59th Georgia Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries > Georgia

1862
July 16 Captain William A Jackson “Jack” Brown of Company H was elected colonel, George R. Hunter lieutenant colonel and Charles J. Harris major
Assigned to the Military District of Georgia, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
October Assigned to Brown’s Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia
December 22 Lieutenant Colonel Hunter resigned. Major Harris was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Bolivar H. Gee of Company A to major.
1863
May Assigned to George T. Anderson’s Brigade, Hood’s Division, Longstreet’s First Corps
July 2 & 3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel William A. Jackson Brown and brought 525 men to the field. It made three charges in The Wheatfield on July 2. At the beginning of the first charge Colonel Brown was wounded and captured and Major Gee stunned by a shell, leaving Captain Maston G. Bass of Company E in command. The regiment lost 37 men killed, 75 wounded, and 30 missing or captured, including First Lieutenant Benjamin L Brown of Company E, who was wounded and captured.

From the War Department marker for G. T. Anderson’s Brigade at Gettysburg:

July 2. Reached the field about 4 P. M. and formed line. The 7th Regiment was sent southward to watch the Union Cavalry. The others charged into the woods south of Wheatfield and dislodged the Union line from the stone fence. Being outflanked on left retired to crest of Rose Hill. Reinforced by parts of other Brigades they again advanced. The brigades advanced a third time and after a struggle occupied the woodland to its border in Plum Run Valley.

July 3. The Brigade was sent down Emmitsburg Road and assisted in repulsing and holding in check Union cavalry which sought to flank the division

July 4. Assisted in constructing works to protect the flank.

July 5. About 5 a.m. began the march to Hagerstown, Md.
July 10 Lieutenant Colonel Harris resigned, Major Gee was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Maston G. Bass of Company E to major.
July 13-14 Recrossed the Potomac on the return to Virginia.
September Transferred with Hood’s Division to the Army of East Tennessee.
September 19
Battle of Chickamauga
September-November
Siege of Chattanooga
November
Siege of Knoxville
December 5 Withdrew from Knoxville to the northeast.
December 6 To Rutledge.
December 9 To Rogersville.
December 14
Bean’s Station
1864
March 10 Colonel Brown exchanged
April Returned to Virginia and assigned to G.T. Anderson’s Brigade, Field’s Division, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness

Lieutenant Colonel Gee was wounded.
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 23-26 Battle of North Anna
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June Siege of Petersburg begins
August 16
Battle of Deep Bottom

Colonel Brown was wounded.
August Lieutenant Colonel Gee returned from wounded furlough.
August 25
Battle of Reams’ Station
September 29-30 Fort Harrison
October 7 Major Bass was mortally wounded in the head.
October 16 Major Bass died of his wounds in Richmond. Captain William H. Fickling of Company C was promoted to major.
October 27 Williamsburg Road
September 29-30
Battle of Chaffin’s Farm
1865
February 13 Captain William H. Fickling of Company C promoted to major, to rank from the death of Major Bass on October 16, 1864
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 59th Georgia Infantry Regiment surrendered 15 officers and 251 enlisted men under the command of Colonel William A. Jackson Brown