3rd Georgia Sharpshooter Battalion

Confederate Regiments & Batteries > Georgia

1863
Spring A battalion of five companies was organized by Brigadier General Wofford who detailed 50 men from each of the five regiments in his brigade. Unlike other informal sharpshooter battalions in the Army of Northern Virginia, the 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters had a fixed roster and did not disband to its parent units between engagements.
April Captain Nathan I. Hutchins of the 16th Georgia Infantry was elected lieutenant colonel.
June 8 Captain William E. Simmonds of Company H, 16th Georgia Infantry transferred to the Battalion as captain of Company C.
July 2-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nathan I. Hutchins.

From the War Department marker for Wofford’s Brigade on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 2. Arrived at 4 P. M. and formed line 100 yards west of this. Ordered to the front about 6 P. M. and advanced soon afterward along Wheatfield Road flanked the Union forces assailing the Loop and aided the Confederates thereby relieved in forcing them back through the Wheatfield to the foot of Little Round Top. Assailed there by a strong body of fresh troops and receiving at the same moment an order to withdraw the Brigade fell back at sunset to the grove west of the Wheatfield.

July 3. One regiment was left on outpost duty in that grove. The others supported artillery on Peach Orchard Ridge. All withdrew late in the afternoon.

July 4. In line here all day. At midnight began march to Hagerstown.
July 5-23 Retreat to Manassas Gap
September Sent west with Longstreet to the Army of the Tennessee
September 18 Captain William E. Simmonds was elected major.
September 18-20
Battle of Chickamauga

The Battalion did not reach the battlefield in time to take part in the battle.
October 28-29
Wauhatchie
November 15
Little River, Tennessee
November 29
Battle of Knoxville
1864
January 16-17 Operations around Dandridge, Tennessee
Mid-April McLaw’s Division returned with the First Corps from Tennessee to the Eastern Theater. It was under Kershaw’s command while McLaws awaited the results of a court martial for his actions at Knoxville. McLaws was largely vindicated on May 4, but Lee requested that he be reassigned to avoid conflict with Longstreet.
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 22–26 Operations on the line of the North Anna River.
May 26–28 Operations on the line of the Paumunkey River,
May 28-31 Operations on the line of theTotopotomoy River.
June 1-6
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 16-18
Assaults on Petersburg
August 16 Temporarily attached to the Army of the Valley. Brigadier General Wofford was on leave, having been twice wounded in the spring fighting, and the brigade was commanded by its senior colonel, Christopher C. Sanders.
August 16
Front Royal (Guard Hill)

General Wofford ordered the Battalion to cut off retreating Federal units but it was surprised by the arrival of Custer’s Federal cavalry on the field. Wofford’s Brigade lost 24 officers and 176 men captured, many from the 3rd Georgia Sharpshooters. Major William E. Simmonds was captured.
September 2-3 Bunker Hill
September 14 With the situation quiet, Kershaw’s Division was ordered to leave the Valley to return to the Richmond front, but it was turned around and rejoined the Army of the Valley after the news of the defeat at Third Winchester.
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
November 14 Rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia around Richmond.
1865
April 6
Saylor’s Creek

Liieutenant Colonel Nathan I. Hutchins was captured, along with much of the battalion.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The battalion surrendered 1 officer and 22 men.