GEORGIA - MILITARY CIVIL WAR 57th GA Regiment ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: LINDA MEADOWS lmeadows@surfsouth.com 57th GA Regiment A Defense of Valor The 57th GA Regiment was organized between May- June 1862 and soon thereafter went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, serving with the Department of East Tennessee. Early in 1863, the unit was reassigned to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana and in the Army of Vicksburg, Mississippi. After their parole and exchange following the fall of Vicksburg, the 57th joined the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. By the spring of 1864, they were assigned to the Army of Tennessee, where they remained for the duration of the war. Colonel William Barkuloo was the 57th Regiment's first commander. Governor Joseph E. Brown authorized Secretary of War, G.W. Randolph, to accept Barkuloo's GA State troops as full members of the Confederate States Army on 6 May 1862, asking also that all State troops be given "perfect equality with regiments which originally entered the Confederate service." Randolph notified General E. Kirby Smith in Knoxville, Tennessee on 2 July 1862 that he had ordered Colonel Barkuloo's troops from Dalton, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee along with several other military units. All units were unarmed, but Randolph promised a 6000 stand of arms to General Kirby, instructing him to advise the reinforcements of where to receive their arms. The men of the 57th were involved in several notable battles during the War Between the States. Among some of those were the battles of: Cumberland Gap, June 17-18, 1862; Kentucky Campaign, August-October 1862; Vicksburg Campaign and Siege May-July 1863; Champion Hill (Baker's Creek, Mississippi), May 16, 1863; Whitemarsh Island, February 22, 1864; Atlanta Campaign, May- September 1864; Kennesaw Mt., June 27, 1864; Atlanta, July 22-September 1864; Jonesboro, August 31-September 1, 1864; Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, November and December 1864; Carolinas Campaign February-April 1865; and Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19-21, 1865. The Official Records have correspondence that tells of the trials and tribulations facing this regiment, especially after their defeat at Vicksburg, Mississippi in July 1863. Commanding Brigadier General Alfred Cumming of the 3rd Brigade, to which the 57th GA Regiment was assigned, wrote on 22 July 1863, saying that the 3rd Brigade, Major General Carter L. Stevenson's Division, crossed Baker's Creek at the bridge over this stream in Mississippi on 15 May 1863. Shortly after sunup on 16 May 1863, they backtracked and were brought into position to fight on a succession of ridges overlooking a clear field. The actions of Colonel William Barkuloo and the 57th Regiment during this campaign were praised. The 3rd Brigade went into this campaign's action with 2500 men. Writing from Enterprise, Alabama on 22 July 1863, Brigadier General Cumming reported that the brigade's total of 995 casualties included 142 killed, 314 wounded, and 539 missing. Of the missing, he estimated that about 200 were actually killed or wounded. The 3rd Brigade then entered Vicksburg on Sunday, 17 May and on the morning of 18 May moved into trenches, where they remained without relief for 47 days until the surrender on 4 July. The enemy's "rifle-pits in times were so extended as to almost entirely envelope the brigade front, and were generally about 150 yards distant." Report No. 77 from Division Commander Major General Carter L. Stevenson noted the hardships faced by the Confederate garrisons during the Vicksburg Siege. Stevenson mentioned in his report that when his troops attacked, they did so with "spirit and success." He described a particular night attack conducted by Lieutenant Colonel C.S. Guyton and a portion of the 57th GA Regiment under the command of Brigadier General Cumming, which was accompanied by men from Reynold's Brigade in the 43rd Tennessee Regiment. "The enemy had entrenched themselves at three different points on and to the left of the Hall's Ferry road. The command sallied out, charged their works with admirable gallantry, and took them, with considerable loss to the enemy, who were in greatly superior forces." In further comments, Major General Stevenson wrote of his respect for his men during the Vicksburg Siege. "I cannot find words sufficiently strong to express the pride and gratification afforded me by the dauntless spirit with which officers and men encountered all the dangers, and by the unmurmuring endurance with which they bore up for the forty-seven sleepless nights and days, under all the hardships incident to their position. Confined, without a moment's relief from the very day of their entrance into the fortifications to that of the capitulation of the city, to the narrow trenches; exposed without shelter to the broiling sun and drenching rain; subsisting on rations barely sufficient for the support of life; engaged from the earliest dawn till dark, and often during the night, in one ceaseless conflict with the enemy, they neither faltered nor complained, but, ever looking forward with confidence to relief, bore up bravely under every privation--saw their ranks decimated by disease and the missiles of the enemy--with the fortitude that adorns the soldier and the spirit that becomes the patriot who battles in a holy cause (O.R.