ORGANIZATION OF THE
LAWTON-GORDON-EVANS BRIGADE

The following notes on organization were taken from the works of Murray, Nichols, and Scaiffe [See Bibliography for references], among which there is some disagreement. Companies, in particular, were reorganized and redesignated at several points--particularly when the Brigade was reorganized in May 1862 following expiration of 12 month enlistments and subsequent reenlistments for three years pursuant to passage of the Confederate conscription law of April 1862.

Links to company rosters will take you off of this site to web pages maintained by participants in the Georgia Genealogy Web (GenWeb) project and county historical sites. To return to the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade page, you will have to use the [Back] button on your web browser.

13th Georgia

Mustered into service, July 8, 1861 at Griffin, GA, served with Floyd's Brigade in West Virginia, reassigned to Lawton's Brigade at Savannah, arriving January 1, 1862, reorganized May 1862.

26th Georgia

Mustered into service, October 1861 at Brunswick, GA, reorganized May 1862.

The Twenty-sixth Georgia Regiment was made up entirely with South Georgians, who were brought up in a thinly settled country where there were but few schools. The most of them were taught early how to handle and use a gun, and could kill the fleet-footed deer, panther, wolf, bear, wild-cat, and fox running at break-neck speed or could take off a squirrel's head with the old plantation rifle.

When the Twenty-sixth had to fight the enemy, it always punished them severely. It always had the ground well strewn with dead and wounded. Pvt. G. S. Nichols, 61st Georgia.

The following is the organization of the Regiment reported by Murray at the time of their reorganization in May 1862.

The Regiment was originally organized with thirteen companies, including three companies designated as cavalry. As the end of their initial enlistments approached, Brig. Gen. Lawton arranged for the three cavalry companies--the Glynn Guards of Glynn County, the Atlantic and Gulf Guards of Pierce County, and the Camden Mounted Rifles of Camden County-- to be detached in March-May 1862. They were subsequently mustered out of service, with many of the men joining other companies of the 26th Georgia or transferring to the 4th Georgia Volunteer Cavalry (Clinch's). The Atlantic and Gulf Guards Company was later reformed as the Pierce Mounted Infantry.

31st Georgia

Mustered into service November 1861 as 27th Georgia, reorganized in April 1862 as 31st Georgia.

38th Georgia

Mustered into service July 1861 as Wright's Legion, reorganized in May 1862 as 38th Georgia.

60th Georgia

Organized as Fourth Georgia Battalion at Dalton, GA in summer 1861, reorganized as 60th GA in Spring 1862 at Savannah. Consolidated with 61st Georgia on January 18, 1865. For more history, see Pat Cromer's 60th Georgia webpage.

61st Georgia

61st Georgia was orginally formed at Eden, GA on/about September 10, 1861 and mustered into service October 1861 as the Seventh Georgia Battalion; reorganized in May 1862 as 61st Georgia, consolidated with 60th Georgia on January 18, 1865. For more history, see John Griffin's 61st Georgia regimental history page.

12th Georgia Battalion (of Light Artillery)

For an excellent history, including company rosters, see Ashley Pollette's 12th Georgia Battalion page.

The battalion was organized on April 10, 1862 at Augusta, Georgia with volunteers from four companies of the disbanded First Georgia Regiment and a new company from Dekalb County, Georgia. I believe the following to be the original organization:

In December 1862, the Battalion was reorganized as infantry as follows:

Elements of the battalion served with Gen. Kirby Smith in the West and at Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter and was dispersed in various garrison duties. Five of the six companies were rejoined and sent to reenforce Gordon's Brigade, arriving in Virginia on May 20, 1864 following the battle at Spotsylvania Court House just in time for a heavy skirmish near old Cold Harbor.

The 12th Battalion served with Gordon/Evan's Brigade for the balance of the war and was heavily involved in the assault on Hares Hill (Fort Steadman).

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Last Updated: Sept. 13, 1999

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Copyright © 1999 Chris J. Brantley All rights reserved as to original material only.