Merp17
04-15-2016, 11:14 PM
There is a book called History of the Doles-Cook Brigade of northern Virginia, C.S.A. that gives a detailed history of the Brigade and it's regiments by the men who served in it. In it the book also has the muster roles of each of the companies of the four regiments that consisted of the brigade. Four of my ancestors served in the brigade. They are...
Pvt.James M Dorsey and Cpl.John R Dorsey, Toombs Volunteers, Company F, 4th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. And (Pvt. or 2nd Sgt.) David Jackson Morrow and Pvt. Bill Hiram Morrow, Dabney Rifles, Company G, 21st Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In fact I have a picture of D.J. Morrow
2789 I do not know why it is so small.
Here is a link to that book- https://archive.org/details/historyofdolesco00thom
And here is a excerpt from the 4th Georgia infantry for the battle of Antietam. Sorry for the error in spelling you might find. This is from a PDF.
"As soon as it was light enough, on the morning of September 17,
for the enemy to see our line lying exposed upon a hillside, they
opened upon us with several batteries and did considerable execution.
We moved to the left and formed line of battle at right angles to our
former position in an open field, and were murderously assailed by
the enemy concealed in a piece of woods a short distance in front.
Our loss was fearful. At this juncture General Ripley was wounded
and the command of the brigade devolved upon Colonel Doles. He
immediately ordered a charge and the enemy was easily repulsed.
Just as this movement was completed Major Smith was killed by a
grape-shot. Adjutant Cook had recovered from his wound sufficiently
to report for duty and had just received his commission as lieutenant-
colonel. He took command of the regiment and held it through the
engagement. We moved by the left again, through an open field,
and took position on a ridge overlooking an immense corn field which
seemed literally alive with Yankees. The regiment suffered great loss
here ; had three color-bearers shot in a few moments. Ammunition
was now exhausted and the regiment was withdrawn and sent to the
rear to replenish. It was then ordered back and the remainder of the
day was occupied in supporting batteries. It rested that night within
two hundred yards of its bivouac of the night before. Thus ended
what was considered by many as the bloodiest and most hotly con-
tested battle of the war. Certain it is that McClellan, with a force
more than doubling ours, did not see fit to renew the battle, and on the
night of September 18 we withdrew to the south side of the Potomac
quietly and unmolested.
General D. H. Hill, in his official report of the battle of Sharps-
burg, says: "Major Robert S. Smith, Fourth Georgia, fell fight-
ing most heroically, at Sharpsburg. He had received a military
education and gave promise of eminence in his profession. And
Colonel Doles (now commanding Ripley's Brigade) pays a tribute to
the memory of Major Robert S. Smith, Fourth Georgia, and speaks
in the most complimentary terms of Colonel Phil Cook, Captains W. H. Willis,
F. H. DeGraftenreid, uud Lieutenants E. A. Hawkins,
R. M. Bisel, W. W. Hulbert, J. T. Gay (wounded), J. G. Stephens,
C. R. Ezell, F. T. Snead, L. M. Cobb (killed), J. C. Macon
(severely wounded). 'All commended themselves to my special
notice by their gallant and meritorious conduct.' Captain John C.
Key, commanding Forty-fourth Georgia, and Captain Read, Assist-
ant Adjutant-General, are equally commended. Assistant Surgeon
William P. Young remained on the field after he was wounded,
caring for the wounded, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Privates
Thomas S. Cartright, Joseph L. Richardson and Henry E.
Welch, Fourth Georgia, are mentioned with distinction. The first
named fell with the colors of his regiment in his hand. Richardson
was wounded. Privates R. Dudley Hill and Thomas J. Dingier, two
lads in the Forty-fourth Georgia, attracted, in an especial manner,
the attention of their commander by their extraordinary daring."
Pvt.James M Dorsey and Cpl.John R Dorsey, Toombs Volunteers, Company F, 4th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. And (Pvt. or 2nd Sgt.) David Jackson Morrow and Pvt. Bill Hiram Morrow, Dabney Rifles, Company G, 21st Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In fact I have a picture of D.J. Morrow
2789 I do not know why it is so small.
Here is a link to that book- https://archive.org/details/historyofdolesco00thom
And here is a excerpt from the 4th Georgia infantry for the battle of Antietam. Sorry for the error in spelling you might find. This is from a PDF.
"As soon as it was light enough, on the morning of September 17,
for the enemy to see our line lying exposed upon a hillside, they
opened upon us with several batteries and did considerable execution.
We moved to the left and formed line of battle at right angles to our
former position in an open field, and were murderously assailed by
the enemy concealed in a piece of woods a short distance in front.
Our loss was fearful. At this juncture General Ripley was wounded
and the command of the brigade devolved upon Colonel Doles. He
immediately ordered a charge and the enemy was easily repulsed.
Just as this movement was completed Major Smith was killed by a
grape-shot. Adjutant Cook had recovered from his wound sufficiently
to report for duty and had just received his commission as lieutenant-
colonel. He took command of the regiment and held it through the
engagement. We moved by the left again, through an open field,
and took position on a ridge overlooking an immense corn field which
seemed literally alive with Yankees. The regiment suffered great loss
here ; had three color-bearers shot in a few moments. Ammunition
was now exhausted and the regiment was withdrawn and sent to the
rear to replenish. It was then ordered back and the remainder of the
day was occupied in supporting batteries. It rested that night within
two hundred yards of its bivouac of the night before. Thus ended
what was considered by many as the bloodiest and most hotly con-
tested battle of the war. Certain it is that McClellan, with a force
more than doubling ours, did not see fit to renew the battle, and on the
night of September 18 we withdrew to the south side of the Potomac
quietly and unmolested.
General D. H. Hill, in his official report of the battle of Sharps-
burg, says: "Major Robert S. Smith, Fourth Georgia, fell fight-
ing most heroically, at Sharpsburg. He had received a military
education and gave promise of eminence in his profession. And
Colonel Doles (now commanding Ripley's Brigade) pays a tribute to
the memory of Major Robert S. Smith, Fourth Georgia, and speaks
in the most complimentary terms of Colonel Phil Cook, Captains W. H. Willis,
F. H. DeGraftenreid, uud Lieutenants E. A. Hawkins,
R. M. Bisel, W. W. Hulbert, J. T. Gay (wounded), J. G. Stephens,
C. R. Ezell, F. T. Snead, L. M. Cobb (killed), J. C. Macon
(severely wounded). 'All commended themselves to my special
notice by their gallant and meritorious conduct.' Captain John C.
Key, commanding Forty-fourth Georgia, and Captain Read, Assist-
ant Adjutant-General, are equally commended. Assistant Surgeon
William P. Young remained on the field after he was wounded,
caring for the wounded, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Privates
Thomas S. Cartright, Joseph L. Richardson and Henry E.
Welch, Fourth Georgia, are mentioned with distinction. The first
named fell with the colors of his regiment in his hand. Richardson
was wounded. Privates R. Dudley Hill and Thomas J. Dingier, two
lads in the Forty-fourth Georgia, attracted, in an especial manner,
the attention of their commander by their extraordinary daring."