43rd Georgia Volunteer Infantry
This type written history of the 43rd Georgia is in a file at the Georgia Archives. The author is unknown.
Company E, the Kellogg Rifles, was raised in Cumming in Forsyth County. Captain Henry Kellogg was Elected Major on March 20, 1862, and promoted to Colonel on December 18, 1863. He was in command of Stovall’s Brigade at the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina.
This handwritten roster looks to have been composed around 1900 and was found in the Obion Julian Collection at the Georgia Archives. Julian lived in Pickens County and collected rosters of local units.
Georgia State Troops
About 15% of our brigade recruits came from men who, by the spring of 1862, were ending their six-month terms of enlistment as members of Governor Joseph Brown’s Georgia State Troops. These men had served their time in Savannah protecting the coast. This list of names (on the left) shows that many of these men went on to join the 43rd Georgia around May 15, 1862. Records of these early units are sometimes difficult to find. This list of 84 names was printed in the Cherokee Advance on October 3, 1919.
Tribute to Jesse Clement, Company I, (1840 – 1916)
This article appeared in the Forsyth County News on June 15, 1917. Jesse Clement was appointed 5th Sergeant January 1, 1864. He was wounded and captured at the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. His left leg was amputated below the left knee by Federal surgeons. He was sent to Camp Douglas outside of Chicago, where he was held until March 14, 1865. Clement was received at Boulware’s Wharf, James River, Va. for exchange, March 18-21, 1865. Furloughed for 60 days from Jackson Hospital at Richmond, Va. March 28, 1865. He returned to Forsyth County and served as County Treasurer for 18 years.
United Daughters of the Confederacy Research
In the 1920’s members of the UDC in Georgia began approaching the old veterans and transcribing their recollections. Today, this large collection of typed reports sits in bound volumes on a wall in the Georgia Archives, rarely read and never transcribed. I will be the first to acknowledge that the memories of these older men were a bit hazy by this point in their lives, but I still find their reminiscences to be fascinating reading. Historians generally ignore these texts because the recollections are too far removed from the events of the war. That said, there are great tidbits in these books that are found nowhere else. The first-person accounts also give us a great window into how they framed their thoughts and their speech patterns. Here are two transcriptions from members of the 43rd Georgia:
Reminiscences of Warren H. Campbell, Company F, 43rd Georgia
Secured by Minnie Merritt, Past Historian of the Longstreet Chapter, UDC, Gainesville, Georgia
Mr. Warren Campbell grew eloquent as he discoursed to the Historian of the bravery of the “boys” of Company F. He assured her that the company was the finest that ever left Hall County.
Mr. Campbell gave an interesting account of the death of Colonel Skidmore Harris, who was mortally wounded in the battle of Baker’s Creek, Miss, May 16, 1863. Just as he entered into the fight, he said to his devoted followers, “Boys, never give up the combat; if I am shot down, press on and gain the victory.” They did gain the victory, but with a heavy loss of men, and the irreparable loss of their beloved and gallant leader.
Mr. Campbell is authority for the following story about the battle flags of the 43rd Regiment. Mrs. H.W. Newman of Canton, Georgia, presented the Regiment with a beautiful silk flag, which was proudly carried by its color bearer until it was captured by Federal soldiers in the fight around Vicksburg. After its capture, it was thrown aside in a heap of other captured standards and other articles, when the late Frank Simmons of Gainesville, a member of the “bloody 43rd,” forced his way to where the flag of Company lay. He cut it loose from its staff, which was then an improvised one, a stout cane, and concealed it and afterwards bore it from the field of battle. No one knows what ever became of it.
Afterwards another flag was furnished the Company by the Confederate Government. This flag was carried throughout the remainder of the war by color bearer James L. Sosebee, and was not given up to the enemy on the surrender of the Confederates. It was kept by Mr. Sosebee until August 18, 1892, when it was presented to the survivors of the 43rd Georgia Regiment at a reunion held at Gainesville. The presentation was made by Mrs. H.W. Newman, who just 30 years previous to that time had given the first flag to the company. Colonel H.P. Bell received the flag in the name of the surviving members of the Regiment, and it is now kept in the Archives of the Association of Veterans, and regarded as its most sacred treasure.
