Lamar-Pike County GaArchives Military Records.....McGinty, R.W. February 24, 1910 Civilwar - Letters Co. A,. 14th Ga. Infantry ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 July 20, 2011, 6:27 pm War Sketch Of R.W. McGinty The Barnesville Gazette February 24, 1910 War Sketch Of R.W. McGinty To the Daughters of the Confederacy: Having seen your request to the veterans in the Barnesville News-Gazette, I take pleasure in sending you a sketch of my life dating from 1861 to 1865. For fear of being too lengthy I have left out many incidents that occurred. R.W. McGinty, Co. A,. 14th Ga. Infantry. Early in 1861 the dread tocsin of war was sounded throughout the South. Dr. John Hunter Etheridge as Captain, Wm. L. Hanpt as 1st Lieutenant; A.D. Hammond, 2nd Lieutenant; John W. Mays, 3rd Lieutenant began to raise a company for service in the Confederate Army. Very soon they had succeeded and had a fine company of young men nearly all of whom were single men. I was one of the number. Capt. Etheridge tendered the services of the company to Gov. Brown, which was readily accepted with instructions to continue to drill, holding ourselves in readiness, - subject to command. On the 12th of May we went into camp at Forsyth, Ga. On the 12th of July we received orders to march to Atlanta where we would become a part of the 14th Ga. With Col. Brumby as Regimental Commander. The regiment soon received marching orders. Leaving Atlanta we went by way of Dalton, Cleveland, Knoxville, on into Virginia, reaching Lynchburg. From there we took the train from Staunton, took up the march over the mountain to Monteray, then to Huntersville, remaining there for two weeks. We then camped awhile at Greenbrien River, then on to the Salt works in Virginia where we found a large force of Federal troops. Our number being greatly smaller we retraced our way back to Huntersville, where we camped and suffered great discomfort and much sickness on account of marshy grounds. The crawfish actually worked up under our bedding at night. In a short while one third of the troops were sick, I among the number, having a long spell of typhoid fever. While in an unconscious condition I was carried fifty miles in a two horse wagon. My friend, Wm. D. Holland, told me I remained in that condition eleven days and was reported dead, but by the mercies of a kind Providence I recovered. At the battle of Seven Pines I was in my first battle and got my first shot at the Yankees. I received a slight wound. Our noble Captain fell in that battle, a bullet having pierced his brain. The army was reorganized, forming into Brigades, with troops from Virginia, ours uniting with 14th Ga., 35th Ga., 45th Ga., and 49th Ga. With General Anderson in command. Was in all the battles around Richmond. At Malvern Hill I was again slightly wounded. After the Richmond battles Edward L. Thomas was placed in command of our Brigade. On the 9th of August we met Yankees at Cedar Run and drove them from the field. I was again wounded, but recovered in time for the second battle of Manassas. In that terrible battle of the 29th August I was shot three times and for three months was unfit for duty, but was able to take part in Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, wher I was again wounded. I was in all the engagements from the 5th of May at the Wilderness on to Petersburg. Was with command when Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant. When our noble chieftain was ready to begin his journey back to Richmond, he rode out in front of camp and dismounted, then with tears pouring down our rugged and battle scarred faces, file after file of soldiers passed and shook the hand of this grand man, who with each hand shake asked God’s blessing on each of us. Such examples as his gave us strength to return home and build up a new South. I am proud that I fought under such men. R.W. McGinty, Co. A, 14th Ga. Infantry File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/lamar/military/civilwar/letters/mcginty137nmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb