Muscogee County Georgia Military CSA John W. Wills Co G 20th File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Vwalexander@aol.com Virginia Alexander Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm JOHN W. WILLS, PRIVATE COMPANY G, 20TH GEORGIA INFANTRY Confederate Statement of Service Reference Slip Georgia Comr. of Pensions (Source of Consideration ?) John W. Wills, Pvt.., Co. G, 20 Regt. Ga Inf. Enl. July 15/61, Columbus, Ga & on ??????? for Sept. & Oct. 1864, dated Feby 1, 1865, last on file. Is shown absent on detached service as gunsmith at Columbus, Ga. No prisoner of war record found. 5-8-‘16 Return for Aug. 1864 of _____ men at C.S. Pistol Factory, Columbus, Ga. shows J.W. Wills (no organization) paid $69.75 for services as watchman detailed from 20 Ga. Regt. 5-7-’16 (over) Archives Div. Detailed to Artillery Work Shop at Richmond, Va. Nov. ’62 and employed there to March 4 - ’64 when upon application for transfer to the Work Shop at Columbus, Ga. dated Richmond, Va. Jan. 2 - 64 he was transferred to Columbus, Ga. on March 4th 1864. No later records found. 5-9-’16 Harley 9:30 a.m. J.W. Wills, Pvt. Co. G, 20 Regt Georgia Infantry. Appears on Company Muster Roll for Aug to Oct 31, 1861 Enlisted: July 15, 1861 Where: Columbus, Ga. By Whom: Capt. Ivey Period: War Last Paid: Aug. 31, 1861 Present Muster Roll July & Aug, 1864 Last Paid: by Capt. Hart To: April 30, 1862 Absent - Detached service Gun Smith , Columbus, Ga. Muster Roll for Sept. & Oct., 1864 Dated Feb. 15 ? 1865 Last Paid by Capt. Hart To: Apl 30, 1862 Absent. Detached service. Gun Smith Columbus, Ga. Due $100.00 bounty John W. Wills, Pvt., Co. G 20 Regt Ga Appears on a Register of Payments on Descriptive Lists. Period: 31 Oct 1863 - 31 Dec 1863 When Paid: 13 Jan 1864 By Whom: J. Ambler Amount: $22.00 May 10, 1916 Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions State of Georgia, Atlanta The records show that John W. Wills, private, Company G, 20th Georgia Infantry, C.S.A., enlisted July 15, 1861, at Columbus, Georgia, that in November, 1862, he was detailed to Artillery Work Shop at Richmond, Virginia, where he was employed until March 4, 1864, and that on the last mentioned date he was transferred to the Work Shop at Columbus, Georgia, upon his own application. Roll of Company G, 20th Georgia Infantry, C.S.A., for September and October 1864, dated February 1, 1865, last on file, shows him absent on detached service as gun smith at Columbus, Georgia. No later record of him has been found. J.W. Wills appears on a Return of hired men employed at C.S. Pistol Factory, Columbus, Ga, for Aug. 1864. Military status: Soldier detailed from Co. G, 20th Ga. Regt. Trade & Employment: Watchman/ Gun Smith ? Regular pay: Days: 25 Rate per day: 2 dollars Extra pay: No. of days employed: 25 Wages: 75 cents Amount: 68 dollars 75 cents. J.W. Wills, Appears on a Receipt Roll for clothing for 1864. Date of issue: Aug. 15, 1864. Richmond Jany 28, 1864 Sir: Having understood Mr. Holt was detained at home by severe illness I got a friend to refer the original of the within letter to Genl. Cooper on the 7 instant. On inquiry at the Office of the Adjutant & Inspector General C.S. Army I learn that the letter was on the same day transmitted to Genl. Longstreet for his approval. It has not yet been returned to the Department, and therefore I am apprehensive it may have been lost during the late operations of Genl. Longstreet’s Corps-finding that you have qualified as the successor of Mr. Holt I respectfully beg leave to ask your influence in my behalf. The points in my case fully stated in the within letter. Your Obedt. Servt. J.W. Wills Comp G - 20 regt. Ga Volunteers Hon. Porter Ingram } House of Reps. C.S.) Copy referred thro. Genl. Longstreet to Comdg. Officer 20th Ga. Regt. by Comd. Sec. of War.(?) H.L. Clay Approved & respectfully forwarded. T.S.