Book Description

Clinch's 4th Georgia Cavalry grew out of a need for a military force in the coastal region of Southeastern Georgia. This sparsely populated region, which contributed several regiments of Infantry to the Confederate Army, was virtually without defense in mid - 1862. The Confederate Authorities had essentially abandoned the practically indefensible coastal area with its numerous rivers, bays, creeks, tidal estuaries, and off-shore islands, and much of its male Caucasian population had left to join either the Army of Northern Virginia or the Army of Tennessee. In early 1862, Confederate military authorities organized these various companies from Appling, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Glynn, Pierce, Wayne and Ware counties. This unit was originally called the Cavalry Command South of the Altamaha River, then the GA 3rd Cavalry Battalion. John Mayers' Appling County Cavalry garrisoned in Holmesville could have also been part of this battalion. For their entire existence, both the Cavalry Command South of the Altamaha River and its successor, the 3rd Battalion, Georgia Volunteer Cavalry, operated solely inside their nominal area of responsibility - the coastal region of Southeastern Georgia between the Altamaha and Saint Mary's Rivers. The call for volunteers to the 26th Georgia Volunteer Infantry resulted in so many men enlisting that thirteen full companies were raised. Since the standard infantry regiment had ten companies the excess volunteers from the 26th Georgia Infantry were reassigned and combined with other volunteers to form the 4th Georgia into a full cavalry regiment. Companies Of The GA 4th Cavalry Regiment Company A - Wayne Rangers. - Wayne and Ware Counties. Captain J.S. Wiggins Company B - Glynn Guards. Glynn and Ware Counties. Captain W.M. Hazzard. Originally 1st Company A, 26th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry Company C - Camden Mounted Rifles. - Camden County - Captain N.A. Brown. Originally 1st Company B, 26th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Company D - Camden Chasseurs - Camden County - Captain John Raddick Company E Captain R.N. King, Company F Georgia Dragoons - Berrien and Thomas Counties. - Captain J.P. Turner Company G - Atlantic & Gulf Guards / Wild Rangers - Ware County - Captain A. McMillian. Formed from remnants of Hendry's Company, Georgia Cavalry. Company H - Berrien and Thomas Counties - Captain T.S. Wylley Company I - Clinch County - Captain J.C. Nichols Company K - Shiloh Troop - Ware and Pierce Counties. - Captain D. Crum.