WASHINGTON COUNTY, GA -Historical Sketch Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: jasmoore@erols.com Jim Moore Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/washington.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Note: Transcribed in the words, spelling and punctuation of the writer. Benjamin Sessions Boatright was born 26 th July 1842 and died Dec 20, 1920. It is estimated that the date of this trip was 1909. This is a hand-written account of a visit to the battlefields of Monocacy, MD ,and Gettysburg by my gg- uncle, Captain Benjamin Sessions Boatright, CSA, that I discovered on a Family History Library microfilm, No. 0376971, item 33. One page is, unfortunately, missing. There is a reference to his cousin George Boatright, and yet another cousin, Malachi Joiner, and visiting their graves, which are apparently close to each other. 12th Battalion GA Light Artillery Co E http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/washington/military/civilwar/rosters/e12.txt A TRIP TO THE OLD BATTLEFIELD On July 13th a friend of mine John Crowley from Washington, D.C. came to make me a visit and while at my home we decided to take our Summer trek in going over the old Battlefields. Although he is not a hero of the lost cause, being too young to enlist, there is no one that enjoys history or any thing pertaining to war anymore than he does. Tuesday July 20th we left Tennille via Central of Ga Ry at 140 p.m. arriving at Augusta Ga 7 p.m. where we spent the night. The next morning at 730 we left over the Southern R.Y. traveling through a beautiful scope of agricultural country about 25 miles long and from 2 to 8 miles wide in which is situated Senator Tillman’s home. Arrived at Columbia, S.C. at 1035 a.m. Spent 5 hours in the beautiful city visiting the imposing State capitol which had been bombarded by General Sherman, the ……….. of the civil war Columbia’s broad Streets are adorned with several fine monuments among which is one to the memory of editor Gonzales. One to the confederate soldiers and also a fine statue to Wade Hampton. Left Columbia 330 P.M. arriving at Charlotte N.C. 745 after visiting the ……………….the ………….. and being tired from our days travel we retired for the night. The next morning, Thursday 22, we left at 6 A.M. arriving at Washington at 745 P.M. going through the towns of Danville, Lynchburg, Charlottsville and Manassas we met Senator Bob Taylor from Tennessee on the train and enjoyed a talk with him. Friday the 23rd spent the day in Washington visited Arlington were killed at Monocacy M.D. July 9th 64, I wrote to the Sec of the U.D.C. giving the names of twelve of my company that was killed. She published my letter in the Frederick News Ledger. Worthington, reading my letter and knowing his father’s house was between the lines (the following, italicized portion, was lined out: during the fight where he and his mother took refuge in the cellar, wrote) wrote me a letter and gave me a special invitation to visit him. After going to his office and enjoying an hours conversation with him he took us through the court house. We then mounted a carriage and were driven to the old battlefield going through Mt. Olivet cemetery where he pointed out the graves of four hundred and eight unknown confederate soldiers who were killed at the battle of Monocacy M.D. In looking over the head marks I found the names of George Boatright, Malachi Joiner, John Knight, J.H. Fulghram, J.B. Heath who died from wounds at Frederic hospital. in the center of these graves is a marble tablet (the following, italicized portion, was lined out: with these words inscribed) “This stone marks the last resting place of 408 unknown confederate Soldiers who gave their lives in the battle of Monocacy July the 9th1864. Honor the brave.” The above brief but impressive and significant tribute to the memory of the brave sons of the South whose hallowed dust has long since mingled with the clods of the soil of a semi Northern State is inscribed on a marble tablet in the beautiful Olivet cemetery. near the graves of those hero’s is situated the grave and magnificent momument of Mr. Francis Scott Key the author of the “Star Spangled Banner”. We then drove to the battle field where stands his father’s old home where they lived during the fight the house still shows many marks of the battle. We then drove to the Thomas house where Evans Ga brigade consisting of the 12th Ga Batt 13th 26th 31st 38th 60th and 61st Ga Regiments charged Lew Wallis six army corps driving them from the field with the loss