The First Georgia was organized at Camp Ogelthorpe at Macon, Georgia, on April 3, 1861, from companies across the state.  The field officers were Colonel James N. Ramsey, Lt. Col. James O. Clarke, and Major George Harvey Thompson. They were sent to Pensacola, FL, for 2 1/2 months, serving under General Braxton Bragg, then were transferred to Richmond. They stayed at the Confederate capitol for only a short time before being sent to Northwestern Virginia (what is now West Virginia) to become part of General R.S. Garnett's Army of the Northwest. While there they were engaged in the Battle of Laurel Hill in early July. Garnett's army was forced to retreat after the Battle of Rich Mountain; the First Georgia was part of the rear guard and was engaged with Federal forces at Kalars Ford, where 6 companies were cut off from the army. These 6 companies wandered lost in the Allegheny Mountains for several days before being led to safety by a mountain man by the name of James Parsons. The rest of the army was attacked by the pursuing Federals at Corricks Ford where General Garnett was killed. Colonel Ramsey, though very ill, took command and led the army to Monterey, Virginia.

The Army of the Northwest was next involved in General Robert E. Lee's Cheat Mountain campaign, which was a dismal failure. Following that, the Georgians participated in the Battle of Greenbrier River in October 3rd, 1861, a Confederate victory.

In late November, Lieutenant Colonel Clarke resigned; George Harvey Thompson was elected Lt. Col. and James W. Anderson became Major. In December several regiments of the army (including the First Georgia) were transferred to "Stonewall" Jackson's Valley Army and participated in his march on Bath and Romney. The Army of the Northwest was posted at Romney by Jackson while the rest of his army was put into winter quarters at Winchester. Romney was a miserable place. The Northwest soldiers came close to mutiny and the officers sent a petition to Richmond requesting that they be withdrawn. Judah P. Benjamin sent Jackson an order to withdraw the Army of the Northwest to Winchester. Jackson complied, but submitted his resignation because he was angry at having his orders overridden. (He was talked out of it by friends) The Georgians were sent home in March, 1862, mustering out in Augusta on March 12.  Due to the feeble health of Colonel Ramsey, the First was not reconstituted.  Four companies reenlisted en masse as the 12th Georgia Battalion of Artillery.  The Southern Rights Guards formed the Southern Rights Battery.  Almost all of the remaining veterans of the First reenlisted in other commands, serving in all theaters until the end of the war.

 

 

 

 

                             

 

 

“A”    Newnan Guards, Captain George M. Hanvey, Coweta County.
“B”    Company "D" of the Southern Guards, Captain Francis G. Wilkins, Muscogee County.
“C”    Southern Rights Guards, Captain John Andrew Houser, Houston County.
“D”    Oglethorpe Infantry, Captain Horton B. Adams, Richmond County.
“E”    Washington Rifles, Captain S. A. H. Jones, Washington County.
"F"    Gate City Guards, Captain William L. Ezzard, Fulton County.
“G”    Bainbridge Independents, Captain Jonathon W. Evans, Decatur County.
“H”    Dahlonega Volunteers, Captain Thomas Cabiness, Lumpkin County.
“I”      Walker Light Infantry, Captain Samuel H. Crump, Richmond County.
“K”    Quitman Guards, Captain James S. Pinckard, Monroe County.

 

Converted from flintlock to percussion 

Type issued to the First Georgia Regiment at Macon