John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch and Roster Of The Georgia 13th Infantry Regiment John C Rigdon

The Georgia 13th Infantry Regiment initially mustered into Confederate service on July 8, 1861. Georgia Militia Major General William Ector was named Colonel of this regiment at organization. They served briefly with Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd's brigade in West Virginia, seeing minor action at the Battles of Sewell Mountain and Laurel Hill before being returned to Georgia due to sickness and lack of clothing suitable for the harsh winter climate in the West Virginia mountains. While on coastal duty in Georgia in early 1862, they engaged in a number of skirmishes, including the capture of a gunboat that afterwards bore their name and a skirmish with the 8th Michigan on Whitemarsh Island, Georgia on April 16, 1862. The regiment returned to Virginia in time to participate in the Seven Days Battles. They were placed in the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Georgia Brigade (so-named for its three principal commanders). It was one of the premier brigades of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, serving with distinction from the Seven Days battles around Richmond (May-June 1862) until its surrender at Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865). Companies Of The Georgia 13th Infantry RegimentCompany A - Confederate Guards (Pike County) Company B - Meriwether Volunteers (Meriwether and Troup Counties) Company C- Ringgold Rangers (Ringgold, Georgia and Catoosa County) Company D - Upson Volunteers Company E - Randolph Volunteers (Randolph and Terrell Counties) Company F - Fayette Rangers (Fayette County) Company G - Early Guards (Early County) Company H - Panola Rifles (Terrell County) Company I - Stark Volunteers (Spalding County) Company K - Evans Guards (Troup County)