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Muster Roll the 52 Georgia Infantry
“I have become somewhat tired of doing nothing and am anxious to see this war come to a close and peace... prevail.
And I have concluded the best way.. is to convince the Lincoln
Government that we were all ready to fly to arms in defense of
the country. Therefore, I have applied to Governor Brown and
have obtained leave to raise a regiment in Northeastern Georgia for the war....”
(Wier Boyd to his son Augustus, January1861)
William Asbury Parks Chaplain of the 52nd Georgia Infantry
"Parson, give me one of those papers, I'll read every word in it. You risked your life to bring us the papers."
"Abstracted from "Sketches and Incidents in the Confederate Army"
By W.A. Parks, Chaplain
Published in the Wesleyan Christian Advocate - March 8, 1899.
Amidst the suffering and death, now and then some funny things occurred. The chaplain had come in possession of a supply of Testaments. He was going the length of the trenches distributing Testaments, bending under the long brush arbor over the trenches, when it was discovered that his horse had strayed out of the cane brakes, crossed a bridge over the line, and was a few paces in front of the fortifications, the Federal pickets firing at him.
"I intend to get my horse away from those balls".
"Not for forty such horses", replied some of the soldiers.
Two long switches were obtained abd the chaplain was pushed up through the brush arbor, mounting the bare-back, bridleless horse, using the switches on the side of his head to guide him. The Federal pickets at once sent a shower of balls at the horse and rider. The switches were vigorously used, not only to guide the horse but increase his speed. Down the hill they went, crossing the bridge over the fortifications on towards regimental headquarter, at the head of a deep ravine. The rider had not considered the steep path
down the bluff so steep steps had been dug to aid in climbing what was almost a precipice. The horse dashed down the bluff unrestrained by bridle or voice. The stripes had more effect than all the wo, wo, wos, though spoken in the most persuasive tones of voice. Dashing at full speed by the headquarter tents of the Fifty second Georgia, Dr. N.R. Howard, surgeon (now of Dahlonega), very deliberately (as he always does things) stretched out his right hand, and, in measured tones said: "Hold on, Parson!" The parson was holding on with all his might. After running over a mile, nearing the city, finally, that horse was persuaded to come to a halt. The next thing the parson did was to get off that horse.
The Seige and Fall of Vicksburg
How Grant Succeeded and Pemberton Failed.
Rev. W.A. Parks
Webmasters note: While this article is titled "The Seige and Fall of Vicksburg", it actually describes the fighting at the battle of Baker's Creek (Champion Hill).
The 52nd Georgia, commanded by Col. Charles Phillips of Marietta, Ga. was in the thickest of the fight, and most of his men were killed or captured. Colonel Phillips himself was captured - this writer remembering well with what sadness he led the Colonel's horse back to Vicksburg, for a man's horse is most intimately associated with the soldier. Capt. "Gus" Boyd of Dahlonega fell in this battle while gallantly leading his company. The commander of the 43rd Georgia, Col. "Skid" Harris, and the gallant General Lloyd Tilghman, both fell in this engagement.
By a mishap not necessary to be explained, the writer found himself on the deserted battle-field after the Confederates had all fled. The Blue-coats were advancing in line but a short distance away. The only chance of escape was along a lane parallel with the advancing line. Rapid flight was the only hope. A new pair of spurs was brought into vigorous requisition. At least a dozen dead battery horses had to be leaped in that lane. Suddenly the lane turned at left-angles, and stretched a half-mile down towards Baker's Creek. Down this lane with race-horse speed the rider flew, while minnie-balls whizzed around too close to the ear to be musical, and raising the dust on the ground before the rider. But thanks to good fortune both rider and horse escaped.
