Thanks Greg,
Still have any copies of your book left?
I'll see about getting access to these Augusta newspaper microfilms. I've never done interlibrary loan with UGA, so I'll check with one of our local colleges, Rice or Univ of Houston.
Greg, can you speculate on why the records of the 5th Georgia might be so sparce? Because of its low number, you would expect this unit to have been involved in the major early battles in Virginia or along the Tennessee River. It was initially placed at Pensacola and participated in the "battle" at Santa Rosa Island. It was moved to Knoxville, TN in Feb '62. It was ordered to Corinth in March 1862, but arrived too late for Shiloh. It then retreated to Tupelo and was part of the invasion of Kentucky, but saw little or no fighting. It was then sent to Bridgeport, AL. In Dec '62 it was transferred to Murfreesboro, TN and participated in the battle there. It suffered 37% losses, lost its commander and its flag as a part of Jackson's brigade in an attack on the Round Forest. Its next fighting was at Chickamauga where it suffered 55% losses. At the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign it could only muster 161 men. In June of 1864, Jackson's brigade was transferred to Charleston, SC. The "5th" participated in the defense of Charleston and fought its final battle at Bentonville, NC.
I'd just like to know if anyone can speculate on why the 5th Georgia Infantry's records are generally so few? I'd also like to know if other units of Jackson's brigade have similar limited records. These units would have included the 5th Georgia Inf, 2d Georgia Battalion SS, 5th Mississippi Inf, 8th Mississippi Inf, 1st Georgia (Confederate), 2d Battalion.
I'd be interested to hear from others who are descendants of 5th Georgia members or other units listed above.
Thanks,
Jim