8th GA Co I Stephens Light Guards Roster

8^th REGIMENT GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
ARMY of NORTHERN VIRGINIA
C. S. A.
GREENE COUNTY, GEORGIA
("STEPHENS LIGHT GUARDS")
OR
("GREENE LIGHT GUARDS")

OFFICERS:

Dawson, George Oscar---Captain May 16, 1861. Wounded at 2d Manassas, Va. August 28, 1862. Elected Major December 16, 1862.Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Assigned as Commandant of Post at Columbus, Ga. June 10, 1864. Applied to Secretary of War for assignment to Military Court of General Hampton, C. S. A., March 28, 1865. No later record. (View Dawson's Biography, Photo of his sword, and two Seven Days Battle O. R. reports from 1862. On June 28, 1862, Captain Dawson assumed command of the EighthGeorgia Infantry Regiment, due to casualties sustained to Col. Towers, and other officers. Ancestor of Blanchard Smith and his wife. Also ancestor of Carolyn M. Smith. Also related to Woody Stephens.)

Blackwell, Thomas J. 1st Lieutenant May 16, 1861. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862. Elected Captain December 16, 1862. Killed at Wilderness, Va. May 6, 1864.

Reid (Reed), John C. 2d Lieutenant May 16, 1861. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. (Read Reid's dramatic account of the Gettysburg battle, attacking the Wheatfield from the Rose Woods.) Elected Captain May 6, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Clark, William H.---Jr. 2d Lieutenant May 16, 1861. Elected 2d Lieutenant. Resigned on account of tuberculosis July 30, 1862.

Jones, Henry B. 1st Sergeant May 16, 1861. Wounded at Front Royal, Va. September 21, 1864. Died from wounds October 3, 1864.

Crone, Frank H ---1st Sergeant. Killed at Yorktown, Va. May 3, 1862.

McCall, J. P --2d Sergeant May 16, 1861. Appointed 1st Sergeant June 1, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Christopher, J. G.-3d Sergeant May 16, 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Appointed 2d Sergeant June 1, 1862. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

O'Rear, William J.---4th Sergeant May 16, 1861. Appointed 3d Sergeant June 1, 1862. Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va. June 2, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Copelan, Jefferson F. (Japp)-Sergeant May 16, 1861. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Recommended for retirement on account of disability March 3, 1865. Died at White Plains, Ga. July 28, 1913.

Copelan, Jasper J.-1st Corporal May 16, 1861. Appointed 4th Sergeant June 1, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863; Darbytown Road, Va. October 7, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (Born in Greene County, Ga. May 29, 1839.) (View a muster roll/roster of Company I (109 names), from J. J. Copelan and J. F. Copelan, courtesy of the U. S. Civil War Center.)

Askew, William-2d Corporal May 16, 1861. Captured at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Exchanged at Point Lookout, Md. February 13, 1865.

Dobbs, David Milton---3d Corporal May 16, 1861. Wounded at Rappahannock, Va. August 2, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (View obituary. Ancestor of Rebecca E. Cole.)

Lewis, James T. - 4th Corporal May 16, 186l. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (View photo, biography and image of Sharps rifle (or carbine) he carried during the War. Ancestor of A. J. Shupe; also ancestor of James E. Lewis.)

Williams, William P.-5th Corporal May 16, 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Discharged, furnished substitute, February 1, 1862.

PRIVATES:

Aaron, George------- private. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863.

Anderson, George D.----- private. Transferred to Co. C, Phillips' Legion Ga. Cavalry February 15, 1862, but transfer does not appear to have been made. Killed at Mechanicsville, Va. May 26, 1862.

Askew, J.----- private. Killed at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862.

Atkins, J. P.------- private 1861. Died of disease August 8, 1861.

Atkinson, J. P: ---- private 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Discharged, disability, August 9, 1861.

Bailey, John W.-------See private, Co. E.

