Cobb’s Legion Cavalry Battalion
Army of Northern Virginia Cavalry
Georgia Troopers – Company H
Athens, Georgia
compiled by Ed Rowe
Roster of Company H
Officers, Noncommissioned Officers, Appointed Positions
Ritch, Jeremiah E. (2nd Lt./Capt.) – originally enlisted as a third lieutenant into company C of the Georgia Troopers in August of 1861 in Athens by Capt. William G. Delony; listed as present on a regimental return of the Georgia Legion Cavalry Battalion in January of 1862 at Camp Marion near Yorktown, VA; submitted a special requisition on 21 Jan 1862 at Camp Marion for 100 horse shoes to be used for the cavalry horses of company C; received $3000.00 from the Assistant Quarter Master General of the Confederate States Army on 20 Feb 1862 at Richmond, VA for bounty payments of $50.00 to be paid to each noncommissioned officer recruit in company C for the months of February and March of 1862; was a second lieutenant in company C before returning to Athens on recruiting furlough to start raising company H in February of 1862; signed certificates for the March/April 1862, May/June 1862, July/August 1862, September/October 1862, November/December 1862 and March/April 1863 muster rolls as the Inspection and Mustering Officer for company H; was elected captain of company H on 26 May 1862 and received $140.00 pay per month; received by a special requisition eight Starr Army patent and two Adams patent revolvers for company H on 24 Dec 1862 at Camp Rapidan, VA from Capt. Young J. Anderson, Assistant Quartermaster for Cobb’s Legion Cavalry Battalion; captured by the enemy on 9 Jun 1863 at Beverly Ford on the Rappahannock River during the cavalry battle at Brandy Station, VA, while leading the company as dismounted sharpshooters; listed on a roll of prisoners of war at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. on 1 Jul 1863, 25 Jul 1863 and 1 Aug 1863; listed on a roll of prisoners of war sent from the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. to Johnson’s Island prisoner of war camp at Sandusky, OH on 2 Aug 1863 and 8 Aug 1863; listed on a roll of prisoners of war paroled at Johnson’s Island prisoner of war camp and forwarded to City Point, VA for exchange on 24 Feb 1865
Pittard, Isham, H. (Pvt./1st Lt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; elected as first lieutenant on 2 Jun 1862 and received $100.00 pay per month; on 11 Jun 1862 submitted a forage requisition for 107 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for twenty days between 11 Jun 1862 and 30 Jun 1862 at camps in VA; on 1 Oct 1862 submitted a requisition for fuel (24 cords of wood) for the month of October 1862 (received only 12 cords); on 1 Oct 1862 submitted a forage requisition for 95 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for thirty-one days between 1 Oct 1862 and 31 Oct 1862 at camps in VA; on 1 Nov 1862 submitted a requisition for fuel (24 cords of wood) for the month of November 1862 (received only 12 cords); on 1 Nov 1862 submitted a forage requisition for 95 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for thirty days between 1 Nov 1862 and 30 Nov 1862 at camps in VA; on 1 Dec 1862 submitted a requisition for fuel (24 cords of wood) for the month of December 1862 (received only 12 cords); on 1 Dec 1862 submitted a forage requisition for 95 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for thirty-one days between 1 Dec 1862 and 31 Dec 1862 at camps in VA; served as the acting commanding officer of the company after the capture of Capt. Ritch on 9 Jun 1863; on 16 Nov 1863 submitted a forage requisition for 34 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for forty-six days between 16 Nov 1863 and 31 Dec 1863 at camps in the field in VA; submitted a special requisition in December of 1863 for four overcoats, two pairs of pants, two jackets, two pairs of drawers, three shirts, three blankets, three pairs of shoes and one frying pan – received these items from Lt. R. J. Fields, A.A.Q.M., at camp on 26 Dec 1863; captured by the enemy on 29 Feb 1864 at Ely’s Ford, VA on the Rapidan River (approximately ten miles northwest of Chancellorsville); listed on a roll of prisoners of war ordered to be received and confined in the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. on 1 Mar 1864; listed on a roll of prisoners of war received at Fort Delaware, DE from the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. on 17 Jun 1864; name listed as signature to an oath of allegiance to the United States, subscribed to at Fort Delaware, DE and was released from prisoner of war camp on 16 Jun 1865 in accordance with General Order No. 109, U.S. War Department, A.G.O., dated 6 Jun 1865
Smith, Thomas A. (Pvt./2nd Lt.) – enlisted in April of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; elected to second lieutenant on 2 Jun 1862; died on 15 Mar 1863 at the residence of his uncle in Morgan County, GA while on a leave of absence to visit his home and friends
NOTE: The following obituary appeared in the 24 Apr 1863 edition of The Southern Banner, an Athens, GA newspaper and was most likely written by Pvt. Lorenzo D. Fergerson, who was in the same company as Lt. Thomas.