From The Atlanta Journal, describing the Battle of Atlanta
Rev. W.A. Parks
July 22,1864: Chaplain of Stovall's Brigade, W. A. Parks writes about The Battle of Atlanta, on Feb. 9, 1901:
General Sherman was flanking Gen. J. B. Hood's Army of Tennessee on the west of Atlanta. Hood's Confederate was parallel with the railroad from Atlanta to East Point, and about a mile from the road, on the west. Along the railroad between West End and the barracks were located Hood's field hospital, cook, and ordinance camps; also the camps of the relief committees from different portion of middle and southern Georgia. As chaplain in Stovall's Brigade I preached one night at the cook camp, next night at the ordinance camp, next the relief camp; or some other minister would preach. The next night out on the army line, a mile west of the present barracks; and having obtained a fresh supply of the Army and Navy Herald, a religious paper, a religious paper published in Macon, Georgia by Rev. R. J. Harpe, with some religious tracts and a few small testaments…a whole armful in all, I started out to the army line to distribute the papers and preach to the boys at night. Coming in sight of the soldiers and fortifications, I dismounted tied my horse securely by a fence in the woods until returning after preaching. Crossing a little branch I was in full view of Stovall's Brigade; and with the line of breastworks west of me. Winding around over the hill, and crossing the branch, I turned to the right going north along a path through a small field to begin distributing the papers on the extreme right of the brigade. As the two army lines were close together, The Federal pickets could see me waling up the path a distance of 200 yards. The armful of white papers doubtless attracted the attention of the Federal pickets, and about a dozen or more open fire on me; with their mini balls passing over Stovall's Brigade. The Confederate soldiers seeing me running, and hearing the minis passing over them, and falling all around me, began to cry out to me…waving their hats, "Run Parson! Hurrah for the Parson! Go it Parson! Run Parson or they'll get you.' A hundred or more men were cheering on the parson, who was holding on to his papers in his right arm, and making all possible speed; and running some 200 yards along the path through the field; with mini balls hitting all around. Finally reaching Stovall's Brigade, and out of sight of the Federal pickets, a crowd of Confederates gathered around the parson, with many congratulations…all seemed to rejoice that their chaplain had run the gauntlet unhurt! 'Parson, give me one of those papers, I'll read every word in it. You risked your life to bring us the papers.' Dozens of men gathered around the parson begging for papers, as the parson passed along the fortifications distributing his literature; and was greeted by all for his escape, and he said to the men, 'Boy's I'll preach tonight about the middle of the line, on that little hill.' The general commanding the brigade sent the following message to the chaplain, 'Tell Chaplain Parks, the Yankee pickets are close to us, and he must have no light preaching, nor speak loud.' That night some 200 soldiers were seated in the dark, in the trenches, and on the embankments; and as he advanced in his talk to the boys he forgot all about the general's request and raised his voice too high! This heard by the Federal pickets… they fired a volley in the direction of the sound; and fortunately their aim was too high, with the balls whizzing over the heads of the crowd. The chaplain and the congregation scattered in all directions; with the chaplain to his horse and the men of Stovall's Brigade to their guns. That sermon cut short by Federal mini balls was never finished!
(William Asbury Park was Chaplain of the Georgia legislature which meets in Atlanta. He was Chaplain about the time he was writing this in 1901. The location he described is less than 10 miles from where the legislature meets.)
My sincere thanks to Gordon Parks (glparks@frontiernet.net), for providing the above articles.
Singleton Coleman Brown, Company B. 52nd Georgia
January 31, 1841 – April 20, 1924
Singleton Coleman Brown had been a farmer and a solid citizen of Barrow County for many years when he died on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924. Coming to then Walton County before 1880, he was the son of Levi Brown, a miller and shoemaker, who served in the War of 1812 in South Carolina. Levi and his wife, Delilah Helton, moved to Habersham County Georgia from Tennessee just before Singleton’s birth in 1841. The third of five children, Singleton grew up near Cleveland in the area of Habersham County that became White County in 1857.
When the Civil War came, Singleton enlisted for three years on July 10, 1862 in Captain J.J. Moore’s Company B of the 52nd Georgia Volunteer Infantry. His company was known as the Cleveland Volunteers and they were assigned to the Army of Tennessee. On July 4, 1863 Singleton was taken prisoner when Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton surrendered Confederate forces at Vicksburg Mississippi after a long siege by Union forces. Singleton’s parole dated July 7, 1863 contained his promise not to take up arms against the forces of the United States until duly exchanged by the proper authorities. The Union officer who signed his parole was Major John C. Fry, of the 20th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. A family story is that Singleton and other members of his company walked back to Georgia after they were released, formed the company again and served until the war’s end in April 1865.
About a year later in Lumpkin County Georgia, Singleton married Margaret C. McElreath on April 6, 1866. She was the daughter of James M. and Rachel Dowdy McElreath who lived near Dahlonega. The lived a short time near Carter Hill, then settled about one mile southeast of Bethel. Singleton and Margaret had 13 children between 1867 and 1891, all of whom survived to adulthood. They were from strong stock – Singleton died at the age of 83; Margaret was the oldest surviving widow of a Barrow County Confederate veteran when she died in 1942, less than one month short of her 98th birthday.
The local newspaper reported his death:
“Mr. Singleton Brown, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of this county died at his home in the Bethel community last Sunday. He was 83 years, 2 months and 20 days old at the time of his death. He had been sick only a few days.
“The remains were buried at Bethel church last Monday, of which church he was a member, Rev, J.C. Harbin conducting the funeral services. Besides his widow, he leaves the following children: James Brown of Atlanta; Thomas, George, Judson, Grover and Ernest Brown of this county; Mrs. (Tavie) Thurmond Adams of Winder; Misses Lou (Mary Luellen) and Willie (Millie) Brown of this county, and one adopted daughter, who is also a grandchild, Miss Era Edwards Brown (daughter of J Robert and Caroline Brown Edwards; Caroline died in 1904).
“ Mr. Brown also leaves 48 grand children and 25 great grand children.
To the bereaved ones the deepest sympathy of a host of friends is extended.”
(Researched and written by Singleton’s great great grandson William W. McCollum)
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