Georgia On My Mind

The Civil War and Georgia--My Ancestors

"The South is the region that history has happened to."-Richard Weaver

The Blue & The Gray

I didn't grow up hearing stories about my Civil War ancestors. It wasn't until I became an adult that I had an interest in this part of my heritage.

Imagine my surprise to discover that my great-great-grandfather served in the Union Army. Later research turned up a great-great-great-grandfather and other relatives who also served on the Union side. All were Southerners.

My Ancestors-Confederate

Russell H. Ledford (ggg-grandfather)
Confederate, Private, Walker's Battalion of Thomas' Legion of North Carolina

James M. Higgins (gg-grandfather) Confederate, Private, Company F
60th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry

Thadeus Roseman Moss (gg-grandfather)
Confederate, Sergeant,
Cherokee Legion Georgia Cavalry, Company A (Cherokee Rangers)

Daniel Abernathy (ggg-grandfather) Confederate, Private,
Stock's Company, 17th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards)

Alfred R. Roach (ggg-grandfather) Confederate, Private,
Cherokee Legion Georgia, Company D
Alfred and three of his brothers all fought in the war. Only Alfred survived.

Larkin P. Roach (gggg-uncle)
Confederate, 43 Georgia Infantry, Company B
Larkin died during the war and is buried in the Confederate Section of Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.

Thomas H. Roach (ggg-uncle) Confederate, 3rd Corporal,
28th Georgia Volunteer Infantry

James Polk Knight (gggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
18th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry (Rowland Highlanders)

Bardy Larkin Abernathy (gggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
Stock's Company, 17th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards)

Zepheniah Abernathy (gggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
Stock's Company, 17th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards)

J. Winchester Moss (ggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
Cobb's Legion

Hilliard W. Ledford (gggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
2nd Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry

William H. Ledford (gggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
2nd Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry

Jesse M. Coley (gggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
31st Infantry Regiment, Alabama

John Summey (ggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
Stock's Company, 17th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards)

Nathan Summey (ggg-uncle) Confederate, Private,
Stock's Company, 17th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards)

Elihu R. Abernathy (cousin) Confederate, Private,
Stock's Company, 17th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards)

David Ledford Jr (cousin) Confederate
65th North Carolina Regiment
Executed for desertion

Thomas James Keever (cousin)
Confederate
43rd Infantry Regiment, Company B
Died May 26, 1862, Atlanta

Daniel Frank Keever (cousin)
Confederate
43rd Infantry Regiment, Company B
Died June 29, 1862, Atlanta

"Even before my father's father
They called us all rebels
While they burned our cornfields
And left our cities leveled
I can still feel the eyes of those blue-bellied devils
Yeah, when I'm walking round at night
Through the concrete and metal"

-"Rebels" by Tom Petty

My Ancestors-Union

George M. Whitmore (gg-grandfather)
Union
12th Tennessee Cavalry, Company I
Resident of North Carolina who served in the Union Army

 

James D. Carroll (gg-grandfather)
Union
5th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Tennessee, Company G
Resident of Georgia who served in the Union Army

 

Union Guerrillas

My gg-grandfather George Whitmore had three brothers named Henry, William, and Charles Whitmore. I believe that they were the three Whitmores listed on the rolls for the 1st Georgia Infantry, Company D. The 1st Georgia Infantry were troops Southern Unionists who were recruited to fight and spy for the Union Army. They were never officially made part of the U.S. military, so they are often referred to as Guerrillas. However, several of them were buried in the Marietta National Cemetery after they were captured, then executed by the Confederate Army.

Unknown Hero connection

Rebecca Summey Howell (gg-grandmother)

There are two stories regarding "An Unknown Hero" at Allatoona Pass. One involves my great-great-grandmother.

During the Civil War, she, her sisters and cousins are believed to have buried the "Unknown Hero" whose grave is still seen at Allatoona Pass in Allatoona, Georgia.

The story goes that the body of an unidentified Confederate solider arrived at the Allatoona Depot. With most of the men off at war, the women carried his body to a place near the railroad tracks where they buried him. (The body was later moved to its current location when construction began on the Allatoona Dam.)

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