The 1st Georgia Cavalry Regiment
The First Georgia Cavalry Regiment was formed at Rome, Georgia in the Fall of 1861. Companies: A, B, and C were mustered into Confederate service on March 4th, 1862. Company B was recruited in Meriwether county, Company C recruited in Floyd county, Company E recruited in Carroll county was mustered into service in April 1862 and Company G: The Highland Rangers, was recruited in Lumpkin county.
First Commander: Colonel James J. Morrison
Samuel W. Davitte (Maj., Lt. Col., Col.)
Armistead R. Harper (Lt. Col.)
James H. Strickland (Lt. Col.)
John W. Trench (Maj.)
George T. Watts (Lt. Col.)
Unofficial Names by which the Regiment was known:
James J. Morrison's Cavalry Samuel W. Davitte's Cavalry A.R. Harper's Cavalry James H. Strickland's Cavalry George T. Watt's Cavalry John W. Trench's Cavalry M.A. Haynie's Cavalry William M. Tumlin's Cavalry V.J. Reynolds'Cavalry
After being mustered into service, the 1st Georgia Cavalry moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and from there to Knoxville. It was assigned to the Department of East Tennessee until the end of 1862, and then joined the Army of Tennessee, serving in that Army until late 1863. It returned to service in the Department of East Tennessee and then rejoined the Army of Tennessee. In 1865, the 1st Georgia Cavalry served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and then returned to the Army of Tennessee.
Major Commands of Assignment:
Unattached, Department of East Tennessee ;December 1861.
Leadbetter's Brigade, Department of East Tennessee [detachment] May-Jun. 1862.
Unattached, Department of East Tennessee [detachment] May-Jun. 1862.
Allston's Cavalry Brigade, Department of East Tennessee, Jun.-Oct. 1862.
Scott's - Pegram's Cavalry Brigade, Department of East Tennessee, Oct-Nov 1862.
Pegram's Brigade, Wheeler's Cavalry Division, Army of Tennessee, Nov. 1862-Jan. 1863.
Pegram's - Morrison's - Pegram's Brigade, Department of East- East Tennessee, Feb.- Jul. 1863.
Pegram's Cavalry Brigade, Army of East Tennessee, Department- of Tennessee, Jul. Aug. 1863.
Davidson's Brigade, Pegram's Division, Forrest's Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee, Aug. - Oct. 1863.
Morrison's Brigade, Martin's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Army of Tennessee, Oct. - Nov. 1863.
Morrison's-Crews' Brigade, Martin's-Morgan's Division, Martin's Cavalry Corps, Department of East Tenn. ,Nov. 1863- Feb. 1864.
Crew's - Iverson's Brigade, Martin's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry- Corps, Army of Tennessee, Mar. - Nov. 1864.
Iverson's - Crew's Brigade, Martin's - Allen's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry-Corps, Department of SC, GA and FL Nov. 1864 - Feb. 1865.
Crew's Brigade, Allen's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Hampton's Cavalry Command Feb. - Apr. 1865.
Crew's Brigade, Allen's Division, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps, Hampton's Cavalry Command, Army of Tennessee, April 1865.
Battle And Campaign Credits:
Murfreesboro, July 13, 1863. Nashville, July 21, 1862.
Big Hill, August 23, 1862. Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862 - January 3, 1863.
Pegram's Kentucky Raid, March - April, 1863.
Monticello Expedition, April 26 - May 12, 1863.
Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863.
Siege of Chattanooga, September - November 1863. Philadelphia, October 20, 1863.
Siege of Knoxville, November - December 1863.
Atlanta Campaign, May - September 1864.
Siege of Atlanta, July - September 1864.
Sunshine Church, July 31, 1864.
Savannah Campaign, November - December 1864.
Carolinas Campaign, February - April 1865.
The First Georgia Cavalry participated in over one hundred and seventy-five engagements of various kinds during the War Between The States. It has been reported that less then fifty officers and men remained with this unit when it was finally surrendered by General Johnston. At the time of surrender, Officers and Men were paroled in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on April 26th, 1865, between General Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army, and Major General W.T. Sherman, Commanding United States Army in North Carolina.