Pike-Lamar County GaArchives News.....Co. H 44th Regiment Ga. Vols. March 10 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 21, 2004, 1:49 pm

The Barnesville News-Gazette
Co. H 44th Regiment Ga. Vols.

The fourth military company raised in Pike county for service in the army of 
the Confederate States was organized in the Court House square of Zebulon on 
the 11 day of March 1862.

Richard O. Banks was elected Captain, J.C. Redding 1st. Lieut., John W. Butler 
2nd Lieut., and Matthew R. Beckham 3rd Lieut.

These four commissioned officers were leading citizens of the county and 
farmers except Lieut., Redding who was then clerk of court.

The company then numbered about one hundred men and was largely composed of 
farmers, stout able bodied young men, who being used to out door life, were 
well prepared to endure the hardships of a soldier’s life.

Immediately after the organization, the company tendered their services to the 
Government and it was ordered to rendezvous at Camp Stephens near Griffin, 
where a large number of companies were assembled for the purpose of being 
formed into Regiments. Ten of these companies formed the 44th Ga. Regiment by 
electing Robt. A. Smith, of Macon, Col.,  J.B. Estes, of Jonesboro, Lieut. 
Col., and Capt. Banks, of Pike, Major.

The Regiment was then mustered into service for three years, or during the war, 
and each soldier received on that same day a bounty of fifty dollars from the 
Government. The Pike county company took its position in the Regiment as Co. H, 
and was ever afterwards known as Co. H, 44th Ga. Regiment. The muster roll of 
the Co. was increased by recruits from time to time until it numbered 140 men. 
The company had from first to last 6 different Captains, going out with Capt. 
Banks surrendering with Capt. J.J. Cook, now of Reidsboro, this county. Three 
of them, Capt. Redding, Capt. J.W. Butler and Capt. M.T. Butler died during the 
war. Lieut. Beckham died from a wound received in the 7 days fight at Richmond, 
Va. In 1862. Of the 140 men, 85 survived the war. 18 were killed in battle, 9 
died from wounds received in battle, 2 died in Northern prisons, several died 
of disease in hospitals and several were discharged from the service on account 
of disabilities by reason of wounds or disease. Of the number who survived the 
war, 15 are now living in Pike county, 4 in Carroll county, 1 in South Ga., 5 
in Alabama, 1 in Arkansas, 3 in Texas.

The 44th was in the Doles-Cook brigade, Rhodes Division, “Stonewall” Jackson’s 
Corps and Lee’s Army and was in all the battles fought by the immortal Lee. 
While Co. H. had a few men who were not very fond of battle and who avoided it 
whenever they could, yet there was never a deserter from the Company - R.Y. 
Beckham

[Transcribed 11/19/04 Lynn Cunningham]

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike/newspapers/nw1742coh44thr.txt

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