According to my records, you've got the right George W. and Elijah V. Mullinax that were in Ramsey's First Georgia, but the probate records you mention for the George W. Mullinax who was in the 39th Georgia say that George and Rebecca were married on September 8, 1861 in Gilmer County, and that George enlisted in the 39th on March 4, 1862. Ramsey's First Georgia was at Camp Bartow in Western Virginia in September of 1861, and participated in General Robert E. Lee's Cheat Mountain Campaign of September 9-16. On March 3, 1862, the regiment was in Lynchburg, Virginia. On that date they turned their weapons over to troops of General E. Kirby Smith, and started the next day for Georgia to be mustered out. The regiment arrived in Augusta on March 9, and the soldiers were mustered out of service on March 10. The George W. Mullinax from the 39th was from Gilmer County, while the Dahlonega Volunteers were from Lumpkin County. I believe the George W. Mullinax who enlisted in the 39th was a different soldier, though they could very well be related, as Lumpkin and Gilmer Counties are adjacent to each other.

The "Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia, 1861-1865," by Lillian Henderson, has the following entries for Elijah and George Mullinix of the First Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Ramsey's), Company H, Dahlonega Volunteers:

Mullinix, Elijah V. (or Mullinax)----- private March 18, 1861. Mustered out at Augusta, Ga. March 18, 1862. Appointed 1st Corporal of Co. D, 1st Regiment Ga. State Troops January 24, 1863.---- private July 15, 1863. Roll for May 31, 1864, last on file, shows he deserted.

Mullinix, George W. (or Mullinax)----- private July 24, 1861. Mustered out at Augusta, Ga. March 18, 1862. Appointed 5th Sergeant of Co. D, 1st Regiment Ga. State Troops January 24, 1863. Elected 2d Lieutenant January 30, 1864. Appears last on roll for March 31, 1864.

Other information I have shows that Elijah is buried in Westview Cemetary in Atlanta.

The First Georgia was formed on April 3, 1861 at Camp Oglethorpe in Macon. The official date of the regiment's muster was listed as March 18, 1861, which was the date the various companies offered their services to the governor. They were officially mustered into Confederate service in Pensacola, Florida, on April 16. The regiment served in Pensacola for about 2 1/2 months, then were sent to Richmond, and then on to Laurel Hill, in Western (now West) Virginia, where they joined the Army of the Northwest under Brigadier General Robert Seldon Garnett. While there they were engaged in the Battle of Laurel Hill in early July. Garnett's army was forced to retreat after the Battle of Rich Mountain; the First Georgia was part of the rear guard and was engaged with Federal forces at Kalars Ford, where 6 companies (including the Dahlonega Volunteers) were cut off from the army. These 6 companies wandered lost in the Allegheny Mountains for several days before being led to safety by a mountain man by the name of James Parsons. The rest of the army was attacked by the pursuing Federals at Corricks Ford where General Garnett was killed. Colonel Ramsey, though very ill, took command and led the army to Monterey, Virginia.

The Army of the Northwest was next involved in General Lee's Cheat Mountain campaign, which was a dismal failure. Following that, the Georgians participated in the Battle of Greenbrier River in October 3rd, 1861, a Confederate victory.

In December several regiments of the army (including the First Georgia) were transferred to "Stonewall" Jackson's Valley Army and participated in his march on Bath and Romney. The Army of the Northwest was posted at Romney by Jackson while the rest of his army was put into winter quarters at Winchester. The Northwest soldiers came close to mutiny at being left in such a miserable and exposed position and the officers sent a petition to Richmond requesting that they be withdrawn. Judah P. Benjamin sent Jackson an order to withdraw the Army of the Northwest to Winchester. Jackson complied, but submitted his resignation because he was angry at having his orders overridden. (He was talked out of it by friends) The Georgians were sent home in March, 1862, mustering out in Augusta on March 10. The official date of the regiment's muster out is shown as March 18, which was probably when it was recorded in Richmond.

I also had an ancestor who served in the Dahlonega Volunteers, Private William Henry Marshall. My book on the First Georgia has been accepted by Mercer University Press, and I'm should know soon when the book will be out.

G. W. Martin