(?) Fountaine Capt. Cmdy. C. G, 20th Ga. Regt. (Illegible - except “this man is unfit for service in the field --- government ????) Richmond, Virginia, January 2, 1864 Sir: As one of your constituents I respectfully beg leave to solicit your influence in aid of my application for a transfer from the Artillery Work Shop at Richmond to the Work Shop at Columbus, Georgia. I will state the facts in my case, for your information, as follows: - I enlisted for three years, at the commencement of hostilities, in Company G of the twentieth regiment of Georgia Volunteers. I participated in all of the Seven days battles around Richmond, in the battle at Thoroughfare gap, in the Second battle at Manassas, and in the battle at Sharpsburg: besides innumerable skirmishes that it would be impossible for me now to recapitulate. In those engagements I received three flesh wounds. My health having been much impaired by the privations and hardships I endured I was detailed in November 1862 as one of the hands in the Artillery Work Shop in this city where I have ever since been employed. Last October I applied to Col. Brown, of the Ordnance, for a transfer to the Work Shop at Columbus. He remarked that he would recommend my transfer provided Major Humphreys required an additional hand and would make application for me. I immediately communicated the result of this conversation by telegraph to Major Humphreys and not hearing from him as soon as I expected, again telegraphed Capt. Ivey, late Commander of my Company. Major Humphreys. in answer to my telegraphic dispatch, addressed a letter to Col. Brown, in which he duly made application for me, stating that he stood much in need of a good gun smith. Col. Brown, on the receipt of this letter, on or about the 12th of November, endorsed thereon a recommendation that my wishes be complied with, and sent it immediately to Col. Clay, Assistant adjutant General. Col. Clay on the 26th of November transmitted my application to Genl. Bragg for his approval, since which time it has not been returned to the Department. About this time Genl. Bragg was relieved of the command of the Army and Lieut. Genl. Hardee was appointed in his place. The application would, in the regular routine of business, have to be referred to Lieut. Genl. Longstreet and by him to Capt. Hutchins, Commander of my Company, for their concurrence. In consequence of the disturbed condition of the country at the neighborhood of these commands and the constant engagement of Genl. Longstreet’s Corps with the enemy I think it probable my application has been mislaid or lost, hence the necessity of a renewal of it. I think I am justly and equitably entitled to the indulgence I ask owing to my own and family’s services in the field, consisting of myself, four sons and son-in-law, comprising all the males of my family, and we have fought in all the battles - until disabled - of our Commander Genl. Longstreet to whose Corps, we Georgians, were assigned. Two of my sons were killed in battle, one son and my son-in-law were wounded at Gettysburg and taken prisoner and carried to Fort Delaware, and from recent intelligence from there I am informed of the death of my son-in-law - the last remaining son accompanied Genl. Longstreet’s Corps to join Genl. Bragg since which time I have heard nothing of him and therefore am ignorant of his fate. My chief object in desiring the transfer to Columbus is to make a home for my three unprotected daughters who are now a short distance from Columbus amongst total strangers. They write me urgently to return home and provide for their wants. I know that my service here could be altogether dispensed with without any detriment to the public service, for the force now employed is amply sufficient, and has been for some months, to discharge with promptness the work to be done, or that may hereafter be required to be done. I do not ask to be discharged from the Army but merely transferred; and, in consideration of the foregoing and my age of fifty two years, I think that Genl. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General of the Army, upon a proper representation of my case would forthwith order my transfer as I learn he has a kind and feeling heart. Hoping this application may eventuate in success, and trusting that the forlorn condition of my daughters will be a sufficient apology for my troubling you with this communication. I have the honor to be Most respectfully Your Obedt. Servt. Hon. H. Holt ) House of Reps. C.S.) J.W. Wills Private of Company G 20th regt.of Georgia Volunteers ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============