Barrett, James------- private June 7, 1861. Discharged, disability, at Richmond, Va., August 12, 1861. Enlisted as a private in Co. A 5th Regiment Ga. Inf. August 18, 1862. Elected Jr. 2d Lieutenant of Co. C, June 1863; 2d Lieutenant in 1864. Detailed Inspector of Military Prisons at Florence, S. C. November 1864. Elected Captain of Co. B, 2d Foreign Legion (8th Battn. Confederate Inf.), December 26, 1864. No later record.

Battle, H.------- private.

Brennan, P.----- private. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862. Died from wounds July 10, 1862.

Brewer, Samuel------- private. Sent to C. S. A. General Hospital at Danville, Va. with chronic rheumatism, in 1863. Returned to duty February 20, 1863. No later record.

Brewer, Samuel J. G.----- private 1861. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #1, at Richmond, Va. October 24, 1861. Transferred to Petersburg, Va. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Died from wounds July 5, 1863. (Ancestor of Del Brewer.)

Brooks, J. E. (or Brooke)----- private May 16, 1861. Killed at Wilderness, Va. May 6, 1864.

Broom, A. W. ---- private May 16, 1861. Wounded. Discharged, disability, March 8, 1863.

Bruce, E. D.----- private May 16, 1861. Paid on January 20, 1865. No later record.

Bruce, G. W.------- private 1861. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #2, at Richmond, Va. with typhoid fever October 29, 1861. Transferred to Petersburg, Va. December 10, 1861. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #3, March 15, 1863, and died there March 26, 1863.

Bruce, W. S. ---- private May 16, 1861. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Cain, J. C. ---- private 1861. Discharged, disability, at Richmond, Va. November 16, 1861.

Chapman, John ---- private September 15, 1861. Roll for October 31, 1864, last on file, shows him present. No later record. (Resident of Hancock County, mustered in at Greensboro, GA; participated in every campaign from Sept. 1861 until March 1865. In late March 1865 he was captured around Richmond, VA and was released immediately after Lee's surrender. He returned home but moved close to Covington, GA and lived there for the rest of his life. Ancestor of Shane Taylor.)

Chapman, L. D.----- private. Died of disease May 10, 1862.

Clifton, J. ---- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862. Died from wounds June 29, 1862.

Compton, J. ---- private. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863.

Copelan, Wiley R. ---- private 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Admitted to C. S. A. General Hospital at Charlottesville, Va. July 22, 1861. Discharged, disability, February 5, 1862.

Copelan, W. O. ---- private. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Died from wounds July 5, 1863. (Ancestor of Wynn Copelan.)

Daniel, August H. ---- private 1861. Killed at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861.

Daniel, W. C. ---- private 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Admitted to Confederate General Hospital at Charlottesville, Va. July 22, 1861, and discharged there from October 15, 1861. Transferred to Co. F, Minors, account of disability, August 9, 1862. Died from wounds in 1862.

Davis, Joseph E. F. ---- private March 1, 1862. Captured at Gettysburg, Pa. July 5, 1863. Paroled at Point Lookout, Md. February 18, 1865. Received at Boulware & Cox's Wharves, James River, Va. February 20-21, 1865. (Brother of W. G. Davis, listed below. View Photograph and Biography. Relative of William Russell.)

Davis, W. G. ---- private May 16, 1861. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (Brother of Joseph E. F. Davis, listed above. View Photograph and Biography. Ancestor of William Russell.)

Day, E. (Edward) ---- private. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (View gravestone photo and brief biography. Probably younger brother of William Day of Company K. Relative of Elizabeth Day Morris, Chris Day, Lois Day Couey, James Thomas Day, Charles Edward Day, and Shirley Day Lenhart.)

Dobbs, Elbert C. Enlisted as a private in Co. A, 6th Regiment Ga. Inf. April 22, 1861. Transferred to Co. I, 8th Regiment Ga. Inf. May 20, 1862. Absent without leave October 6-31, 1864. No later record. (Younger brother of G. L. Dobbs, see below. Relative of John A. Roberts.)

Dobbs, Guilford L.----- private May 16, 1861. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (View photos, biography, letters, and Southern Cross of Honor information. View letter written to Dobbs from Lt. Columbus Heard. Ancestor of John A. Roberts and Robert Fletcher and Lomar Williams.)

