Georgia 12th Artillery Battalion



Historical Notes:
Crute and Sifakis have this battalion listed as a heavy artillery unit. Jones's book does not specify. The notes in Henderson's rosters regarding Robert Quinn of Company A, identifed the battalion as a light artillery unit. I believe we have only one unit represented here.

This battalion was organized in May 1862, and was composed primarily of men who had been enlisted in the 1st (Ramsey's) Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Ramsey's Infantry was disbanded on 15 March 1862 at the expiration of its twelve month term of service.

Crute gives the following history:

The 12th Artillery Battalion was organized at Augusta, Georgia, in May, 1862, with men from Ramsey's 1st Georgia Volunteers Regiment. It contained five companies and was called the Savannah Siege Train Heavy Artillery Battalion. Its members were recruited at Newnan, Augusta, Sandersville, and in the Atlanta area. In June it was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and was active at Fort McAllister, Fort Sumter, and Battery Wagner. Then in May, 1864, the battalion was transferred to General C.A. Evans' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. Serving as infantry it fought at Cold Harbor, was with Early in the Shenandoah Valley, and took part in the Appomattox operations. The unit surrendered with 6 officers and 125 men.

More complete details are found with the roster of Company E.
Officers:
  • Lieutenant Colonel Henry D. Capers
  • Major George M. Hanvey.
  • Rudisill, Benjamin Franklin - Asst. Surgeon
  • Battles:
  • Skirmishes in Tennessee
  • Siege of Charleston
  • Hanover Junction, Va. May 26th
  • 2nd battle of Cold Harbor the 1st day of June 1864.
  • Lynchburg, Va.
  • Martinsburg on the 3d of July
  • Harper's Ferry
  • Maryland Heights
  • Monocacy Junction
  • Kernstown on July 23, 1864
  • Winchester on September 19, 1864
  • Fisher s Hill, Va. October 9, 1864
  • Cedar Creek, Va. October 19, 1864.
  • Petersburg Siege
  • Hatcher's Run, VA
  • Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865
  • Appomattox
  • ROSTERS:
    The roster of this regiment contains the names of 1581 men.

    Field Staff and Band
    2nd Company A Newnan Artillery- Coweta County
    3rd Company B
    3rd Company E Oglethorpe Artillery - Richmond and Washington Counties
    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    REFERENCES:
    Sifakis - Compendium of the Confederate States Armies





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