Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment, CSA
For their action on July 2, 1863, historians have praised Barksdale and Wofford for crushing the Union’s Third Corps’ salient at Gettysburg’s Peach Orchard; however, Kershaw’s South Carolinians and Semmes’ Georgians deserve credit for breaking the Union hold on The Wheatfield, Rose Woods and Stoney Hill. The 50th Georgia, as part of Semmes’ Brigade, fought in these engagements. Until now the 50th Georgia has lacked a regimental history although it served with great distinction with Longstreet’s Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, from the Second Manassas Campaign to Appomattox. They also fought in the Western Theater, then in the Valley Campaign of 1864. The regiment was organized from the 11 southernmost counties of Georgia. Albeit, as the author observed, “The complete history of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment may never be known as certain records are missing or do not exist,” he has succeeded in constructing a fine study of this regiment. The history of this unit is presented in an easy-to-follow chronological order from its inception and early camp life. While encamped in Georgia during its first four months the regiment lost at least nine percent of its men from disease. All of the regiment’s battles are described in detail from a small unit perspective. The study focuses on daily camp routines often reflecting on the highs and lows of military life as experienced by individual soldiers. For example, during the winter of 1862-1863 Reuben Roberts penned a letter describing the joys of snow and a full-scale snowball fight, while tragically 84 Georgians died during that same time period from various illnesses. Of the approximately 1,400 who mustered into the 50th Georgia, one-third became casualties. Parrish sprinkles a large number of first-hand accounts throughout the text. The correspondences range from the poignant letter of a soldier describing his wounding and amputation to his wife just prior to his death to another Georgian who wrote near the conclusion of the war, “I want peace, I want to go home….” Additional letters and diary entries range from battle vignettes to daily concerns universal to soldiers. Parrish displays a workable knowledge of the battles in which the 50th Georgia was engaged. He has written a lively account supplemented by many anecdotes and perspectives from previously unpublished primary sources. More than 100 photographs of regimental members and modern views of the battlefields where the unit fought accompany the text. Twenty-eight well-designed maps by noted cartographer Blake Magner complement the battle narratives. Five appendices, which include a regimental roster, regimental casualties, an Appomattox parole list, an article concerning the unit’s battle flag, and photographs of 46 members’ gravestones, serve as valuable research tools. Each time a new regimental history of this quality, with its previously unpublished photographs and primary documents, is published the field of Civil War studies is enhanced. James W. Parrish has gathered a nice selection of primary sources and has provided a well-written narrative to relate the untold story of the 50th Georgia. Wiregrass to Appomattox is recommended for it readable style, its well-organized format, and for the introduction and use of newly discovered primary material. Reviewer: Michael Russert, a member of the North Shore Round Table of Long Island and the Company of Military Historians, has a MALS plus 60 hours in American Studies. He is Coordinator of The New York State Veteran Oral History Program. |
Illustrated, maps, appendices, endnotes, bibliography, index, 404 pp., 2009. Angle Valley Press, P.O. Box 4098, Winchester, VA 22604, $39.95 plus shipping.