McCook threw up “Battle of Lovejoy Station” 2 vance upon our men, only to be brigade of infantry who were the sponge under like circum- From: Friends of Nash Farms Battlefield driven back. It was a beautiful lying in the woods behind barri- stances. We decided we must website (Continued from Page 1.) sight. “By Heaven, it was noble cades at the side of the railroad; leave the railroad alone, and sight to see-by one who had no or and a force of the enemy was also crush the enemy’s cavalry, and “The Confederate Cemeteries 3 brother there.” & Captain Burns, pushed in on the right, where the consequently withdrew from of Covington & Oxford” (76th and 77th Soldier’s in a series) myself following, now galloped Fourth Michigan were at work. fighting the infantry, who now Continuing project by Compatriot Gene off to overtake our brigade, which Long’s brigade was put in posi- became very quiet, probably Wade we soon did. Colonel Long had tion to check the advancing Con- expecting to take us soon. The orders to follow as quickly as pos- federates, and our battery brought command was faced to the rear “The Confederate Cemeteries 4 sible, Colonel Murray to come up, as the woods before us were as follows: Our brigade was of Covington & Oxford” after. We (our Brigade) pushed for swarming with enemy The Forth formed on the right hand side of (76th and 77th Soldier’s in a series) Continuing project by Compatriot Gene Lovejoy Station. When within a Regulars and Seventh Pennsyl- the road, each regiment in col- Wade (Continued from page 3.) mile and one half of the railroad vania were placed in support of umns of fours (four men we halted for the rest of the com- the battery. Poor fellows, they abreast); the Fourth Regulars on mand to join us. were badly cut up. the left, Continued on page 3.

1 GEN. JOE’S DISPATCH VOLUME 10, ISSUE 5 PAGE 2

Our Commanders’ Comments By: Commander J. H. Underwood

Compatriots; The highlight of the event was the unveiling I am proud to have been your commander of the monument to the soldiers of both when this was accomplished and I encourage First of all I want to thank sides who made the ultimate sacrifice. all of you to visit Nash Farm Battlefield to see Mr. Gould Hagler, author the monument. It is extremely well done and a of “Georgia’s Confederate fitting tribute to those it represents. Great job Monuments: In Honor of a Cassie Barrow and Friends of Nash Farm Bat- Fallen Nation” for his tlefield! wonderful program on his Please mark your calendars and save the date new book at our of Saturday, January 24, 2015. This will be the last meeting. Mr. date of our 27th Annual Lee-Jackson Dinner Hagler’s presenta- which will be held at the Cherokee Run Coun- tion was both try Club at the Georgia International Horse interesting and Park. Thanks to the 13th Brigade Commander, informative. and our compatriot Steve Camp, we will have Those of you that the former Virginia Division Commander, Mr. missed the oppor- Frank Earnst, in the person of “Lt. Col. Johann tunity to purchase August Heinrich Heros von Borcke” as our one of his books This is the monument we helped raise funds guest speaker. may do so from for a few months back and as a result the Mercer University camp is recognized on the monument. Johann August Heinrich Heros von Borcke Press at (July 23, 1835 – May 10, 1895) was a German www.mupress.org or at amazon.com. Calvary officer in the Confederate States Army and a member of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart’s On Saturday, August 23rd, Pat and I had staff. Should be an interesting program. the pleasure of visiting the Nash Farm Bat- tlefield to witness the reenactment of Our next meeting is September 9th, I hope to Kilpatrick’s saber charge. This sesquicen- see you there. tennial event started at 9:00 am on Friday the 22nd, the charge at 2:00 pm on Satur- J. H. Underwood, Commander. day and ended Sunday the 24th.

Battle at Lovejoy Station From the Nash Farm Battlefield website

Fourth Michigan center, Seventh Pennsyl- Lt. Griscom’s diary account of charge at – the Brigade acted most gallantly household- vania on the right, Long’s Brigade formed Nash Farm ers & all fighting them hand to hand & giving in close columns with regimental front, away when overpowered – finally fall back to that each regiment formed in line, the men Skirmish & Battle the timber & as soon as their column passed side by side, boot to boot, thus: again took the field and commenced assem- bling – gathering up nearly all the men and August 20, 1864 – Moved up at light through horses – losing but a few & not a man killed MINTY’S BRIGADE, FOURTH U. S., Jonesboro – have Capt. Wells buried – follow in the charge (55) FOURTH MICHIGAN, SEVENTH PEN- the enemy on the McDonough road – 3 rd SYLVANIA, LONG’S BRIGADE, FIRST Texas skirmished with them 2-1/2 hours driv- OHIO, THIRD OHIO, FOURTH OHIO. ing them off – Brigade pursuing until 10-1/2 AM coming up with them near Lovejoy The soldiers account ends with the cavalry where Reynolds’s Infantry was fighting them lined up for the saber charge at Nash Farm. in front & engaged them briskly as cavalry & then dismount & deploy – bring up battery & play on their charge & drive in their skirmish- ers but their main line repulses us – & we are charged in turn by 3 heavy columns of Cav- alry & a heavy line of Infantry stampeding our horses & running through our Brigade capturing the battery after a stubborn resis- tance some ambulances & a number of horses