Reminiscences of William H.H. Rogers, Company I, 43rd Georgia
Cumming, Forsyth County
On March 28,1862, two companies of soldiers left Cumming, Georgia, one elected H.P. Bell and H.C. Kellogg, commanded the other. Jesse Clement and I went with H.P. Bell’s company. Our first march was to Big Shanty, in Cobb County. There we were organized into the 43rd Georgia Regiment. H.P. Bell was elected Lt. Colonel and H.C. Kellogg, Major. After staying there a month drilling we were ordered to Chattanooga, Tenn. and then to Shiloh. Before we arrived there the big fight was over.
We came back and in a few days we were ordered to Knoxville, Tenn. then to Cumberland Gap. We had to fight some at Tazewell, Tenn. The Yankees were in the Gap and we had to cross the mountain below, and this drew the Yankees out of the Gap. We followed the Yankees through Kentucky to the Ohio River, then we came back another road, reaching the Gap in October 1862. Many of the boys were barefoot and it was snowing. We went over to Lenoir Station and stayed there several weeks. Many of our boys died from measles and exposure. We were next ordered to West Tenn. stopping at Tullahoma and Manchester and Murfreesboro. From there just before Christmas we boarded the train for Vicksburg, Miss.
We had a little fight up on the Yazoo the last days of 1862. Col. Bell was shot in the leg and was never with the regiment any more. From now to May 15, 1863 we had plenty to do but not much fighting. On May 16, we had one of the hottest fights that we ever had. It was known as the Baker Creek fight. Our regiment lost 400 out of 600, killed or wounded or captured. Those who could travel went into Vicksburg the next day and stayed there under shell and bullets and ate “pea bread” and mule beef until the 4th of July, 1863. We were paroled and left Vicksburg July 12. We started home but had to walk 100 miles before we could get to ride. We went back in the fall just in time to be in the Missionary Ridge fight.
In 1864, we led the way for Sherman. We were in many fights. At Resaca, one of my messmates Lewis Clement, was shot dead by my side. We were in the big fights at New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Decatur, and others. In the battle of Decatur, July 22, as we charged the enemy, Jesse Clements lost his leg. We had slept together from the time we left Cumming until now. Jonesboro was a tight place. From there we went to Franklin, Tenn. then back to North Carolina. We surrendered April 26, 1865.
Note from interviewer: Mr. Rogers returned home a poor man, but by industry and economy he has a good home and in the meantime he has reared a family and given his children a very fine education. Norcross, Georgia.
Manning Poole Alexander, Company K, Assistant Surgeon, 43rd Georgia
I was pleased to receive an email from Ted Pulliam, who attached a transcription of a letter that his ancestor, Manning P. Alexander, wrote upon returning from the Kentucky campaign of 1862. Ted wrote that Manning enlisted as a private in Company K of the 43rd from Hall County. He had been a doctor before the war and was assigned provisionally as assistant surgeon of the regiment on March 20, 1862. He was formally appointed assistant surgeon on July 12, 1862. He continued with the 43rd until relieved from duty with the regiment on March 12, 1864 and ordered to report to the Confederate hospital in Madison, Georgia. Manning then moved from place to place with many of his hospital patients as Sherman advanced. The end of the war found him serving in a hospital in Augusta.
In the letter that follows Lona was Manning’s wife. Manning was 32 years old at the time and Lona was 23 years old. Nora was Manning’s daughter, then three years old. Jim was one of Manning’s younger brothers, James D. Alexander, who when the letter was written was a sergeant in Company C. of the 9th Battalion, Georgia Infantry. That unit was part of Stevenson’s First Division and of Barton’s Third Brigade. About a week after Manning wrote this letter, Jim enlisted as a private in Company K of the 43rd Georgia.
