"Among the historical regiments of Georgia proudly stands the battle-scarred Eighteenth. Though no minstrel has tuned his harp to sing the praises, though not seeking, and therefore not obtaining a newspaper reputation, this noble regiment has gained a name which will live through all future time; in the memory of those who have so closely watched its career of glory. Twenty times has its battle flag, the glorious Cross of the Confederacy, been observed with its fiery folds flashing brightly over as many gory fields. The soil of Virginia has 'drank, deeply drank' the life blood of many of the noble Georgians, as half clad and freezing, with feet bare and bleeding at every step, they plunged, with the startling, piercing, enthusiastic yell of the Southern soldiery, into the midst of the fight, driving in utter rout, the well dressed Federals before them. The sufferings of our forefathers at the historic Valley Forge, can scarce compare with the sufferings of the members of this and other regiments, but amid all their privations, when hunger with its gnawing pangs attacked them, and they suffering with a hundred discomforts, at the call of their leader, they would spring to their arms, and rush into the midst of the fray, caring for nought but for victory to again perch upon their banners."
James M Folsom - 1864
Welcome to the Home Page of the 18th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. This site is dedicated to the memory of the brave Georgia troops who fought in this noble and celebrated unit, including my great-great-grandfather, Pvt. Nicholas Faulkner Atkinson, and his brother, Pvt. John Frances Atkinson, both of Company H. The purpose of this site is to provide a forum for display of information regarding this unit, as well as to help preserve our rich Southern heritage for future generations. This site will be an ongoing project, so please check back often. If you have information concerning the 18th Georgia you'd like to share, such as letters, pictures, diaries, etc., I will be happy to post it here. I would also appreciate any comments, suggestions, questions, etc. Thank you for visiting the 18th Georgia Infantry Home Page. If you have time, please stop and sign my guestbook so I might have a record of your visit.
The 18th Georgia Regiment was organized at Camp Brown, Cobb County, Georgia on April 22, 1861, under a special act of the Georgia Legislature under the leadership of Colonel William Tatum Wofford (later promoted to Brigadier General), Lt. Col. S. Z. Ruff, Maj. Jefferson Johnson, and Adj. John C Griffin. The regiment was organized as the First Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Georgia Volunteers. The brigade was soon transferred to Camp McDonald, Cobb County, Georgia, for training. After nearly two months of drilling, the brigade was broken up and the regiments and battalions of which it was composed were transferred to the service of the Confederate States and ordered to Richmond, Virginia. The regiment left Camp McDonald on August 2, 1861, and arrived in Richmond on the August 7, 1861. Soon after being deployed to Virginia, the regiment was attached to Hood's Texas Brigade, under the leadership of Gen. John Bell Hood, who wrote that the 18th Georgia "in every emergency had proved itself bold and trusty; it styled itself, from a feeling of brotherhood, the Third Texas."
Brigadier General William Tatum Wofford
The regiment first engaged the enemy at Eltham's Landing, Virginia, on May 7, 1862. They fought with distinction in over twenty battles, including Seven Pines, Seven Days Battles, Gaines' Mill, 2nd Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor. The regiment's final action was at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, on April 6, 1865, where many of the regiment were captured, leaving only one officer and fifty-two men to surrender with Lee at Appomattox.
In 1864, James M. Folsom published a book entitled Heroes and Martyrs of Georgia. This book included histories of eighteen Georgia infantry, cavalry, and artillery units. Most of these histories were written during the summer of 1864 by officers in the trenches at Petersburg, Virginia. Folsom originally intended to publish a series of volumes detailing the action of Georgia units in the war, but due to his manuscripts being destroyed by Sherman's troops and financial difficulties caused by the war, he was only able to publish the one volume. While fewer than a dozen copies of the original volume are known to exist, Butternut and Blue has published a reprint. With their permission, I have included the chapter concerning the 18th Georgia.
This roster of the 18th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry was recorded in Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865. This record was compiled 1959-1964 for the State of Georgia by Lillian Henderson, Director, Confederate Pension and Record Department, and published in 1984 by the Georgia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. This is the most complete roster of the regiment that I have been able to find, but it does contain errors. I have reproduced the roster just as it was published by the UDC. Corrections and additional information submitted by myself and other researchers is marked by (*). Special thanks to Charles Meadows for providing me with a CD-ROM of the roster, and Johnny Jones, who provided burial places and other information concerning Company A.
One of the primary purposes of this site is to provide information about the lives of the men from Georgia who fought in this regiment. With the help of many contributers, I have compiled photos, letters, newspaper articles, and other documents about some of these men. If you have any information you would like to have posted in this manner, please e-mail me.
This page contains information concerning the succesion of flags that the 18th Georgia carried in battle, including photos of the two flags still in existence.
Here is a list of the skirmishes, battles, and engagements in which the regiment participated. Eventually these will become links to descriptions of the regiment's role in each of the engagements.
I have made this space available for 18th Georgia researchers and descendants to post information, queries, etc., for others to see. You may find a long-lost cousin here!
Here is a list of some books that contain information concerning this regiment or its leaders. Please e-mail me if you know of any I should add to the list.
Civil War artist Rick Reeves' wonderful painting of the 18th Georgia's attempt to overrun Battery B, 4th U. S. Artillery at Sharpsburg on September 17, 1862. In 20 minutes of hard fighting, 101 of the 18th Georgia's 176 effectives were killed or wounded, a casualty rate of 58%. Battery B sustained a casualty rate of 52%.
This is my first attempt at publishing a website, and I wish to thank those who have offered encouragement by presenting me with these awards. Most of these graphics is a link to the site of the presenter of the award, so please visit their sites and let them know you stopped by.
