Brief History of the 52nd Georgia Volunteer Infantry The men of the 52nd Georgia came from the Georgia Counties of Habersham, White, Lumpkin, Towns, Rabun, Union, Fannin, Dawson, and Franklin. They began mustering into service on March 13, 1862 at Camp McDonald in Big Shanty, Georgia, present day Kennesaw, Georgia. The 52nd was officially organized on May 16, 1862. The men of Company I were from Dawson County, Georgia and were commanded by Captain John R. Russel. Battles: Cumberland Gap(June 17-18, 1862) Vicksburg Siege(May-July, 1863) Surrendered by General Pemberton. They were officially exchanged on September 13, 1863 and reorganized September-October 1863. Dallas(June25-27, 1864) On April 18, Johnston signed an armistice with Sherman at the Bennett House, and on April 26, formally surrendered his army. 52nd Georgia was surrendered by General Joseph E. Johnston at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina on April 26, 1865. A portion of the 52nd had been previously taken away and assigned to guard a wagon train at Columbus, Mississippi after the Battle of Nashville. They were not surrendered until May 4, 1865. "We marched in about a mile and a quarter of the enemy and halted then... it was not long before we heard the boom of the cannon and the whistle of the ball... the fight was opened...our regiment was ordered onto the field. We marched on with a brave heart, and we soon reached our position... the firing became incessant, but when we opened up in our second volley, the enemy began to break their ranks. Then we gave a loud yell and charged down the hill and it would have done you good to have seen them run..." Sergeant-Major Gus Boyd, Tazwell Tn describing engagement with Brig. General Morgan while fighting for Cumberland Gap. Sgt-Major Boyd would later become Captain of Company B and would lose his life in Vicksburg, Mississippi at age 18. Brief History of the 123rd New York Infantry The 123rd was known as the Washington County Regiment. They were mustered into service on September 4, 1862. They took part in the famous Mud March of January 1863 and saw their first combat April 27, 1863 near Chancellorsville, Va. The 123rd took part in the campaign of Chancellorsville, the campaign of Gettysburg, the campaign of Atlanta, the March to the Sea, and the campaign of the Carolinas and marched more than three thousand miles. On May 24, 1865 the 123rd and the rest of Sherman's Troops were reviewed in Washington by President Johnson and General Grant. They were mustered out of service on June 8, 1865. More information will be added as it is obtained.
Chickasaw Bayou(December 27-29, 1862) repulsed 5 attacks by Sherman's Troops. Hundreds of Union troops killed, 52nd reported 1 killed and 3 wounded.
Vicksburg Campaign(May-July 1863)
Champion Hill(May 16, 1863)
Big Black River Bridge (May 17, 1863)
Chattanooga Siege(Sept-Nov 1863)
Chattanooga(November 23-25, 1863)
Atlanta Campaign(May-Sept, 1864)
Rocky Face Ridge(May 5-11, 1864)
Resaca(May 14-15, 1864)
New Hope Church(May25-June4, 1864)
Kennesaw Mountain(June 27, 1864)
Peach Tree Creek(July 20, 1864)
Atlanta(July 22, 1864)
Ezra Church(July 28, 1864)
Atlanta Siege(July-Sept 1864)
Jonesboro(August 31 -Sept 1, 1864)
Franklin(November 30, 1864)
Nashville(December 15-16, 1864)
Carolinas Campaign(Feb-April 1865)
Edisto Railroad Bridge(Feb 7, 1865)
Binnaker's Bridge(Feb 9, 1865)
Orangeburg(Feb 12, 1865)
Bentonville(March 19-21, 1865)