OBITUARY
Died at the residence of his uncle, in Morgan county, Ga., on the 15th of March, 1863, Lieut. THOMAS A. SMITH, Co. “B,” “Georgia Troopers,” Cobb’s Legion, Cavalry. But a short time before his decease, he received leave of absence to visit his home and friends in Georgia, with buoyant heart he left his regiment in the full enjoyment of health and spirits, which were one of the most striking of his characteristics. Identified with his company from its first organization – he had by his gallantry of conduct on the field, and urbanity of disposition, secured the love and respect of every member – brave and chivalrous; he was always in the advance in time of danger – generous and kind, he was ever solicitous concerning the wants of his men. In his death the service has lost a faithful, brave and efficient officer – one always ready if needs be, to seal his devotion with his life’s blood. But while we draw around and drop the tear of friendship and affection on his grave, we revert to his past, and hope he died as he lived – “victorious in life, and unconquerable in death.”
L.D.F.
Camp Howard, Va., April 13, ’63.
Salter, Thomas W. (Pvt./5th Sgt./4th Sgt./2nd Lt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the fifth sergeant; listed on the January/February 1863 muster roll as the fourth sergeant; elected to second lieutenant on 25 Mar 1863 as a replacement for Lt. Smith and received $90.00 pay per month; listed on a register of claims of deceased officers and soldiers from GA which was filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department; his widow, Nancy W. Salter, filed for this claim on 19 Oct 1863 stating that he was killed in a skirmish near Martinsburg, WV on or about 19 Jul 1863; on this date the Confederate army was in the process of returning to VA after the battle of Gettysburg; his grave is located at Greenhill Cemetery in Martinsburg, WV
Dunnahoo, Thomas Jordan (Pvt./2nd Lt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on a roll of non-commissioned officers and privates employed on extra duty as a teamster at camps in VA from 16 Feb 1863 to 7 May 1863; elected to second lieutenant on 1 Sep 1863 as a replacement for Lt. Salter and received $90.00 pay per month; per a special order by Brig. Gen. P. M. B. Young, dated 29 Jan 1864, Lt. Dunnahoo and a detail of 30 men were to proceed to Port Royal, VA on the Rappahannock River and patrol the country around Port Royal and picket the river until receipt of further orders; listed on the 1 Apr 1864 muster roll as being on detached service by order of the brigade commander; on 30 Apr 1864 submitted a forage requisition for 13 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for 30 days between 1 Apr 1864 and 30 Apr 1864 at various places in the field in VA; on 1 May 1864 submitted a forage requisition for 5 privately owned horses used in the service of the company for 10 days between 1 May 1864 and 10 May 1864 at Port Royal, VA: on 1 Jun 1864 submitted a requisition for fuel (9 cords, 64 feet of wood) for the month of June 1864 (received only 7 cords); on 23 Jul 1864, in a camp near Stony Creek Station, VA, made application to have an election for a junior second lieutenant, since the captain and first lieutenant were in the hands of the enemy making Lt. Dunnahoo the only officer present in the company – in this application Lt. Dunnahoo reported 48 men with horses present, 6 dismounted men present and a total of 79 enlisted men present and absent in the company; ordered to GA with Gen. P. M. B. Young on 19 Nov 1864; in GA with Gen. Young’s detachment of dismounted men on 23 Nov 1864; signed as commanding the company from mid-1864 (after the capture of Lt. Pittard) until he was shot and killed while trying to escape the enemy on horseback during the action at Swift Creek near Raleigh, NC on 12 Apr 1865; originally buried at City Cemetery in Raleigh; in 1867 his remains were exhumed and relocated to Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh
NOTE: Lt. Dunnahoo was incorrectly identified as being killed at Reams Station, VA on 25 Aug 1864 by Augustus Longstreet Hull in his book Annals of Athens, GA, 1801 – 1901.
The following article appeared in the 24 Aug 1864 edition of The Southern Banner, an Athens, GA newspaper.
HEADQ’RS CO. H, COBB’S LEG’N CAV.
Near Stony Creek Station, Va.
