A few more items on the 18th Georgia Battalion, some of whom I may have previously sent you.
5/20/64 Charleston, S Jones to Cooper-12th & 18th Ga Bn to leave tomorrow---Fla Bgde expected
5/21/64 Wilmington, Gen L Hebert to Cooper-12th & 18th Ga will leave tomorrow
10/27/64
Richmond Forces MG James L. Kemper
Bgde Regts and Others
Local Defense Bgde
MG G.W.C. Lee
• 1st Va Bn LDT
• 2nd Va LDT
• 3rd Va LDT
• 4th Va Bn LDT
• 5th Va Bn LDT
• 2nd Va Bn Reserves
• VMI Cadet Bn (1 Co)
• Richmond Ambulance Co
• Md Line (Detachment)
Barton's Command
• 18th Ga Bn
• 25th Va Bn
• 1st Va Bn Reserves
• 3rd Va Bn Reserves
• 4th Va Bn Reserves
Independent Richmond Inf • 1st Va Militia
• 19th Va Militia
Independent Richmond Cavalry • Owen's City Cav Regt
10/31/64 Organization of troops in the Dept of Richmond, Gen Ewell.
…
Not Bgded.
25th Va Bn, Lt Col Wyatt M. Elliott.
LDT, B Gen George W. C. Lee.
Va Reserves, B Gen Seth M. Barton.
Irregular troops and 18th Ga Bn.
11/5/64 HQs Dept of Richmond, Campbell Brown, Major/AIG to Gen Chilton, IG:
Gen Barton's Bgde is composed at present of the
18th Va Bn Hvy Arty (properly of Col Pemberton's command),
25th Va Bn Inf (City Bn), >
1st Bn Va Reserves,
3rd Bn Va Reserves,
4th Bn Va Reserves,
18th Ga Bn Hvy Arty (temporarily in this Dept by order from Dept of Northern Va).
These troops have an agg present of 1,509
11/30/64 Organization of troops in the Dept of Richmond, commanded by Ewell
Barton's Command. Brigadier General SETH M. BARTON.
25th Virginia Battalion Infantry.
18th Georgia Battalion Heavy Artillery.
1st, 3rd, and 4th Battalions Virginia Reserves
12/31/64 Organization of troops in the Dept of Richmond, Gen Ewell, cdg
This organization is that of Nov 30, 1864.
As shown by inspection reports of Dec 23-26
...
Barton's Bgde. Col. M. LEWIS CLARK.
18th Ga Bn, Maj. William S. Basinger.
18th Va Bn (Hvy Arty), Maj. Mark B. Hardin.
25th Va Bn, Lieu t. Co 1. Wyatt M. Elliott.
Va Reserves Bn, Lieut. Col. Richard T. W. Duke.
3d Va Reserves Bn, Maj. George Chrisman.
4th Va Reserves Bn, Lt. Col. Samuel M. Wallace.
1/20/65 Organization of Troops in the Dept of Richmond, Lt Gen Ewell
…
Barton's Command.
25th Va and 18th Ga Bns.
1st Bn Va Reserves
3rd and 4th Bns Va Reserves.
