Brigadier General Alfred Cumming: The hard charging Cumming served as the Brigade Commander for the 39th Georgia from April 1863 until his severe wounding at the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia on 31 August 1864.
Tunnel Hill, Missionary Ridge. From this vantage point the 39th Georgia's fierce defense and counterattack helped repulse the threat to Cleburne's left flank by Loomis's and Bushbeck's Federal Brigades. The supporting artillery was just over the tunnel while the larger portion of the regiment was on the left of the battery and 2-3 companies supported on the right of the tunnel. You are looking from the Federal perspective. This photo was taken in November 2000. This portion of the Chattanooga battle has somehow avoided the urban wasteland, however, it is not in the nicest parts of Chattanooga so caution should be taken when visiting this area. This area is not under the supervision of the Chattanooga-Chickamauga National Military Park.
Photo Courtesy Major Dave Haines, U.S. Army
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Franklin Ballenger Jackson. Elected 1st Lieutenant of Company B, Phillip's Legion Georgia Infantry June 11, 1861; Lieutenant Colonel of the 39th Georgia Infantry, March 20, 1862. He served as the regiment's second in command until the death of the regimental commander, J.T. McConnell on Missionary Ridge in November 1863 where upon he assumed command. LTC Jackson was wounded four time during the war with his final wound on June 30, 1864. He had tenured his resignation from the service in April 29, 1864 after being elected to the Georgia State House but continued serve until his wounding. Photo circa 1860.
Photo Courtesy of Mr. William Bain, Original provided to Mr. Bain by Miss Agnes Kemp, Spring Place, Georgia
1LT Abner Joel Yancey, Company A. Killed at Jonesboro, Georgia August 31, 1864. (Webmaster's Note: Picture from Military Images Magazine, Volume XVII/2/page 22.)
The Drum. Miraculously, the drum survived the war. As of yet, the story of its 137 year journey is yet to be known, but, it currently resides in the Gratz Historical Society in Gratz, Pennsylvania. Currently, the Whitfield-Murray County Historical Society and the Gratz Historical Society are in correspondence for the return of the drum. It is the desire of the Gratz Historical Society to see the drum returned to the home of the 39th Georgia. The drum major was Private A.D. Bosman of Company D. I have a copy of the requisition for a drum and two drum sticks that was placed by Company D on 31 March 1864 at Dalton, Georgia. Could it be this very drum?
Thanks to William Bain for the lead and the above photo.
The above photos are from Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy, Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1991.
Center, page 37. Private Hugh Lawson Duncan, Company K, 39th Georgia. This photo was probably taken just after his enlistment either at Camp McDonald or once the regiment arrived in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Note the D-Handle Bowie knife, Enfield Rifle, Enfield Cartridge Box under his right arm, and his enlisted frock coat. Left, page 139. This jacket is known as a Tait Jacket and like the pants were worn by Private Duncan during the surrender of the Army of Tennessee at the Bennett House, Greensboro, North Carolina in April 1865. This jacket is believed to have been smuggled through the blockade at Wilmington, North Carolina in the last two months of 1864. The jacket was manufactured by Peter Tait in Limerick, Ireland. A Tait Jacket's characteristics are a five-piece body, eight-button front, and a linen lining. The material was a cadet gray kersey. Right, page 145. Trousers worn by Private Duncan at the surrender. Thanks to Kenneth Bohannon for pointing these photos out to me.
Lieutenant William H. Brotherton, Company C, 39th Georgia. Born on 8 February 1839 near Benton, Polk County, Tennessee and died 27 February 1908 in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to the war, he was a merchant and following the war he was an Atlanta politican and city/police commissioner. Photo courtesy Michelle Gagner. Thanks Michelle!
Private Chester Milligan Daniel. Company D, 39th Georgia. This photo was taken between 1890 and 1900. Born in 1836 in Georgia and dying on 1 August 1911 in Dade County, Georgia. He is buried in Daniel Cemetery in Trenton. Prior to the war he worked with his father on the family farm. He married his wife Mary "Polly" on 4 August 1867. He fought along side three of his brothers and his uncle and cousin were officers in the Company. He made it successfully until the bitter end surrendering with the rest of the regiment at Greensboro, North Carolina on 26 April 1865. I love this photo. I believe it still shows some of the defiance and independence in his eyes. Photo is the courtesy of Roger Daniel. Thanks Roger!
1LT Seaborn H. Daniel. Company D, 39th Georgia. This tintype was taken in the early part of the war. Seaborn originally joined Company A, 19th Tennesee Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the early part of the war and joined the 39th Georgia shortly after its formation. Seaborn's father; Frank, and his four cousins were all in Company D. Seaborn's father was one of the original Lieutenants of Company H, 21st Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Seaborn was born on 5 January 1842 and was elected as the Junior 2nd Lieutenant of Company D on 29 November 1862. He served several substantial periods of time as the company commander and was mentioned by Colonel James Cooper Nisbet in his book "Four Years on the Firing Line" as a very brave officer in his leadership of the company at Missionary Ridge. He was wounded at least once and admitted to the Way Hospital in Meridan, Mississippi on 23 January 1865 after the retreat from Tennessee after Hood's disasterous operations in the Tennessee Campaign of 1864. Seaborn died on 31 October 1936 in Gadsden, Alabama. He is one of the webmaster's ancestors and I am proud of him. The tintype is courtesy of my cousins Roger Daniel and Carolyn Wooten. Thanks a million!!