--Series I--Volume XXIV/2 [S# 37]." Regardless of the bravery of the Confederate forces, they were overtaken. The 57th was assigned to Parole Camp at Demopolis, Alabama. The Agent of Exchange, R.O. Ould, wrote Brigadier General S.A. Meredith at the CSA War Department, stating that an exchange would take place on 12 September 1863. After their release, members of the 57th GA were sent to serve in the Department of GA. By command of the Secretary of War in Special Orders No. 232, 30 Sept 1863, "The Fifty- seventh GA Regiment, Stevenson's Division, will repair to Savannah, GA and report for duty to Brigadier General Mercer." The 57th Regiment was then placed under the command of Brigadier General R.E. Colston in the District of GA on 20 Oct 1863. To say that the 57th was a happy regiment following Vicksburg would have been an outright lie. Brigadier General Hugh W. Mercer, commanding at Savannah, telegraphed that 200 of the 57th had arrived in Savannah on 14 Jan 1864. There was much contention among the 57th in their Savannah camp over the conditions of their recent parole and exchange. The 57th was placed under the command of Captain J.W. Anderson and assigned to duty on Rose Dew Island located at the mouth of the Little Ogeechee River. Like many other Southern men, members of the 57th apparently found it difficult to continue fighting after taking an oath to lay down their arms against the US Federal Government. Major General, and second in command, J.F. Gilmer, detailed evidence of such discontent in his report to Brigadier General Thomas Jordan, Chief of Staff, Charleston, SC. Gilmer suggested: "The 57th GA Regiment should be sent on duty in presence of the enemy, say at Charleston or some other point, and another regiment sent here to replace it. The men of this regiment complain that they were not properly exchanged after their capture at Vicksburg." Was their concern over the parole and exchange, per se, or the fact that the exchange process took until 12 September, a little over 2 months from the date of their capture and parole? Commanding officers in Savannah were afraid of the overall morale of many regiments along the GA coast, including that of the 54th, 57th, and 63rd. A plot was discovered, which discontented Confederates planned to carry out on 12-13 January 1864. Confederate officers in Savannah feared that the 57th Regiment would join, even though they were not among the organizers. By refusing to bear arms, soldiers hoped to end the war. To nip this plot in the bud, Brigadier General R.E. Colston took action by ordering the arrest of a leader of the resistance movement, a man identified as Private Coleman, who was a soldier with Co. F, 54th GA Regiment. Coleman was confined to barracks in Savannah. The Roster of Confederate Soldiers from GA, Volume 5 lists two privates with the surname Coleman. Both Andrew J. Coleman and William T. Coleman enlisted as privates 6 May 1862, with Co. C, 54th Regiment, Bartow Infantry. Both men were transferred to Company F, 54th Regiment, Savannah Cadets on 1 Jan 1863. The Private Coleman in question apparently remained in service following the foiled plot to resist fighting. Andrew J. Coleman was captured at Salisbury, North Carolina 12 April 1865, and released at Camp Chase, Ohio on 13 June 1865. William T. Coleman was captured at Marietta, Georgia 18 June 1864, paroled at Camp Morton, Indiana, and forwarded to Point Lookout, Maryland for exchange 10 March 1865. William was received at Cox's Wharves, James River, Virginia 23 March 1863. He died of dysentery at Richmond, Virginia shortly thereafter and was buried at sea (Roster, Vol. V, 649). Regardless of the action taken against the alleged perpetrator of resistance from Co. F, 54th GA Regiment, apparently he continued military service after his incarceration in the Savannah barracks. As further assurance of ending the proposed plot, Brigadier General Colston also requested that the 57th GA Regiment be transferred either to the Army of the Tennessee, or of VA. He noted that the "spirit of this regiment is bad," stating that, "The troops say that they have never been properly exchanged, and the impression prevails, probably with good reason, that they will not fight if brought before the enemy. They are demoralized by the influence of home, to which they are too near, their friends and relatives persuading them that they have not been properly exchanged and ought to be at home. Their presence here may have a bad effect upon the other troops and their spirit and tone may be improved by removal to more distant points." It should be reiterated at this point that the solemn parole oath made by members of the 57th stated: "That I shall not take up arms again against the United States, nor serve in any military, police, or constabulary force in any Fort, Garrison, or field work, held by the Confederate States of America, against the United States of America, nor as guard of prisons, depots or stores, nor discharge any duties usually performed by Officers or soldiers against the United States of America, until duly exchanged by the proper authorities ( Paroles of Pvt. Labon L. Bryant and Pvt. James Harrison Joyner, Co. F, 57th GA