Evans, Benjamin F.----- private March 4, 1862. Wounded in head and leg at Seven Pines, Va. May 31, 1862; in arm and hip at Fredericksburg, Va. Dec. 13, 1862. Discharged March 9, 1863. (Read the "Confederate Reunion" letter to Evans, from George C. Norton, dated May 21, 1900. Ancestor of Paul Lucas.)

Everett, J. A.----- private June 1, 1861. Received by Provost Marshal General, Washington, D. C., a Confederate deserter, February 21, 1865. Took oath of allegiance to U. S. Govt. and furnished transportation to Philadelphia, Pa. March 30, 1865.

Everett, S. H.------- private February 1, 1862. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862. Received by Provost Marshal General, Washington, D. C., a Confederate deserter, April 12, 1865. Took oath of allegiance to U. S. Govt. and furnished transportation to Madison, Ga.

Finch, John E. ---- private March 1, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863; Darbytown Road, Va. October 7, 1864. Roll for October 31, 1864, last on file, shows him absent, wounded. Pension records show he was at home, wounded, at close of war. (Information from William Finch: John E. Finch checked into Jackson Hospital in Richmond, Virginia on Oct. 8, 1864 with a neck wound and was sent home for 30 days. Records also say he was severely wounded in the shoulder and the leg. After being hone he lost his left eye. He went on to write for the local newspaper (Herald Journal) and was known as the "Richland Philosopher" until his death 7-25-1925. He had eight children, my grandfather William H. Finch, Sr. was the youngest. Ancestor of William Finch; also ancestor of Josh Lindsey.)

Foster, J A.----- private 1861. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #2, at Richmond, Va. with rheumatism, November 15, 1861. Returned to duty November 22, 1861. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862. Died from wounds July 8, 1862.

Gentry, Robert Alva ---- private May 16, 1861. Appointed 4th Corporal. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862; Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (Born in Greene County, Georgia.) (Ancestor of Bill Copeland.)

Gentry, S. T. ---- private May 16, 1861. Roll for October 31, 1864, last on file, shows him present. No later record.

Goodnight, George Samuel----- private May 16, 1861. Appointed 1st Corporal. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. On detached duty in Commissary Dept. at Augusta, Ga. October 31, 1864. No later record. (Ancestor of Nancie Peake; also ancestor of John Peake.)

Goodwin, Henry O.------- private. 1861. Absent, sick, November 1862.Captured at Fredericksburg, Va., a Confederate deserter, September 8, 1863. Took oath of allegiance to U. S. Govt. at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C., and released September 23, 1863.

Gordon, James D.----- private 1861. Transferred to Co. G. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863.

Goss, A. (or W. A.)----- private February 17, 1862. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Harben, William R.----- private May 16, 1861. Transferred to Co. I, 59th Regiment Ga. Inf. December 14, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Harper, James------- private 1861. Killed at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861.

Heard, Columbus----- private May 16, 1861. Elected 2d Lieutenant August 15, 1862. Wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Elected 1st Lieutenant May 6, 1864. Transferred from Johnson's Island, Ohio to Point Lookout, Md. March 14, 1865. Exchanged at James River, Va. March 22, 1865. (Born December 18, 1833. Died October 22, 1912. Buried in Siloam Cemetery in Greene County, Ga.) (Heard appears as one of 26 veterans in an 8th Georgia Regiment reunion picture, 1901. View this image. View 1903 letter written by Heard to Guilford Dobbs, which includes a list of Co I soldiers alive in 1903, and an 1861 roster of Company I.)

Heard, George----- private 1861. Killed at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861.

Heard, W. F.----- private. Died of disease June 23, 1862.

Holden, W.----- private 1861. Discharged, disability, at Richmond, Va. November 18, 1861.

Holder, M. ----See Holden, W.

Howell, F. S. (or T. S.)------ private 1861. Killed at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861.

Howell, L. W. ---- private 1861. Transferred to Co. A, Phillips' Legion Ga. Inf. June 26, 1861. Absent, sick, in hospital February 28, 1863. No later record.