of six hundred killed and wounded Washington County losing 30 killed & wounded after the battle 4 ladies came from the cellar and administered to the Soldiers giving them several bottles of wine Pennsylvania has erected a fine statue near the battle field representing 3 regt also New Jersey has one. We then drove back to Frederic where we spent the night left next morning for Hagerstown M.D. then for Gettysburg P.A. arriving there Monday July 26th drove over the battlefield with a guide the first statue we viewed was that of general Barlow who was wounded the first day of the fight. Next Gebneral +Reynolds who wa killed by one of Lees sharpshooters. Then commencing at Lee’s lines on seminary Ridge traveling the beautiful road in front viewing the 250 guns representing Lee’s guns during the fight. Reading the steel tablets representing each corps each division and each brigade commander. We then drove through the Peach orchard where Longstreet made his famous charge then through Devils den around “Little Round Top” traveling in rear of the federal lines reviewing the six hundred beautiful momumnets representing each Regt & each State Pennsylvania had 68 regt of infantry Fiftyeight hundred & ninety one were among the killed and wounded. We then drove back to Gettysburg in the P.M. ================= these are the men whose graves B.S. Boatright cited in his recollection. George W. and Benjamin Sessions Boatright were 1st cousins, once removed. Malichi Joiner may also have been a relative, but I'm not sure. JCM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boatright, George W., Pvt., Enlisted 5/14/62, Sandersville, Wounded 7/9/64 Monocacy MD, Died Frederick MD 7/12/64, Buried Mt. Olivet Cemetery Frederick. 1850 Census list George Boatright age 13 living Washington Co. in the household of Edmund Boatright. Fulghum J.T., Pvt., Enlisted 12/1/63, James Island, SC, Gun shot wound shoulder Monocacy, MD 7/9/64, Taken prisoner in hospital at Frederick, MD 7/10/64, Died 7/19/64 Frederick, age 18, Buried Mt. Olivet Cemetery Frederick. (BS Boatright refers to "J.H. Fulgram", but he apparently had the two confused, as "J.H." lived until 1908.) Fulghum Joseph H., Ord.Sgt., Enlisted 5/14/62, Sandersville, Promoted Sgt. 1/23/63, Wounded Monocacy, MD 7/9/64, Hospital 9/27/64,Surrendered Appomattox 4/9/65 with Gen. Lee. 1850 Census list Joseph Harrison Fulgam age 7 living Washington Co in the household of JohnG. Fulgam. In same household, William H. and Jesse M. Fulgam. PR Widow applied 8/29/10, she was a resident of GA all her life, 68 years.Joseph H. Fulghum married Penny Clark 9/21/65 in Washington Co. Fulghum died 2/17/08 at Higgeston, GA. Witness B.S. Boatright stated thatFulghum served in the 1st GA and in B Co. latter E Co. 12th GA. Witness J.E. Clark was present at Joseph H. Fulghum and Penny J. Clark'swedding. RCS Served in E Co. Ramsey's 1st. GA in 1861.) I misinterpreted Boatright's handwriting; and mistakenly cited "J.B. Heath"; he apparently was referring to Heath Thomas B., Pvt., Enlisted 9/20/63, Wrightsville, Transferred from 4th GA Cav. 11/1/63, Wounded Monocacy, MD 7/9/64, Taken Prisoner at hospital Frederick, MD. 7/10/64, Died Frederick, MD 7/29/64, Buried Mt. Olivet Cemetery Frederick. Joiner Malichi, Jr., Pvt., Enlisted 8/1/63, Fort McAllister, Volunteer recruit, Wounded rt arm and scalp Monocacy, MD 7/9/64, Taken prisoner 7/10/64 at hospital Frederick, MD., Died 7/19/64 Frederick, MD., Buried Mt. Olivet Cemetery Frederick. PR Widow Ann S. Joiner applied Washington Co. 4/7/91. She had been a resident of GA all her life. They married 7/47. She stated that Mailchi was killed at Frederick City, MD (Monocacy) by a minnie ball entering his right side after breaking his right Arm. 3 Witness' B.S. Boatright, A. Cason, and W.H. Avant of Washington Co. all confirm widow's statement. Ann moved to Jefferson Co. in 1901, and applied to have pension transferred to that county. The above served in Company E, 12th Georgia Battalion Capt. J.J. Newsome, as did Benjamin Sessions Boatright; the following served in Company B 12th Georgia Battalion, Capt. John W. Rudisill. As Capt. Boatright noted, all were from Washington County. Knight John H., Pvt., Enlisted 5/14/62, Sandersville, In hospital Richmond with acute diarrhea 6/6/64 - 6/18/64, Wounded Monocacy,MD 7/9/64, Died in POW hospital Frederick, MD 7/11/64, Buried Mt.Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD. 1850 Census list John Knight age 6 living Washington Co in the household of Allen H. Knight. In the same household, Walker Knight.