July 25, 1864
Editor Banner: You will greatly oblige interested parties by allowing space in your paper for the following statement:
Papers emanating from Bureau of Conscription have been received at these headquarters charging the following named persons, members of this company, with being absent without leave, to wit: Serg’t A. C. Baker, of Hall county, Corp. A. T. Dent, Priv’ts A. M. Jackson and T. C. Jackson, of Clark county, Ga. These chargers are totally groundless and untrue. Neither of the above named members of this company have at any time been absent a single day without leave. I make this statement in justice to these meritorious soldiers and their friends as well to vindicate the honor and reputation of the valiant company to which they belong, because I have reason to believe that the country adjacent to their homes has been scoured for the purpose of finding the supposed skulkers, thereby causing the uninformed public to be led into error as to the true status of these men. I hope you will aid in correcting a false impression by publishing this statement.
Respectfully,
T.J. DUNNAHOO
Lieut. Commanding.
Dent, Alexander T. (Pvt./1st Cpl./2nd Lt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the first corporal; elected to second lieutenant on 1 Aug 1864 after Lt. Dunnahoo made application to have an election for a junior second lieutenant on 23 Jul 1864 due to the captain and first lieutenant being in the hands of the enemy; was the only officer in the company after the death of Lt. Dunnahoo on 12 Apr 1865; surrendered on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC; paroled on 1 May 1865 at Greensboro, NC
Gilmer, Albert C. (Pvt./3rd Lt.) – enlisted in February of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; elected as 3rd Lt. in May of 1862; resigned on 18 Jun 1862 due to poor health
Brooks, Cicero C. (1st Sgt./3rd Lt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; appointed as first sergeant on 3 Mar 1862; elected to third lieutenant on 18 Jun 1862 as a replacement for Lt. Gilmer; listed on a register of claims for deceased officers and soldiers from GA, which was filed for settlement in the Office of the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department; his widow, Sarah Ann Brooks, filed for this claim on 28 Jan 1864 stating that he was killed during the Battle of Gettysburg on 2 Jul 1863; on this date, company H was involved in a countercharge against enemy troops led by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer on Hunterstown Road just south of Hunterstown, PA, which is a small town located approximately five miles northeast of Gettysburg; he was originally buried beneath a cherry tree on the Felty Farm on Hunterstown Road, not far from where he was killed; in August of 1871 his grave was relocated to Laurel Grove North Cemetery near downtown Savannah, GA
Dent, Stevens T. (Pvt./Cadet) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; an application submitted by Pvt. Dent for appointment as a Cadet* in the Confederate States Army was approved by Brig. Gen. P. M. B. Young on 28 Oct 1863; Gen. Young wrote on the application that “Pvt. Dent has been a worthy and brave soldier and richly merits the appointment;” detailed to go to GA after a horse on 11 Nov 1863; Col. William M. Browne issued a letter of appointment for Pvt. Dent as a Cadet in the Confederate States Army as directed by President Jefferson Davis on 22 Dec 1863; Col. Browne also submitted a request to Gen. Samuel Cooper on 19 Mar 1864 for Cadet Dent to be ordered to report for assignment and duty to Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton; assigned to duty with Maj. Henry S. Farley commanding the cavalry sharpshooters by Maj. Gen. Hampton on 8 Jan 1865
*On 16 May 1861 A DIGEST OF THE MILITARY AND NAVAL LAWS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES stated that until a military school shall be established for the elementary instruction of officers for the army, the President shall be authorized to appoint cadets from the several states, in number proportioned to their representation in the House of Representatives, and ten in addition, to be selected by him at large from the Confederate States, who shall be attached to companies in service in any branch of the army, as supernumerary officers, with the rank of cadet, who shall receive the monthly pay of forty dollars, and be competent for promotion at such time and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the President, or hereafter established by law. On 13 Oct 1862 the pay of cadets in the service of the Confederate States was increased to be the same as second lieutenants of the arm of service to which they were attached.
