"At the battle of Coosawatchee, S. C., on the 6th of November, 1864, the Fifth Georgia Regiment lost five color-bearers and it's flag. . . . The last man that fell was so far in advance of his line that there was no one to take the flag. . . The retreat had been sounded, and the men were rushing to the rear, when the flag fell into the hands of the bluecoats.
"The last man to bear this flag was Lieut. William G. Harp, who took it from the hands of Private Tip Barnes as he fell severely wounded. He moved forward so rapidly with the flag that, amid the roar of battle, he did not hear the command to halt and retreat, and was nearly half-way between the lines when he fell. Hence it was impossible to recover his remains or the flag.
"At the battle of Murfreesboro the Fifth Georgia Regiment lost three of it's color-bearers."
The flag was returned in August, 1884 by Federal Capt. L. C. Young
Confederate Veteran, Vol. VI, 1898, p. 55
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Thomas Pryor Barnes
Residence Schley County GA;
Enlisted on 5/11/1861 as a 4th Corpl.
On 5/11/1861 he mustered into "G" Co. GA 5th Infantry
He was transferred out on 7/15/1862
(Estimated day of transfer)
On 7/15/1862 he transferred into "B" Co. GA 2nd Bttn SharpShooters
He was discharged for promotion on 6/20/1864
On 6/20/1864 he was commissioned into Field & Staff GA 5th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* Released 6/16/1864 Fort Delaware, DE
* POW 12/21/1864 Savannah, GA
Promotions:
* 5th Sergt 4/19/1862
* Ensign 6/20/1864 **
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 4/19/1862 from company G to company L
Other Information:
born in 1839
died 10/12/1905
Buried: Ellaville Cemty, Schley Co., GA
..........
William G. Harp
Residence Upson County GA;
Enlisted on 6/24/1861 as a Private.
On 6/24/1861 he mustered into "K" Co. GA 5th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
He was listed as:
* Hospitalized 8/31/1864 (place not stated) (Sick, no further record)
Promotions:
* Jr 2nd Lieut (1864)
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865
- Various Cemetery listings on the internet
..........................................
Thomas P. Barnes, Company G/F & S, 5th Georgia Infantry
** Discharged as a Private June 20, 1864, Final Statement given to 28 April. Appointed Ensign
Appointed Ensign May 13, 1864 to take rank from April 28, 1864, date of acceptance June 29, 1864
..........
William G. Harp, Private, Company K, 5th Georgia Infantry, promoted from Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant December 21, 1863, last recorded on the Jul/Aug, 1864 muster roll*** as absent, sick in hospital, no further records
*** Last surviving muster roll
M266: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia