Lt. Col. Thomas C. Johnson commanded the regiment during its first combat in the spring of 1862 on the Peninsula and around Richmond. Johnson was killed at Mechanicsville on 26 June 1862, and command then fell to Major A. J. Hutchins. Hutchins was later promoted to lieutenant colonel to date from Johnson’s death and he was promoted to colonel to date from 12 January 1863, the date of Colonel Boyd’s resignation. Until that point Colonel Boyd was officially attached to the regiment, but he didn’t sign any reports included in the Official Records and apparently was not present during engagements at Eltham’s Landing, Fair Oaks, the Seven Days battles, Cedar Mountain, Manassas Junction, (Second) Manassas, Ox Hill, Harper’s Ferry, Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown, Castleman’s Ferry, or Fredericksburg, all of which were before the date of his resignation. Of these, only Castleman’s Ferry, and, if you stretch it to the limit, Harper’s Ferry were in the Shenandoah Valley.
It may be significant that the same account that claims Boyd was wounded, also states he was head of the Georgia Military Institute. All I’ve been able to ascertain was that he was head of the Commissary Department.
I’m interested in learning more about James and John McGee and am willing to share what little I’ve found in my researching the 19th Georgia regiment. This includes an Atlanta Constitution article dated 19 September 1906 that begins: “James McGee, the oldest policeman on the Atlanta force, and the only one who ever received a pension at the hands of the police commissioners of the city, died last night . . .”
George Walker
19th.Georgia@comcast.net