Appomattox Campaign Confederate order of battle
Dept of Richmond
LTG Richard S. Ewell (c, April 6)
Ltc Thomas J. Spencer
G. W. C. Lee's Division MG G. W. C. Lee (c, April 6)
Arty Bgde Col Crutchfield (k, April 6)
• 10th Va Heavy Arty Bn: --
• 18th Va Heavy Arty Bn: --
• 19th Va Heavy Arty Bn: --
• 20th Va Heavy Arty Bn: --
• 18th Ga Heavy Arty Bn: --
Lee's Last Retreat
Crutchfield's Bgde
10th & 20th Va Hvy Arty Bns
18th & 19th Va Hvy Arty Bns
Chafin's Bluff Va Bn & 18th Ga Bn Hvy Arty
9th Ga Arty Bn
Naval Bn
A REPORT WAS FILED WITH MAJ.GEN G.W.C. LEE BY MAJOR WILLIAM BASINGER OF THE 18TH GEORGIA BN. IN THE REPORT MAJOR BASINGER PRAISED STILES' BN FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN THE BATTLE. BELOW IS THIS REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY****
Crutchfield's Arty Bgde
Report of its Operations
April 3 - 6, 1865, when it was captured with Lee's Division at Sailor's Creek
Southern Historical Society Papers, published in 1897 an excerpt of Volume 25 pages 38¬44
4/6/65 Sailor's Creek-The Bgde consisted of the
10th, 18th, 19th and 20th Va Bns of Arty,
The Chaffin's Bluff garrison composed of five unattached Va Co's of Arty, temporarily organized as a Bn, and the 18th Ga Bn.
These Bns were organized in pairs, and commanded as follows:
The Chaffin's Bluff Bn and the 18th Ga by Major W. H. Gibbes;
The 18th and 19th Va by Lt-Col Howard;
The 10th and 20th Va by Lt-Col Atkinson
CLOSING SCENES OF THE WAR ABOUT RICHMOND.
Retreat of Custis Lee's Division and the Battle of Sailor's Creek. By Capt McHenry Howard, of Baltimore, AIG, Gen Custis Lee's Division.
Custis Lee's Division, which thus took the field for its first and last campaign, was organized as follows:
Barton's Bgde was composed of five Regts or Bns, some of which were veteran, while others, known as "Richmond Locals," had no experience in the field beyond service in the trenches. Altogether, they numbered about 1,300 for line of battle.
The so-called "Hvy Arty Bgde" was anomalously constituted, being composed of six Bns, each commanded by a major, with a Lt-Col over two majors. In command of the whole was Col S. Crutchfield, formerly Chief of Arty to Gen Stonewall Jackson, and who just recovering from a wound received when that hero fell so unhappily.
Only the Ga Bn, Major Basinger, and one or two other Co's, had seen field service, and they not a great deal; the rest had, for over two years, manned the guns and works around Richmond and at Chaffin's Bluff.
…
Recollections of a Md CS soldier and staff officer under Johnston, Jackson and Lee McHenry Howard
G W C Lee, the eldest son of Gen Lee, had been retained during the war by President Davis on his staff but had been lately promoted to be major-general and given this new and curiously made up division. It was organized as two Bgdes, the one under Gen Barton and the other under Col Stapleton Crutchfield. I did not hold my position long enough to know much about the command of Gen Barton, an officer of the old United States Army and who had been transferred to this from another Bgde in the Army of Northern Va. My impression is that he had here some veteran Regts and some of the Richmond Reserves defenses, which I suppose had duties in Richmond when not called out to the trenches. Col Crutchfield I had known as Stonewall Jackson's chief of Arty and he was recovering from a wound received when that hero so unhappily fell.6
His command here was a lately organized Bgde composed of six—I think there were six—Bns of Hvy Arty but armed with muskets. The Bgde organization was different from the usual one. There were the 10th and 19th Va Bns, each under a major and with Lt Col John W. Atkinson* over both, and the 18th and 20th Va, under Majors M. B. Hardin and James Robertson, respectively, with my brother, Lt Col James Howard over both. These four were Hvy Arty by enlistment and had been manning the earth defense works, with Hvy guns, around Richmond until recently brought to the front on its east side; they were now, if not before, armed with muskets.
The 5th Bn was the 18th Ga, enlisted as Hvy Arty but also with muskets. I remember it very well because I inspected it one day and being struck by its soldierly appearance, I enquired about its history and was told by its cdr, Major Basinger, with some pride, of its past services. I think it had only three or four Co's.