2 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 5 GEN. JOE’S DISPATCH PAGE 3

The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington and Oxford (76th & 77th Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

Headstone at Coving- Battle ofAtlanta. The regimental flag was rid- This soldier enlisted as a private on Novem- ton dled by 40 bullets during these battles. The ber 4, 1861 in Captain W. W. James' Com- shows: regiment later fought in middle in pany, Tennessee Volunteers at Camp Trous- T. WEAVER late 1864 and served until the end of the war in dale, near Nashville, Tennessee. He was 34 th AL North Carolina. enlisted by a Lieutenant Hunt for 12 months which soon became for the duration of the Actually: Since the date of death of June 1, 1864 for war. This company became Company A of THOMAS WEAVER Thomas Weaver is listed in his sparse record, it the 41 st Tennessee. Researching this soldier COMPANY G is likely that he likely became ill or was was quite difficult because he had a cousin 54th wounded during or around the battle of Resaca with the same name of George W. Renegar. INFANTRY in May 13-15, 1864. Although his record does This cousin, two years younger, was not indicate his rank, it is assumed that Thomas enlisted in a Captain Bean's Company Little is known about this soldier. His mili- Weaver was a private. It cannot be determined which became Company G of the 41 st Ten- tary record consists of a single page that when or where he enlisted. nessee. The middle name of our subject was shows that Tho. Wearver, Company G, 54 th Washington while his cousin's middle name Alabama Regiment died on June 1 st 1864 at The family of Thomas Weaver cannot be deter- was Wilson. Atlanta, Georgia. It is assumed that “Tho” mined. No genealogy research on this soldier stands for Thomas, a standard appreviation could be reasonably identified especially since The 41 st Tennessee Infantry Regiment was for Thomas at the time, and that the listed his thin record does not indicate his complete officially organized on November 28, 1861 place of death, Atlanta, actually refers to the name, place of enlistment or any other identifi- and was immediately sent to Fort Donelson, Atlanta area to include the hospitals at nearby ers. Since it is known that members of the com- Tennessee to protect the approaches to the Covington, Georgia. Although the headstone panies that became the nucleus of the 54 th Ala- Tennessee River. Poor generalship and at Covington indicates this soldier was a bama came from Alabama, and poorly designed defenses which were built member of the 34 th Alabama, there was only Tennessee, researching Weaver families from in a flood zone caused the surrender of Fort one Weaver in the 34 th Alabama and his ini- these three states reveaed no substantive leads. Donelson to union forces with minimal tials were W.L. defense on February 16 th 1862. Most of the It is sad that this Confederate soldier cannot be enlisted soldiers were sent to Camp Morton, The 54 th Alabama Infantry has a confusing better identified but at least, unlike so many Indiana, to include our Private Renegar. The history. The 54 th Alabama, formerly the 50 th other Confederate soldiers, he does have a regiment was transported southward and Alabama Infantry Regiment, was organized marked grave. We can only hope that this Con- was released from parole at Vicksburg, from seven Alabama companies (A, B, C, D, federate soldier can be better identified in the Mississippi on September 18, 1862. The 41 st E, F and I) of the 1 st Alabama/Mississippi future. Tennessee was reorganized at Clinton, Mis- and Tennessee Regiment (yes, that was the sissippi in late September 1862 and offi- original multi-state designation), and four cially exchanged on November 10, 1862. Alabama companies from the 40 th Tennessee. It appears all of the above companies were The 41 st Tennessee was made a part of the captured at Island 10 on the Mississippi River General Gregg Brigade on December 27, (near Missouri state line) in Feb-Mar 1862. 1862. The brigade soon moved to Port Hud- (Incidentally, the ever-changing channel of son, Louisiana and in May 1863 left Fort the Mississippi River long ago washed away Hudson for Jackson, Mississippi where it all remnants of Island 10.) Although our became engaged in heavy fighting at Ray- Thomas Weaver is shown to be in Company mond, Mississippi.. After several move- G of the 54 th Alabama, the frequent reorgani- ments in Mississippi, the regiment was at zations make his actual original company Yazoo City, Mississippi when Vicksburg affiliation questionable. The parolled units Confederate Memorial Wall Covington Georgia fell on July 4, 1863. from Island 10 were later organized into the 54 th Alabama Infantry at Jackson, Mississippi The 41 st Tennessee made several move- in October 1862. The 54 th Alabama Regiment ments within Mississippi and wound up in Headstone at Oxford operated in the vicinity of Vicksburg and General Maney's Brigade, of Walker's Divi- shows: Jackson, Mississippi in June-July 1863 but sion. This regiment was heavily engaged at G. W. RENEGAR escaped capture at the Vicksburg surrender. Chicamaugua (Sept 19-20, 1863) and then CO. A, TENN at the Battle of Missionary Ridge (Nov 25,