Johnson, Edwin T.----- private. Wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pa. July 4, 1863. Died, result compound fracture of left thigh, in General Hospital at Gettysburg, Pa. September 7, 1863.

Kinney, W. R. ---- private May 16, 1861. Severely wounded in breast at Fort Harrison, Va. September 30, 1864. Absent, wounded, October 31, 1864. No later record.

Lane, W. H. ---- private May 1, 1861. Wounded at Petersburg, Va. August 10, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Leadbetter, R. L.----- private. Admitted to General Hospital at Danville, Va. with acute diarrhea, May 28, 1862. Returned to duty June 8, 1862. Killed at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862.

Lunceford, Peter Hazel----- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at Wilderness, Va. May 6, 1864; sent to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2d Army Corps Hospital U. S. A. May 1864. Roll for October 31, 1864, last on file, shows him absent, wounded. (Peter H. Lunceford was 43 years old when he joined the Confederate Army. He had a house full of children, including an 18-year-old son. Peter's grave is at Bairdstown Church in Greene County, Ga. - Information from Brian L. Edwards; Ancestor of Brian L. Edwards.)

Maloy, C.----- private May 16, 1861. Killed in railroad accident June 4, 1861.

Marchman, C. A.------- private June 1, 1861. Wounded at Petersburg, Va. June 10, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Mays, E. J. ---- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

McCleskey, John Wesley----- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Elected 2d Lieutenant May 6, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (Jim McCleskey writes that John W. McCleskey was wounded on July 2, 1863 somewhere near the Wheatfield or Rose Woods and was mustered out at Appomattox, Va. Ancestor of Jim McCleskey.)

Merritt, B. F. ---- private 1861. Died of disease in Virginia December 21, 1862. Buried in Hollywood Cemetery at Richmond, Va.

Merritt, F.----- private 1861. Wounded in left thigh at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Admitted to Orange Court House, Va. hospital July 23, 1861. Sent to Manassas, Va. October 1, 1861. No later record.

Mitchell, J. H.------- private June 13, 1861. Wounded in 1863. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #2, at Richmond, Va. with wound in thigh, March 23, 1863. Discharged, disability, April 4, 1863.

Mitchell, William G.------- private May 16, 1861. Killed at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862.

Moody, John W.----- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 2, 1863. Died from wounds in Gettysburg, Pa. hospital July 6, 1863.

Moore, Dawson------- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Died from wounds August 8, 1861.

Moreland, James M.----- private May 1, 1861. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Nichols, Thomas------- private. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863.

Nichols, W. P. ---- private May 16, 1861. Discharged, disability and overage, February 6, 1862.

O'Brian, J. (or O'Brien)----- private 1861. Captured at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. "Prisoner of war at Washington, D. C., January 30, 1862." No later record.

O'Brian, T. (or O'Brien)------- private 186l. Killed in railroad accident June 4, 1861.

Oliver, T. J.------ private 1861. Admitted to General Hospital at Charlottesville, Va. with diarrhea, September 5, 1861. Returned to duty September 22, 1861. Admitted to same hospital August 27, 1862. Transferred to General Hospital at Lynchburg, Va. September 10, 1862. Killed at Knoxville, Tenn. November 28, 1863.

Owens, Charles W.------ private June 1, 1861. Wounded at Spotsylvania, Va. May 10, 1864. Captured at Amelia Court House, Va. April 5, 1865. Released at Point Lookout, Md. June 29, 1865.

Palmore, James (or Palmer)------ private 1861. Killed at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861.

Parnell, James B. ---- private May 16, 1861. Absent, sick, October 31, 1864. No later record. (Ancestor of Sandra Bagley.)

Powers, Nicholas F. ---- private May 16, 1861. Died of disease in Richmond, Va. hospital December 31, 1861.

Price, E. M.------ private June 1, 1861. Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va. June 2, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Raden, D.----- private 1861. Discharged in 1861. (The name D. Raden appears on rolls of Co. C, 3d Regiment Ga. Inf. as having enlisted April 24, 1861, and on rolls of Co. K, 44th Regiment Ga. Inf. but no record has been found of him in the 3d, 8th or 44th Regiments Ga. Inf.)