…
The War of the Rebellion—Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series i, Volume XL VI, Part II, Serial No. 96, page 1025, gives a Special Order from Gen Lee, dated 9th Jan, 1865, organizing the 40th, 47th and 55th Regts and the 22nd and 25th Bns Va Inf, into a Bgde under B-Gen Seth M. Barton; and the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th Bns of Va Reserves, and the 10th, 19th, 18th and 20th Va Bns of Hvy Arty, and the Bn of five Co's serving at Chaffin's Bluff, into another Bgde, to which also was temporarily attached the 18th Bn of Ga Hvy Arty. And these two Bgdes and the Bgde of Local Defense Troops, consisting of the 2d and 3d Regts and the 1st, 4th and 5th Bns Local Defense Troops, were constituted a division, to the command of which Major-Gen G. W. Custis Lee was assigned.
…
For some account of them see also the Confederate Military History, Volume III, Va, page 558 et seq. And for Major Basinger's 18th Ga Bn see the same History, Volume VI, Ga, page 144
http://www.mdgorman.com/Written_Accounts/Periodicals/retreat.htm
Blake, Thomas Ballard. "Retreat from Richmond." Reprint from Richmond Dispatch, 2 May 1897- SHSP 25 (1897), pp. 139-145.
Page 139 Retreat from Richmond.
[From the Richmond, Va, Dispatch, May 2, 1897.]
RETREAT FROM RICHMOND.
Col Crutchfield and the "Arty Bgde."*
INTERESTING REMINISCENCES.
A Forced March 'Mid Cold and Rain. Fight at Sailor's Creek.
RICHMOND, VA, April 27, 1897.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Being on a visit to Richmond from my home in St. Louis, I noticed in your paper of the 25th instant, a letter from Col R. T. W. Duke, giving some incidents of the retreat from Richmond, and the fight at Sailor's Creek. This has put me in a reminiscent mood, and I would like to give, for your Confederate column, some of my recollections of those stirring times, more especially of the retreat from Richmond, and the participation of my command in the battle of Sailor's Creek.
During the winter of 1864-65, my Bn the 10th Va Arty, was stationed immediately in front of Fort Harrison. The Bn had formerly been commanded by Major William Allen, of "Claremont," but at that time by Major J. O. Hensley, of Bedford county. It was composed of five Co's - Co's A and C, from Richmond, commanded respectively by Capts J. W. Barlow and Thomas P. Wilkinson; Co B, from Bedford county, Capt Robert B. Clayton; Co D, from Prince George, Capt C. Shirley Harrison, of Brandon; and Co E, from Henrico, Capt Thomas Ballard Blake. Lt Sam Wilson, was Adjutant.
The 10th Va and the 19th Va Bn (also composed of five Co's) were under the command of Lt-Col John Wilder Atkinson, of Richmond, with Lt John L. Cowardin as adjutant.
The 18th and 20th Va Bns, commanded by Lt- Col James Howard, of Baltimore, and the 18th Ga Bn, also attached to our command, formed what was known as the Arty Bgde," which at that time was under the command of Col Crutchfield.
---------------
* See Ante, pp. 38-47. The report to Gen G. W. Custis Lee, of Major W. S. Basinger, on the operations of "Crutchfield's Arty Bgde."
Page 140 Southern Historical Society Papers.
If I have made any omissions I would be glad to have them supplied.
The adjutant-general of the Bgde was Capt W. N. Worthington, of Richmond. Capt Worthington had been a schoolmate of mine at Hanover Academy just before the war. Major-Gen G. W. Custis Lee commanded the division and Lt Gen Ewell the corps.
We were thoroughly drilled in Arty practice, and manned the heavy guns on the line of the Richmond defences. We were also well drilled in infantry tactics, and were armed with rifles …
On Jan 1, 1865 the Hvy artillerists were scattered and they were no longer acting as a unit. On Jan 9, 1865 the Hvy Arty and Reserves were organized into one Bgde under Lt Col Pemberton.
