Pike-Lamar County GaArchives News.....War Record of Capt. R.J. Powell January 20 1910
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Lynn Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 November 14, 2004, 12:56 pm

The Barnesville News-Gazette
War Record of Capt. R.J. Powell

Robert Johnson Powell was born in Monroe County, Georgia, on the 31st day of 
March 1832. Died in Macon, Georgia, the 26th of May 1892.

His father was a man of education - broad and liberal in his views, and gave 
his son the best educational advantages the country at that time afforded, 
sending him to Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina, where he finished 
his education.

He was married to Miss Eliza Mitchell of Griffin, Ga., in 1860. Following close 
on this came Secession and its train of historical events. The war tocsin 
sounded the alarm, and as a matter of choice he went into the Artillery 
Service, and his fortune was cast with the army of the Cumberland. He was 
elected Lieutenant of Gibson’s Battery in the Griffin Light Artillery, but had 
to assume command almost from the first as the Captain was old and infirm. This 
Battery was assigned to Brigadier John K. Jackson’s Brigade under command of 
General Bragg - Army of Tennessee. There is an old war journal kept by him, now 
dim with age, in which he depicts some of his war experiences in Tennessee and 
Kentucky.

The brave soldiers travel-worn, cold and hungry, the poor horses faint, and yet 
the Battery must be transported across the streams and hills, and worlds of 
mountains, and how at Lawrenceburg, Ky., they captured 4800 prisoners and 5,000 
guns, and again at Harrodsburg in the same state 1,000 prisoners, and how the 
people of this region refused Confederate money and gave no help or comfort to 
our men. He was the confidence of his Superior Officers, and General Bragg 
entrusted him on several occasions with important services. He was in the 
Battle of Resaca, and at Chickamauga he commanded the Battery, but toward the 
last was wounded, his horse falling and nearly crushing him in the fall.

To emphasize his bravery I subjoin an article which appeared in the Atlanta 
Constitution, Oct. 15th, 1900. From so high a source, and from an officer in 
the Union Army it is gratifying to have for him so glowing a ribute: "Inspector 
General Breckenridge of the United States Army, during his recent visit to 
Atlanta related many interesting incidents of the Civil War, in one of which a 
gallant Georgian who has since joined the "Bivouac of the Dead" was chief 
actor."

"You know," said General Breckenridge, "that Chickamauga was the bloodiest 
battle of modern times? Both Federals and Confederates fought with a daring 
that was not equaled on any other field. Every arm of the service covered 
itself with glory, but there was one Confederate Battery which fought with an 
energy that I have never seen surpassed. The Battery was stationed near the 
center of the Confederate line, and the casualties that it caused us was 
enormous. It poured in the shot and shell so witheringly that it made a regular 
slaughter pen of the woods in its front where the Union Infantry was lying 
down. The fire was so deadly that Federal Batteries were ordered up to silence 
it, but they couldn’t do it - although tons of iron were hurled at the 
Confederate guns. The way the Southern officer fought his guns was magnificent! 
The lines were so close that we could see that he was a young man of rather 
slight build. Amid all of that storm of iron he kept perfectly cool, and his 
sangfroid so animated his men that they served the guns like they were 
possessed. We tried to rush the Battery with Infantry, but it wouldn’t be 
rushed. When the Confederate line swept forward the Battery advanced too and 
continued to shell us. But in that advance the daring young officer fell, and I 
supposed he was killed. Afterward I learned that he was only wounded, and his 
name was Powell, and he was a Georgian. Confederate historians are wont to 
extol the deeds of Pelham who was with Lee’s Army, but Pelham never fought his 
guns more daringly than did Powell at Chickamauga."

The Constitution adds, "The man who fought those guns was Capt. Robert Powell 
of Barnesville, Ga., well known as a Banker and State Senator. His record in 
peace was as fine as in war, and his death several years ago caused general 
regret."

[Transcribed 11/13/04 Lynn Cunningham]

Additional Comments:
From copy obtained at Old Jail Museum and Archives, Barnesville, Georgia. 
Compiled by Shanna English.

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