4th Georgia infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Georgia

The field officers were Colonels Philip Cook, George Doles, and William H. Willis; Lieutenant Colonels William F. Jordan, John J. Matthews, Edwin A. Nash, and David R.E. Winn; and Majors F.H. DeGraffenried, Robert S. Smith, and Charles L. Whitehead.

1861
April 26

Created for 12 months state service in Milledgeville. The companies were:

Company A, Southern Rifles – Talbot County  
Company B, Lagrange Light Guard – Troup County 
Company C, Twiggs County Volunteers – Twiggs County  
Company D, West Point Guards, Troup County
Company E, Albany Guards – Dougherty County 
Company F, Toombs Volunteers – Gordon County 
Company G, Glover Guards – Jasper County 
Company H, Baldwin Blues – Baldwin County
Company I, Macon Co. Volunteers, Macon County  
Company K, Sumter Light Guards, Sumter County 
April 27 Moved to Augusta.
May 1 Mustered into Confederate service and assigned to Blanchard’s Brigade, Department of Norfolk.
May 9 George P. Doles was appointed colonel, John T. Mercer (West Point Class of 54) lieutenant colonel and Sergeant Charles L. Whitehead of Company E was promoted to major. Lieutenant Jacob Caracker was promoted to captain of Company H to replace Doles.
May 9 Lieutenant Colonel Mercer transferred to become  colonel of the 21st Georgia Infantry Regiment. Captain John J. Mathews of Company D was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
1862
April Assigned to Blanchard’s-Wright’s Brigade, Huger’s-R.H. Anderson’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia.
April 28 Reorganized for three year’s service. Major Whitehead resigned, and Lieutenant William F. Jordan of Company G was promoted to major. Captain Youel Rust of Company D resigned and was replaced with Captain William E. Smith. Captain Blair Mays of Company F resigned and was replaced by Captain George W. Carey. captain George Bartlett of Company G resigned and was replaced by Captain William F. Jordan, and then Captain John Lane when Captain Jordan became major. Captain Samuel Prothro of Company I resigned and was replaced by Captain William H. Wills. Captain William L. Johnston of Company K resigned and was replaced by Captain David R.E. Winn.
May 8 Captain Robert S. Smith of Company B was promoted to major and Lieutenant Miles H. Hill was promoted to captain of Company B.
May 19 Skirmish at City Point by Company I.
May 22 Lieutenant Colonel John J. Mathews resigned due to disability. Major William F. Jordan was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
May 31-June 1
Battle of Seven Pines
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles
June 25
King’s School House

Sergeant Eugenius S. Ware was killed. Captain William E. Smith of Company E was wounded, losing his leg, and would resign due to disability.
July 1
Malvern Hill

The regiment lost 15 men killed and 78 wounded. Colonel Doles and Adjutant Philip Cook were wounded. Captain Joshua P. Strickland of Company A and Captain George F. Todd of Company D were mortally wounded. Sergeant Edward C. Epps was killed.
July-September Assigned to Ripley’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia. Captain Robert S. Smith of Company C was promoted to major.
August 15 Adjutant Philip Cook was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
September Assigned to Ripley’s-Doles’s-Cook’s Brigade, D.H. Hill’s-Rodes’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
September 14
Battle of South Mountain
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Colonel Doles took command of the brigade when Brigadier General Ripley was wounded. Major Smith took over the regiment until he was killed. Captain William H. Wills took command of the regiment for the remainder of the battle. The regiment lost 22 men killed and 119 wounded in the Maryland Campaign. Captain Caracker was wounded. The regiment lost 29 men killed and 115 wounded in the Maryland Campaign.
September 24 Lieutenant David R.E. Winn of Company K was promoted to major and Lieutenant Robert M. Bisel was promoted to captain of Company K.
November 1 Colonel Doles was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant Colonel Philip Cook was promoted to colonel and Major David R.E. Winn was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

Sergeant Joseph N. Hill was killed.
1863
February 6 Captain Caracker of Company H resigned.
March 25 Near Jacksonville
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

Colonel Cook was wounded. Captain Bisel of Company K was killed and Captain Wills of Company H was wounded.
May 16

Captain Carey of Company F resigned due to disability. He was replaced by Captain James F. Sullivan.
May 30

Lieutenant William H. Willis of Company I was promoted to major
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel David R.E. Winn and brought 341 men to the field. It lost 12 men killed, 26 wounded and 15 missing. Lieutenant Colonel Winn was killed on July 1, and Major Henry Willis took over command. Captain John Lane of Company F was mortally wounded in his left arm, resulting in amputation. He died on July 25.
August 15

Major William H. Willis was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Lieutenant Edwin A, Nash of Company C was promoted to major.
October
Bristoe Campaign
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

Major Edwin A. Nash was captured. Lieutenant John M. Shiver was promoted to captain of Company K.
May 8-21 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 23-26
North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June
Lynchburg Campaign

Assigned to Cook’s Brigade, Grimes’s Division, Army of the Valley District
July 9
Battle of Monocacy
July 12
Battle of Fort Stevens
August 5

Lieutenant Colonel William H. Willis was promoted to colonel, Major Edwin A. Nash was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Adjutant Francis H. DeGraffenried was promoted to major.
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester

Captain Adam C. Frost of Company D was mortally wounded.
September 22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek

Captain James F. Sullivan of Company F was mortally wounded and captured. He was replaced by Captain Joseph McConnell.
December
Siege of Petersburg

Assigned to Cook’s Brigade, Grimes’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
1865
March 25
Assault on Fort Stedman

Major DeGraffenried was mortally wounded, having his leg torn off. He was captured and would die in the Army of the Potomac hospital on the next day. Captain Joseph McConnell of Company F was also wounded and captured, losing his leg to amputation, but survived.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 4th Georgia Infantry Regiment surrendered 7 officers and 93 men at Appomattox. under the command of Captain John M. Shiver of Company H.