Regiment, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 7 July 1863, signed by Captain J.O. Pullens, 20th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers)." Brigadier General Colston's concerns proved valid. A portion of Co. F, 57th GA stationed on Rose Dew Island under the command of Captain J.W. Anderson was said to be "behaving badly." In a message dated 26 Feb 1864, Brigadier General Thomas Jordan wrote to Brigadier General Mercer telling of one company of the 57th GA Regiment's retreating during combat on Gibbon's Island in spite of the captain's commands and efforts. Although he did not state the specific company of the 57th which concerned him, Chief of Staff Jordan did recognize the need for action. On 22 April 1864, Major General Sam Jones, Commander, wrote to General S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, VA stating that Special Orders, No. 89, War Department, CS ordered that the 1st, 53rd, and 57th Regiments GA Volunteers should proceed to Dalton, GA to relieve the 5th, 47th, and 55th GA Regiments. Specifically, the 57th was ordered to relieve the 5th GA Regiment, in guarding prisoners at Andersonville, although that stint of duty was short-lived. Guarding prisoners was still in violation of the terms of parole and exchange as perceived by members of the 57th GA Regiment. Nonetheless, correspondence from Major General J.F. Gilmer to Major Giles B. Cooke, Assistant Adjutant-General, Charleston, SC, dated at Savannah on 30 April 1864, noted that the 57th GA had left Savannah by rail for service with the Army of Tennessee. Even the President of the Confederacy was kept informed of the movements of the 57th. A missive dated 21 May 1864, written near Allatoona Pass in North GA by General J.E. Johnston to President Jefferson Davis noted that "the Fifty-seventh GA has arrived." From May-September 1864, the 57th was with Major General William H.T. Walker's Division, Brigadier General Hugh W. Mercer's Brigade. The 57th was under the immediate command of Lieutenant Colonel Cincinnatus S. Guyton. In Report No. 622, Lt. Colonel Guyton noted the actions involved in the Atlanta Campaign. Guyton stated that Colonel William Barkuloo of the 57th GA assumed command as division leader on 24 July 1864, following the death of Major General Walker. The 57th was fighting 2 1/2 miles from Atlanta, southwest of the Fair Ground Road. On 22 Sept 1864, Colonel Barkuloo wrote about the operations of July 22-August 2 and noted that he had been replaced by Colonel Charles H. Olmstead. After the fall of Atlanta and the death of Major General Walker, Walker's old division was breaking up. The 57th fell in with Major General Patrick R. Cleburne's Division, Mercer's Brigade, under Colonel Charles H. Olmstead. The 57th was still under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Guyton from 1 May-30 Sept 1864. The 57th was involved in campaigns in Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee from 14 Nov 1864-23 Jan 1865, as part of the Army of Tennessee, Cleburne's Division, now with Brigadier General James A. Smith. Colonel Charles H. Olmstead was the commander, but Captain Lucius C. Bryan was now in charge of the 57th GA Regiment. Smith's brigade report dated 3 Jan 1865, told of the strengths of his brigade. He reported a total of 636 effective men, 65 of whom were from the 57th GA's total of 120 present. The 57th Regiment's aggregate present was 138, including 3 servants. The remainder of the 200 members of the 57th Regiment sent from Vicksburg to the Georgia coast in the fall of 1863 proved themselves to be survivors. Reorganization of troops and commanders occurred throughout the war. Cleburne's Division saw changes in leadership during the latter month's of the war from 4 Mar-30 June 1865. Cleburne and Brigadier General Smith remained in command and were joined by Captain J.R. Bonner. Lieutenant A. Youngblood was now in charge of the 57th GA Regiment. When the 57th surrendered at Bentonville, NC on 26 April 1865, survivors returned home to rebuild lives put on hold when duty called. In retrospect, the 57th GA Regiment's reluctance to fight was not evidence of cowardice after the Battle of Vicksburg and the confusion over parole and exchanges. The men of the 57th had given a sworn oath not to fight against the Federal forces until an exchange was finalized. This was done in an age when a man's word meant something. The sterling efforts of this fighting unit during the latter year and a half of the war are indicative of courage and dedication in the face of insurmountable odds. That courage enabled these men to survive the hardships of fighting on distant battlefields far from their Middle GA homes. When the fighting ceased, men of the 57th GA Regiment returned to their families and farms and courageously assumed the task of rebuilding the state that they loved. Sources Cited Herein are from Official Records, unless otherwise stated. Compiled by Linda Ward Meadows, Recorder Of Military Service Awards, Dixie Chapter No. 2576, United Daughters of the Confederacy®; 302 Val-Del Road, Adel, GA 31620; Linda is a Great-Great Granddaughter of Privates Labon L. Bryant and James Harrison Joyner, who both served with Co. F, 57th GA Regiment from Crawford County, GA. Last revised 4 July 2000………137 years after the Siege of Vicksburg lmeadows@surfsouth.com