Georgia 23rd Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Georgia 23rd Infantry Regiment was organized at Big Shanty, Georgia, in September, 1861. It was made up of men from Bartow, Henderson, Floyd, Pickens, and Cherokee counties. It moved to Tennessee, then was sent to Virginia and assigned to the Department of the Peninsula. In April, 1862, it totalled 370 effectives and during the war served under Generals Rains and Colquitt. The 23rd participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Chancellorsville, where more than 275 men were captured. It then was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina, and later Florida. After fighting at Olustee the unit returned to Virginia, took part in the conflicts at Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor, and endured the battles and hardships of the Petersburg siege. It lost 4 killed and 56 wounded at Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill, had 14 killed and 64 wounded in the Maryland Campaign, and 2 killed, 66 wounded, and 2 missing at Olustee. During 1865 it was active in North Carolina and surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.
Crute states that this regiment was made up of men from Bartow, Henderson, Floyd, Pickens, and Cherokee counties. Walker is not included.

Crute states that they followed a rather unusual route being transferred back and forth from VA to FL to SC to TN during the war. The regiment finally surrendered with the Army of Tennessee at Goldsboro, NC, although it had been involved in the Petersburg siege in VA. Almost half of the regiment was captured at Chancellorsville, but overall, the battle casualties seem relatively light. The regiment was under the direct command of Generals Rains and Colquitt.

FIELD OFFICERS:
Colonels Marcus R. Ballenger, W.P. Barclay, Emory F. Best, James H. Huggins, and Thomas Hutcherson; Lieutenant Colonel John J.A. Sharp; and Major William J. Boston.
BATTLES:
Gaines' Mill (June 27, 1862)
Malvern Hill
Crampton's Gap
Sharpsburg
Fredericksburg (December 11-15, 1862)
Chancellorsville
Ream's Station (August 25, 1864)
Olustee, FL
Drewry's Bluff, VA
Cold Harbor, VA
Petersburg, VA
Bentonville, NC

COMPANIES:
Company A Bartow County - Bartow Yankee Killers
Company B Union County
Company C Floyd Spring Guards Floyd County
Company D Gilmer County
Company E Tate Guards Pickens County
Company F Cobb, Coffee and Spalding Counties
Company G Cherokee Field Guards Cherokee County
Company G Cherokee Field Guards - Cherokee County
Company H Bartow Invincibles - Cobb, Gordon and Walker Counties
Company I Coffee County
Company K Coffee County

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

REFERENCES:
Sifakis - The Compendium of the Confederate Armies