Baker, Augustus C. (Pvt./1st Sgt.) – enlisted in February of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the first sergeant; on horse detail to GA on 23 Feb 1864 by Cavalry Corps Special Order No. 27; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864
McElhannon, George W. (Pvt./2nd Sgt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the second sergeant; captured by the enemy on 5 Aug 1862 at Malvern Hill, VA; listed on a roll of prisoners of war paroled and discharged at Fort Wool, VA on 26 Aug 1862 by the 7th U.S. Army Corps Headquarters located at Fort Monroe, VA; on provost duty on 23 Feb 1864; died on 11 Aug 1864 in a Raleigh, NC hospital; buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, NC
Collins, William J. (Pvt./3rd Sgt./Farrier) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the third sergeant; listed on the September/October 1862 muster roll as the company farrier; sent to recruiting camp on 23 Dec 1863; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864; surrendered on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC – listed as a private on the surrender muster roll; paroled on 1 May 1865 at Greensboro, NC
White, Henry C. (Pvt./4th Sgt./3rd Sgt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the fourth sergeant; listed on the January/February 1863 muster roll as the third sergeant; on horse detail to GA on 23 Feb 1864 by Cavalry Corps Special Order No. 27; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864
Stephens, W. J. H. (Pvt./2nd Cpl./4th Sgt.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the second corporal; on horse detail to GA on 23 Feb 1864 by Cavalry Corps Special Order No. 27; listed on the April/September 1864 muster roll as the fourth sergeant; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864
Fesler, John (Pvt./3rd Cpl./5th Sgt.) – enlisted in February of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the third corporal; sent to recruiting camp in June of 1864; listed on the April/September 1864 muster roll as the fifth sergeant; sent to recruiting camp in September of 1864; surrendered on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC; paroled on 1 May 1865 at Greensboro, NC
Jackson, Arthur M. (Pvt./1st Cpl.) – enlisted in August of 1861 into company L of the 3rd GA Infantry in Athens by Capt. Isaac S. Vincent; transferred into company H of the Legion on 17 Dec 1862; listed on the April/September 1864 muster roll as the first corporal and also as being in GA on sick furlough since 6 Jul 1864
Brooks, Thomas D. (Pvt./2nd Cpl.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; reported as missing on 9 Jun 1863 after the cavalry battle at Brandy Station, VA; was later found out that he was captured by the enemy at Beverly Ford on the Rappahannock River during the battle; listed on a roll of prisoners of war paroled at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. on 25 Jun 1863; exchanged at City Point, VA on 30 Jun 1863; sent to recruiting camp on 12 Dec 1863; listed on the April/September 1864 muster roll as the second corporal; surrendered on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC; paroled on 1 May 1865 at Greensboro, NC
Simpkins, William H. (Pvt./3rd Cpl.) – enlisted in February of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; sent to recruiting camp on 8 Mar 1864; listed on the April/September 1864 muster roll as the third corporal; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864; surrendered on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC; paroled on 1 May 1865 at Greensboro, NC
Morris, Elisha F. (Pvt./4th Cpl.) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; listed on the May/June 1862 muster roll as the fourth corporal; on furlough for a period of four months from 1 Jul to 1 Nov 1862; listed on a register of approved furloughs at the Medical Director’s Office in Richmond, VA on 2 Nov 1862; admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 in Richmond on 9 Nov and 28 Nov 1862; discharged from service on 8 Oct 1863 in Madison County, VA due to a gunshot wound which caused him to lose the use of his left arm
Bowen, Isaac (Pvt./4th Cpl.) – enlisted in September of 1863 at Culpeper Court House, VA by Adjutant William L. Church; on horse detail to GA on 23 Feb 1864 by Cavalry Corps Special Order No. 27; listed on the April/September 1864 muster roll as the fourth corporal; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864
Hewitt, John J. (Pvt./Blacksmith/Pvt.) – enlisted in April of 1862 in Atlanta by Lt. Thomas C. Williams; listed on the January/February 1863 muster roll as the company blacksmith; listed on a roll of non-commissioned officers and privates employed on extra duty as a blacksmith at camps in VA from 1 Jan 1863 to 7 May 1863; on horse detail to GA on 23 Feb 1864 by Cavalry Corps Special Order No. 27; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864; listed on a receipt roll for clothing issued on 3 Dec 1864
House, James S. (Pvt./Farrier) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; appointed as the company farrier on 5 Mar 1862; died on 21 Jul 1862 at Richmond, VA
Jackson, Thomas E. (Pvt./Bugler) – enlisted in March of 1862 in Athens by Lt. Ritch; appointed as the company bugler in March of 1862; on horse detail to GA on 20 Sep 1864; surrendered on 26 Apr 1865 at Greensboro, NC; paroled on 1 May 1865 at Greensboro, NC
Posted with permission from Ed Rowe. If you have any questions or additional information about this roster, please contact Ed Rowe jedrowe@bellsouth.net.
Clarke-Oconee Genealogical Society 