Captain Jacob Phinizy

Company K, Oglethorpe Rifles
8th Georgia Infantry

Photo courtesy of Pat M. Stevens IV

Jacob Phinizy was born on Dec 21, 1823 in Bowling Green, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He died on August 30, 1862 in the Battle of Second Manassas, Virginia.

Jacob was a very close friend and business partner with his cousin, Pat Stevens, born just a few weeks ahead of Jacob in October 1823. Together they bought land in Bolivar County, Mississippi, on the banks of the Mississippi River, during the settling and clearing of the vast Yazoo Delta country. They endured flood after flood, and eventually had to put the land up for sale about 1860, before the beginning of the war. (Source: letters from Mississippi, from Jacob to Pat, 1858-1860, my collection.)

Jacob was killed at the Second Manassas Battle during the War. We have his letters home to Pat. He died leading the Oglethorpe Rifles of the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Jacob was their Captain. General Beauregard saluted the Regiment for their conduct that day. See footnote and the Official Records cited.

Confederate Service Record Summary:
Phinizy, Jacob -- 1st Lieutenant May 15, 1861. Elected Captain August 1861. Killed at 2d Manassas, Va. August 30, 1862. (From the Records.)

The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, US Government, Series 1, Volume 12, Part 1: Capt. Phinizy was reported killed in action 30 Aug. 1862 during the Second Battle of Manassas, in the 8th Georgians in Longstreet's command."

Also, brigade commander "Tige" Anderson wrote: "I placed my brigade in line on the field, my left regiment being the 8th Georgia, Lt. Col. John R. Towers commanding. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 12, Part 2, pg. 593]. The 8th Georgia sustained losses of 8 killed, 54 wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas. Officers killed at the battle were Captain J. M. C. Hulsey and Captain Phinizy, Aug. 30th. [O.R. Series I, Vol. 12, Part 2, pg. 560 and pg. 816].

So far as I know, Jacob left no wife or children. His letters from Mississippi and various Virginia locations before and during the war were preserved by Pat, passed to his son and thence to me. They cover the period 1858 to his death.

Jacob's parents were:
Father: Jacob Phinizy b: 24 APR 1790
Mother: Matilda Stewart b: 24 DEC 1795 in Oglethorpe Co., GA

Sources:
Title: Joan Doughty, op. cit.
Title: The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, US Government, Series 1, volume 12, Part 1.
Text: Capt. Phinizy was reported killed in action 30 Aug. 1862 during the second battle of Manassas, in the 8th Georgians in Longstreet's command.