Simeon and Ratio [Horatio] were two of Manning’s brothers-in-law. The battle Manning referred to when “boath commands were cut to pieces” was Antietam. As it turned out, both brothers-in-law missed the battle. Simeon was with the part of Stonewall Jackson’s troops who stayed in Harpers Ferry to guard it after they had captured it. Ratio was sick in a hospital in Richmond when the battle took place.
Doctor Alexander is buried at Sunrise Cemetery in Maysville, Jackson County, Georgia.
Manning P. Alexander’s Letter:
43rd Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Camp Hatton Tenn. Oct 26th 1862
My Dear Lona:
How thankful I am to be permitted to rite you once more. you will be surprised [no] doubt when you here that we are back here again. When I write you last I thought we were going to fight but we ware only preparing to leave Kentucky. whad a glorious time going into Ky but as inglorious a one coming out. the retreat from that state setles the fate not only of Kentucky—I fear—but of our government. We had a very hard time on our retreat. All our wagons ware ordered forward and the troops left to march 85 miles through a dry baren and mountainous country. But Dear I will not try to give you the details till I am better situated.
It has been snowing here all day and I am siting under an old wagon sheat propped up on some sticks so the chance [is] very bad for writing. we lost all our tents when we started on our retreat.
After we started back I heard that Jim was 15 miles back sick. I resolved that he should not be left to fall into the hands of the enemy, so I went back and found him at uncle Bronston’s unable to walk from Rheumatism of the knee and hip. I put him on my horse and mad for the command but I had to walk so fast and not being used to it I soon broke down. I bought a young horse 4 years old and saddle for 80 dollars by which I was able to reach the command and get jim through all safe which I would have done had I had to have stolen the best horse in Ky.
I have got him here and have sent him to a hous there to stay till he gets well. I gave 8 dollars for a comfort and fine blanket. I can do now tolrebly well. I don’t know whether you will have the chance to send me any clothing or not. if you do, send one pair pants 2 pair woolen drawers one pair socks a pair gloves and two shirts. I do not know whare we will go to from here. My opinion is we will go to Va. or middle Tenn.
My Dear I never wanted to here from you half so badly in my life. please write immediately. direct to Knoxville and it will be forwarded. I dred to here from Simeon & Ratio. I learn boath commands ware cut to pieces. My Dear you must pardon me for not writing more at length but it is so cold and disagreeable that I must close. I have just heard the baneful news of the death of John D. Miller. Kiss dear little Nora for me. pa thinks of big dear and little dear evey hour. Yours most Truly, M P Alexander
Colonel Hiram Parks Bell (1827 – 1907)
Appleton’s six-volume Cyclopedia of American Biography was published in 1888 and was designed to give a short biographical sketch of every important American to that point in time. The sketch of Hiram Parks Bell read as follows:
Bell, Hiram Parks, lawyer, b. in Jackson co., Ga. 27 Jan 1827. He received an academic education, taught school for two years, read law, was admitted to the bar in 1849, and has since practiced at Cumming, Ga. He was a candidate for presidential elector on the Bell ticket in 1860, and opposed the secession ordinance in the convention of 1861. He was a member of the state senate in 1861, and resigned to enter the Confederate army, being commissioned captain in March 1862. He became colonel of the 43d Georgia regiment, was dangerously wounded at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Miss., 29 Dec 1862, and resigned soon afterward. He was a member of the Confederate congress in 1864 and 1865, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1873 till 1875, and again from 1877 till 1879. He was a delegate to the St. Louis convention of 1876, which nominated Mr. Tilden for the presidency. In congress, Mr. Bell favored using the proceeds of the sale of public lands for educational purposes.
His statue stands in front of Cumming City Hall in Forsyth County. His excellent 1907 autobiography Men & Things is available for purchase at the Bell Research Center in Cumming, Georgia.
This 1877 photograph of H.P. Bell was taken in Washington, D.C. by the famous Civil War photographer Matthew Brady. Bell was a member of the United States House of Representatives at the time.
We had a sailor in our ranks – The amazing story of David L. Mauldin of the 43rd Georgia
There is an interesting file in the Georgia Archives containing the Federal Pension application of David L. Mauldin of the 43rd Georgia.