Pemberton's four Hvy Arty Bns had a strength of 1002 men. Also, Col Crutchfield assumed command of the Chaffin's Bluff Arty Bgde, to which the 19th Bn would soon transfer. With Major Cary on leave Capt Chalmers of Smithfield took temporary command of the 19th Bn. On Jan 29, 1865 the 19th Bn was ordered to abandon the intermediate Lines and report the next day to Chaffin's Farm, east of Drewry's Bluff.
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http://www.savannahvolunteerguard.org/war_bw_states.htm
• Georgia, by ordinance of her convention, seceded on January 19, 1861, and prepared to defend herself.
• Colonel John Screven (1858 – 1862) reorganized the “Guards” into an infantry battalion with three companies. This was due to much talk on possible war with the Northern States.
• January 2, 1861: the governor of Georgia ordered that the “Guards”, along with the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, and the Chatham Artillery, to occupy Fort Pulaski. At the time it was defended by a lone Union Sergeant.
• May 31: The “Guards” were mustered into Confederate Service. General Lawton assigned the “Guards” as Infantry to man the batters at Thunderbolt. This area is now known at Battery Point.
• The “Guard” was assigned to Ft Screven on Green Island. Ft Screven is located on the south end of Green Island opposite Hells Gate.
• April 13, 1862: The “Guards” were ordered to Fort Boggs, located on the Savannah River. The Savannah Golf Club now occupies this area. In late 1862, the “Guards” were assigned the designation of 18th Georgia Battery of Infantry.
• June 9, 1863: The “Guards” were ordered to protect Railroad bridges over Turtle and Altamaha Rivers near Darien, Ga.
• July 9, 1863: The “Guards” were ordered to Charleston, South Carolina. The enemy had occupied Morris Island, and hasty defenses were initiated. The “Guard” was rushed to Battery Wagner, not a minute too soon. Within hours after arriving at Wagner, The enemy attacked and was repelled by the “Guards” and German Volunteers from Savannah. Seven members of guards were wounded. Sgt Postell, Pvt Jason Bryant, A.P.Molley, J.A.Santina. Also wounded were Lt Tupper, Pvt Cornell, and Pvt Osmond. Later, Sgt John Lee died of his injuries.
• The enemy took over Morris Island and began to attack Fort Sumter. The “Guards” stayed at Wagner under continuing fire.
• September 18, 1863: Guards sent to Fort Marion on Sullivan Island a short distance from Mt Pleasant. The armament was 8 & 10 inch Columbiad and the Brooke gun.
• May 1864: Command of Sullivan’s Island was given to Major Basinger and the “Guards” shortly after Beaureguard ordered 12th Georgia battalion and the “Guards” to train to be a part of General Lee’s Army of North Virginia. The “Guards” were assigned to Mattoax in Amelia County. They were to guard the bridges South of Richmond.
• October 1864: The “Guards” were ordered to Chafin’s Bluff on the James River South of Richmond.
See also:
http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/b/Basinger,William_Starr.html
Collection Number: 01266-z
Collection Title: William Starr Basinger Papers, 1835-1932
Extracted from Basinger’s letter to his Mother:
Feb 23, 1865 trenches near Chafin’s Bluff
…There is a proposition on foot, indeed the arrangement is fully agreed on by both parties, to unite my Bn with the 60th Ga Regiment. We are now awaiting only for Gen Lee’s order to perfect it. When you next hear of me it may be as Lt Col of that regiment. The Bn is to go in entirely without disturbing anyone. Pearson will be Adjt. It is possible we may have to consolidate also, under the new act of Congress. If so, the arrangement will be consolidated to that extent and not more, I presume.
This is a thing I desire very much. The Regt is in Lawton’s old Bgde, the cdr of which is a very estimable man. I have taken a great liking to him…
…I forgot to tell you that we are in the division of Maj Gen Custis Lee. I have renewed my acquaintance with him and he is very kind and considerate…