The 54 th Alabama soon transferred to the 1863). During the retreat from Missionary Actually: army of General Braxton Bragg and wintered Ridge, the regiment, while guarding Fergu- GEORGE WASHING- (1863-64) near Dalton, Georgia and was son's artillery battery, was ambushed at at TON RENEGAR engaged in the campaign from there to At- Graysville, Georgia where it suffered heavy COMPANY A, lanta. The regiment lost heavily at Resaca casualties. The 41 st soon went into winter 41 st TENNESSEE IN- (May13-15, 1864) and at Atlanta (July 22, quarters at Dalton, Georgia. At this point, FANTRY REGIMENT 1864) with battles in between. More than half the 41 st was transferred Continued on page 4. the regiment was killed or wounded in the into General Cheatham's

3

MAJ. GEN. JOSEPH WHEELER CAMP #863, CONYERS, GA.

P. O. Box 82718 Conyers, GA. 30094

E-mail: [email protected]

«AddressBlock» Mailing Address Line 1

Mailing Address Line 2

Mailing Address Line 3

We’re on the Web!

www.campjoewheeler.org

The Confederate Cemeteries of Covington and Oxford (76th & 77th Soldiers in the series) Continuing Project by Compatriot Gene Wade

Division. (abt 1835- 1860s), Amanda Renegar (abt1839- Researching this soldier was at times confus- aft1875) and Rhoda Ann C. Renegar (abt The regiment remained at Dalton until May ing because there two George W. Renegars in 1845-unknown). 1864 with the exception of one short foray in the 41 st Tennessee, both being about the same February to Alabama. The regiment was age and both being in the 41 st Tennessee. It The brother Henry J. Renegar is believed to reassigned to Strahl's Brigade on June 30, was finally determined that the George W. have served the Confederacy, possibly also in 1864 but remained in Cheatham's Division Renegar buried at Oxford was George Wash- Company A of the 41 st Tennessee, but this until the end of the war. Although the 41 st ington Renegar and was a member of Com- cannot be confirmed. It is thought by ancestors Tennessee was heavily engaged in many of pany A. The other George W. Renegar was that Henry died about 1865-66. The oldest the battles in the Atlanta Campaig and was George Wilson Renegar of Company G. Both brother, Stephen Ellis Renegar, migrated from in the Battle of Franklin in November 1864, soldiers were from Lincoln County, Tennessee Tennessee to Missouri before 1847 and served Private George W. Renegar was not with and were likely cousins and both were cap- in the military but served in the 15 th Missouri them. His national archives soldier show that tured at Fort Donelson. It was confusing Cavalry (US). (Well, we all have black sheep he was sent to an unnamed hospital on Janu- enough that even the National Archives mixed in our families). He survived until 1898. ary 4, 1864 for an unspecified reason. A their records. A Renegar family genealogist record of the Atlanta Fairgrounds Hospital provided the correct parentage which was Our Private George Washington Renegar was No 2 shows he was admitted on January 7, confirmed by census records and this was age 24 when he died and it appears he never 1864 suffering with Chronic Diaahrea. Pri- helpful in determining which Renegar died at had the opportunity to marry and have chil- vate Renegar was evidently soon sent to the Oxford. dren. It is sad that so many young men never Hood Hospital because his archives soldier had a chance to experience a long fruitful life. record shows he died March 1, 1864 at the Our George Washington Renegar was born Hood Hospital, Covington(Oxford), Georgia. about 1841 to Henry Herman Renegar Jr. This record shows he left behind $3.25. A (1804-1875) and Nancy Jane Lloyd Renegar record for the Hood Hospital lists Private G. (abt1800-unknown). He was born number six W. Renegar of Company A of the 41 st Ten- of seven children. The siblings were Stephen nessee and shows his death was on March 5, Ellis Renegar (abt 1825-1898), Elizabeth De- 1864 and that he died of Chronic Diarrhea. linia (abt 1829-after 1870), Nancy Jane Rene- He was age 24 when he died. gar (abt 1834-unknown), Henry J. Renegar

4