GA - Military - Civil War   3rd GA Reserves 

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Doug Carter  dlcarter@bellsouth.net



Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm

The 3rd Georgia Reserve Infantry Regiment was formed
in April, 1864. They were guards at Andersonville
Prison until August, 1864 when they were sent to
Macon, where they may have participated in the
defense of that city during Stoneman's raid. At the
end of August they returned to Andersonville.
Sometime in September they were transferred from
Andersonville. My gr-grandfather, Jesse Taliafero
Carter, was in Company F. The muster roll for Co. F
for Sept-Oct 1864, lists their location as "Camp
Lawton". Camp Lawton was a prison camp in Millen,
Ga. Unfortunately, that was the last muster roll on
microfilm at the State Archives in Atlanta. 

According to several sources including the Official
Records of the War of the Rebellion, the 3rd Ga
Reserves fought at The Battle of Tullifiny Station
aka The Battle of Coosawhatchie, S.C. on Dec. 9,
1864. 

They also fought in the Salkahatchie River Campaign
in South Carolina during Feb., 1865 and they fought
at the Battle of Columbus on Easter Sunday, April
16, 1865. I have read approximately 6 pension
applications of soldiers who served in the 3rd Ga
Reserves and at least 3 of them mention Columbus. 

My gr-grandfather wrote in his application that he
was in Columbus when his unit disbanded. Joe Bledsoe
[pension application] wrote that he was wounded by a
shell during the Battle of Columbus which resulted
in the amputation of his leg . Charles Kennon
Henderson, of Company F, wrote that he left his
command in Columbus, Ga. on April 16th, 1865 because
"Gen. Wilson routed us. The war was over & all went
home." 

Henderson is quoted in "The Cedartown Standard"
newspaper article dated Feb. 4, 1937, on file at the
State Archives, as follows "For some months we
helped to guard the Andersonville prison, near
Americus, Georgia. Thence we were transferred to
General Hardee's Corps. This regiment was in seven
engagements fighting Sherman. I do not claim all
these battles. 

My regiment was sent into South Carolina, and in
April 1865, the regiment was brought from South
Carolina following Sherman to Columbus, Ga. There,
on the Alabama side of the Chattahoochee river, we
were in battle line all day Sunday, April 16,
1865....I was captured by the Federals after the
battle and my gray mare, worth $600, was taken from
me, and I was given a mule. Upon this mule I rode
late at night through General Wilson's army,
encamped atWaverly Hall, Harris County, Georgia, and
went to bed at Uncle John Kennon's. I am now
commanded[sic] of Camp 169 United Confederate
Veterans of Fulton County."

In bound volumes of letters and bound volumes of
transcripts published by the UDC at the State of
Georgia Archives I found companies G,F,and I
mentioned regarding the engagements in South
Carolina. The pension applications on file at the
state archives will probably be the best resource
for specific info on Companies A abd B.

John Mallory Land (e-mail retrofit@flash.net) is
seeking the identity of approximately 20 soldiers
killed in the Battle of Columbus who are in Clapp's
Cemetery on the banks of the Chattahoochee in
Columbus.

Additional Information:
Eileen McAdams has on-line:

 Company B Roster posted at http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ga/county/baldwin/3rdgareserves.html

As well as a list of casualities at Coosawhatchie Station
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ga/county/baldwin/3rdwounded.html