On March 10, 1862, 25-year-old David Mauldin enlisted in “Brown’s Boys” in Gainesville, Georgia. The Hall County unit became Company K of the 43rd Georgia. During the Kentucky Heartland Campaign, Private Mauldin was captured near Florence, Kentucky and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio. When he was released (date not given) his regiment was defending Vicksburg and he was not able to return to it. As such, he was not part of the Vicksburg prisoner “Exchange” and was therefore free to fight at the Battle of Chickamauga, on September 20, 1863. Unfortunately for Private Mauldin, he was captured in the fighting, and this time sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. One Chicago winter was enough for this Georgia farmer and on May 24, 1864, David Mauldin enlisted in the United States Navy. At only 5’5″ in height, he was the ideal size for a seaman. According to his 1896 pension application, Mauldin was aboard the ironclad U.S.S. Monadnock in a line of ironclads during the January 1865 Siege of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. In working the large canon, David “incurred deafness of the left ear and total deafness of the right ear.” With the war over, Mauldin deserted the Monadnock on July 31, 1865. His mark of desertion was removed in 1889 and he was granted a Certificate of Discharge.
Captain Augustus Michael Reinhardt (1842 – 1923)
A.M. Reinhardt joined the “Cherokee Van Guards,” soon to be Company A of the 43rd Georgia, after having spent six months with the 2nd Regiment State Troops. At the Battle of Baker’s Creek, the Captain was wounded through the knee. He was forced to resign on January 8, 1864. He married Lucy White in Coweta County in 1870, but they did not have children.
Captain Reinhardt was a founder of Atlanta’s Gate City Street Railroad (Trolley) Company. He was a lawyer, city councilman and served a term as Atlanta’s mayor. In 1883, he founded Reinhardt Academy in Waleska, which he named after his father, Lewis W. Reinhardt. It is now a fine Methodist University. He is buried in the nearby Dogwood Hills Church Cemetery.
Lieutenant William Reid Abbott
Lt. William Reid Abbott, of Company B, 43rd Georgia is an ancestor of Fritz Neuschel. Abbott enlisted in Cherokee County and would return there after the war to farm and raise a family. He is buried in the historic Warsaw Cemetery in Fulton County. Williams brother, Armstead Abbott, was a Lieutenant in the 14th Georgia, and is buried near him. The cemetery has several Confederates buried under its markers, especially those of the 22nd Georgia. Years ago,
Benjamin Jeremiah Hawkins, Company F, 43rd Georgia
Hall County farmer Benjamin Hawkins enlisted in Gainesville on March 4, 1862. He was shot through the arm and permanently disabled at the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16, 1863. Hawkins was born in St. Clair County, Alabama and died in Hall County. Together with his wife Sallie, Benajmin had six children before the war, two during the war, and two after the war. He is buried in Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery in Gainesville. His half-brother, Lt. James Hawkins, was an officer in the 24th Georgia and was killed in the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.
The Resignation of Captain John Forsyth Rives, Company K
In July 1862, John Wills, Surgeon of the 43rd Georgia, recommended that Captain John Rives be allowed to resign his commission as he could not “perform the duties of his office with promptness.” Writing from Camp Hatten, Tennessee, Wills noted that Rives was deaf in his left ear. He was also partially deaf in his right ear. Rives was a 31-year-old farmer of some means from Hall County. Waiting back at home was his wife Harriet and their five children. Rives had graduated from Athens College and had subsequently joined the California gold rush in 1849. He did not stay long in California and returned to Hall County, Georgia. His July resignation was disapproved by General Carter Stevenson and it would not be until December 14, 1862 that Braxton Bragg approved Rives’ discharge near Manchester, Tennessee. Ted Pulliam’s ancestor, Dr. Manning Alexander, had endorsed his application on December 6th. Rives died at Vicksburg on July 3, 1863. It is not clear from the surviving records whether he was still with the 43rd at the time of his death or had joined a different Confederate regiment.