Under the Stars and Bars / Or, Memories of Four Years Service with the Oglethorpes, of Augusta, Georgia

by Walter A. Clark

OGLETHORPE INFANTRY, CO. B.

When the Oglethorpes offered their services to the Confederate government in '61 the married men in its ranks were, by a vote of the Company, excluded from the enlistment except as commissioned officers. After the departure of the Company for the seat of war the members, who were left behind, effected a new organization and were known as "Co. B." Their purpose was to organize for home defence, but in November, '61, they were ordered to Savannah by Gov. Brown, and were assigned to the 9th Regiment Ga. State troops, then in process of formation. Gen. W. H. T. Walker had thrown up his commission in Virginia because President Davis had seen fit to take from him the brigade he had organized and had assigned to its command his brother-in-law, Dick Taylor, who was subordinate in rank to every Colonel in the brigade. Gen. Walker could not brook what he deemed a pure case of nepotism, and on his return to Georgia he was placed in command of the brigade of State troops, to which the Oglethorpes, as Co. A, 9th Ga., had been assigned. The Company, on account of their proficiency in the manual of arms and in company evolution, became a sort of pet of Gen. Walker's and when his quarters were visited by ladies from Savannah the Oglethorpes were ordered out to drill for the benefit of his fair guests. Mr. Frank H. Miller, who was a lieutenant in the company and afterwards adjutant of the regiment, by Gen. Walker's appointment, relates a characteristic incident that occurred during the General's service at Savannah as his commanding officer. One of his men had "run the blockade," had spent the night in Savannah and while hustling back to camp in the early morning hours, was overhauled by the sergeant in charge of the guard at the General's quarters. The soldier did not relish the idea of being placed under arrest for his escapade and backing himself against a tree he drew his knife and threatened to carve up any man who laid hands on him. The noise awakened Gen. Walker, who was sleeping in a tent near by, and rushing out en deshabille, he shouted, "What the d—l is the matter out here?" The sergeant, who seemed to be suffering with a nervous chill, stammered out, "He won't be arrested, General. He says he'll kill anybody that touches him." The General rushed up to the man and said, "Give me that knife, sir." The soldier handed it over with a smile on his face and the General saw as he took it that the weapon was entirely bladeless. Turning to the sergeant he said, "Turn that man loose. I won't have any man arrested who can back out a whole guard with a knife that hasn't got a blade in it." And the "blockade runner" went scot free.

In May, '62, their six months term of service having expired, the company was mustered out at Augusta. A majority of its members soon effected a re-organization for regular Confederate service and the new company was ordered to Corinth, Miss., and for a time was assigned to the 5th Ga. Regiment, then serving in the brigade of Gen. John K. Jackson. Before leaving this camp the 2d Battalion Ga. Sharpshooters was organized, under the command of Major Jesse J. Cox, of Alabama, and the Oglethorpes became Co. C of that famous organization known in the Army of Tennessee, as "Cox's Wild Cats." For the remaining years of the war this battalion was identified with every movement and did gallant service in every engagement of the Western Army. As "Sharp-shooters" it fell to their lot to serve almost continuously on the skirmish line, opening every battle in which their division was engaged. Transferred from Tupelo to Chattanooga in the summer of '62, they took part in Bragg's Kentucky campaign and at its close were stationed for a time at Knoxville and then at Bridgeport, rejoining Bragg again in time to participate in the battle of Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, '62. During that engagement, at Gen. Polk's request, the battalion, with Jackson's brigade, was temporarily detached from Hardee's corps and was sent into the famous cedar thicket where they were exposed to the concentrated fire of Rosecranz's parked artillery and lost half their number. Among the casualties sustained by the Oglethorpes was the loss of their gallant commander, Capt. E. W. Ansley, and the brave color-bearer of the battalion, Edward H. Hall. Lieut. M. G. Hester succeeded to the captaincy and the colors were given to Geo. F. Bass of the Oglethorpes, who seem to have furnished all the ensigns for the battalion. During the Kentucky campaign the colors had been borne by Corporal M. V. Calvin, and after the transfer of Bass to another command, they were entrusted to another Oglethorpe, Wm. Mulherin, who carried them with marked gallantry until his capture at the battle of Nashville, in the winter of '64.

Through the battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, with Johnston through the hundred days from Dalton to Atlanta, and with Hood at Franklin and Nashville, the "Wild Cats" sustained their hard-earned reputation as a fighting organization, closing up their soldierly record with the surrender of Johnston's army at Greensboro in April, '65, at which date Lieut. George P. Butler was in command of the Oglethorpes. A number of the gallant survivors of the company are still living in or near Augusta, among them, Orderly Sergeant Wm. K. Thompson, Serg. M. V. Calvin, Corp. Brad Merry, Corp. W. H. Miller, Musician W. B. White, Evans Morgan, W. H. Hendrix and W. D. Shaw.