Ransom, T. H.----- private June 1, 1861. Wounded at Rappahannock, Va. August 2, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Ray, B. F.------- private May 16, 1861. Captured at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Paroled at Point Lookout, Md. for exchange November 1864. Exchanged at Savannah River, Ga. November 15, 1864. No later record.

Rhodes, Henry----- private October 1, 1861. Discharged, disability, December 18, 1861.

Rhodes, John R.----- private. Captured at Fredericksburg, Va. September 8, 1863. Took oath of allegiance to U. S. Govt. at Washington, D. C. and released September 27, 1863. (Ancestor of J. R. Rhodes.)

Robinson, William H. ---- private. Went to Chattanooga, Tenn., a Confederate deserter, November 6, 1863. Took oath of allegiance to U. S. Govt. at Louisville, Ky. and sent north of Ohio River November 17, 1863.

Schlein, Frederick----- private May 16, 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. On detached duty in Govt. shoe factory at Atlanta, Ga. March 11, 1863 - October 31, 1864. No later record. Died at Augusta, Ga. December 8, 1908. (Ancestor of John M. Wood.)

Sears, W. P.----- private. Died in 1862.

Shedd, Robert B. ----- private May 16, 1861. Captured near Knoxville, Tenn. December 3, 1863. Died of variola at Rock Island, Ill. January 27, 1864. (Robert Shedd had a brother in the Mexican War - Joel Shedd Co. H, 1 Regt Ga Volunteers; and another brother named Preloe Shedd, Co. B, 55 Ga Infantry, who survived the Civil War. Relative of Barry Shead.)

Sidwell, John----- private March 1, 1862. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. Born July 27, 1840, died Nov. 5, 1919. Buried in Appalachee, Morgan County, Georgia. (Ancestor of Kenneth Sidwell; also ancestor of Steve Sidwell.)

Smith, Alexander Hamilton------- private May 16, 1861. Promoted to Corporal. Wounded at Garnett's Farm, Va. June 28, 1862. Discharged, disability, October 31, 1863. (Read the 7 letters written to his family in 1861. Ancestor of Trey Morris and Kim Sisk.)

Smith, C. R.------- private May 16, 1861. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Smith, J. D.------- private 1861. Died of disease August 15, 1861.

Thornton, Joel F. ---- private 1861. Wounded at 1st Manassas, Va. July 21, 1861. Appointed 4th Sergeant in 1861. Discharged on account of wounds August 25, 1861.

Townsend, Ezekiel ---- private June 1, 1861. Roll for October 31, 1864, last on file, shows him present. No later record. (View photo and biography. Ancestor of Steven Townsend.)

Waterson, Presley----- private. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital 2 at Richmond, Va., with rheumatism, March 30, 1862. Discharged, disability, May 27, 1862.

Watson, B.----- private 1861. Discharged, disability, August 18, 1861.

Williams, Albert----- private May 16, 1861. Wounded in Virginia August 5, 1862. Receipted for pay January 20, 1865. No later record.

Williams, James A.----- private February 15, 1863. Wounded at Petersburg, Va. August 9, 1864. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. (James Williams also had four sons who fought for the Confederacy. Ancestor of Virginia Kuhn.)

Willis, D. W. ---- private. Appointed Assistant Surgeon April 12, 1863.

Willis, George M.----- private 1861. Discharged in order to accept commission as Assistant Surgeon, P. A. C. S., April 20, 1863. Appointed Assistant Surgeon (to rank from April 20, 1863), July 13, 1863, and assigned to Phillips' Ga. Legion July 13, 1863. Surrendered, Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.

Wood, John----- private May 16, 1861. Captured. "Prisoner of war October 31, 1864." No later record. (John Wood survived the War, and later moved to Arkansas. According to family history, he never took off his Confederate uniform, and refused to sign the oath of allegiance. Ancestor of Elizabeth M. Ruddick.)