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Week ending date Saturday, June 7, 1862

Rome received three dispatches from Richmond about violent rains and significant fighting that involved the 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th and 19th Georgia Regiments. Losses on both sides during the Battle of the Chickahominy were reported as heavy. Reliable reports had the enemy retreating. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 3 1862 tues.pdf http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 7 1862 sat.pdf

An editorial in the Tri-Weekly Courier asked the question “Is it Possible that the Union can be Restored” then answered it with a resounding “it is not. The North and the South are distinct races of people….In the main, the character, education and habits of the one is liberal, honorable and generous. That of the other is stingy, mean and selfish.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 7 1862 sat.pdf

The Sardis Volunteers under Captain John Hart changed their name to the Prospect Rangers and were converting to a cavalry unit. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 7 1862 sat.pdf

The Floyd Guards under Capt Bray left town Friday to join their regiment. They were expected to be ordered to Mobile http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 7 1862 sat.pdf

Week ending date Saturday, June 14, 1862

A news report from Atlanta told of “Andrews, the leader of the Engine Thieves” being returned there and “launched into eternity.” He was convicted and executed for spying. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 10 1862 tues.pdf

The death of two members of the Cherokee Artillery was reported in correspondence from Cumberland Gap. William Newton (Yeiser’s Light Battery) and Daniel N. Cooper both died of pneumonia. “Disease makes sad havoc in the ranks of our volunteers; it kills more than the bullet; the hospital is more dreaded than the battle field.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 10 1862 tues.pdf The death of John B. Harrison (Floyd Sharp Shooters) was also published. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 12 1862 thurs.pdf

A first hand report of the Battle of the Chickahominy was included in correspondence from the Rome Light Guards. “The Hessians fought bravely, disputing every inch of ground; yet before the desperate charges of the chivalrous sons of the South, fighting for all that freemen hold dear, they fell back full three miles on this memorable day….Whenever the enemy opened a new battery our men charged it immediately with a shout, and it is said that late in the day when the feds heard this shout, they would not wait even to see the conquering heroes, but would anticipate the result of the charge, abandoning their guns and everything impeding hasty flight.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 12 1862 thurs.pdf

Another company was formed for home protection. The Mechanics Independent Infantry under Captain J. C. McKown was made up of young men employed in the Armory and Eve & Co.’s shop. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 12 1862 thurs.pdf

Week ending date Saturday, June 21, 1862

A little boy, Jos. Harbin, (7 or 8 years old) drowned in the Oostanaula river near the steam boat landing. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 17 1862 tues.pdf

There was a total eclipse of the moon this week. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 19 1862 thurs.pdf

The report from Cumberland Gap reflected frustration as they were first awaiting the word to “advance” then they expected “to make one of those unpopular moves, generally known as ‘falling back’” and finally they were to return to Big Creek Gap and attack the enemy. The correspondent closed saying that he was anticipating military censors to prohibit him from writing further reports and “are thus compelled to bid adieu to the Courier and its readers.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 19 1862 thurs.pdf

Mr. Sandefer of Bearden & Sandefer’s Daguerrean Gallery was making preparations to join the army and advertised that persons wishing pictures would do well to call soon as “the opportunity to obtain good pictures may not occur again soon.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 19 1862 thurs.pdf

The officers of the Rome Works Artillery were announced as Isaac Donkle, Captain; Samuel Adams, 1st. Lieut.; M. L. Palmer, Senior 2nd Lieut.; Wm. P. Noble, Junior 2nd Lieut.; Wm P. Phillips, 3rd Lieut. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 21 1862 sat.pdf

Week ending date Saturday, June 28, 1862

A letter from one of the members of the Floyd Sharp Shooters, now in Stonewall Jackson’s army, told of their recent casualties (Battle at Union Church June 8th)). Lieut. J. M. Mack and Frank Mills were wounded in the thigh; Bob McVee in the arm and George W. Pyle was wounded slightly. “Our Regiment whipped a whole brigade(Blenker’s) while the other regiments of our division were fighting about two to one.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 24 1862 tues.pdf http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 28 1862 sat.pdf

A listing of the Floyd County companies and their regiments was published as follows:

Floyd Infantry(Capt G. N. Yarbrough) 8th Ga. Regiment

Rome Light Guards (Capt S. H. Hall) 8th Ga. Regiment

Miller Rifles (Capt. Dunlap Scott) 8th Ga. Regiment

Cherokee Artillery (Capt J. G. Yeiser) (Yeiser’s Light Battery) Independent

Floyd Sharp Shooters (Capt. A. S. Hamilton) 21st Ga. Regiment

Fireside Defenders (Capt. J.J. Jones) 22nd Ga. Regiment

Floyd Spring Guards (Capt. M.R. Ballenger) 23rd Ga. Regiment

Berry Infantry (Capt. J. W. Turner) 29th Ga. Regiment

------------------(Capt. Isaac Davis) 8th Ga. Battalion

Mitchell Guards (Capt. Z.B. Hargrove) 40th Ga. Regiment

Cave Spring Rangers (Capt. M.H. Haynie) Col Morrison’s cavalry Regiment

Highland Rangers (Capt. J.L. Kerr) Col Morrison’s cavalry Regiment

Cothran Dragoons (Capt D.F. Booton) Col. Martin J. Crawford’s cavalry Regiment

Freemen of Floyd (Capt. Robert H. Moore) 1st Regt. Ga. Partizan Rangers

Prospect Rangers (Capt. J. R. Hart) 1st Regt. Ga. Partizan Rangers

Floyd Guards (Capt. J. B. Bray) 1st Confederate Regt. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 24 1862 tues.pdf

A new word seems to have made it into the language of the day; skedaddle. It means “to get out of harms way as soon as possible if not sooner.” “Skedaddling is only practiced and well understood by the Yankee army.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1862/2 Apr-Jun/jun 24 1862 tues.pdf

Click here to read 150 years ago in May 1862: The Civil War years.