Cobb's Legion

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Cobb's Legion (also known as the Georgia Legion) was an American Civil War unit that was raised on the Confederate side from the State of Georgia by Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb during the summer of 1861. A "legion" consisted of a single integrated command, with individual components from the infantry, cavalry, and artillery. When it was originally raised, the Georgia Legion was comprised of seven infantry companies, four cavalry companies, and a single battery. The concept of a multiple-branch unit was fine in theory, but never was a practical application for Civil War armies and, early in the war, the individual elements were assigned to other organizations.

Contents

[edit] Infantry component

The infantry battalion was assigned to Howell Cobb's brigade in Lafayette McLaws's Division of James Longstreet's Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. The infantry battalion surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

[edit] Organization

  • Staff
    • Colonel Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb (He formed the Legion in the late summer of 1861, and served as its Colonel until he was promoted to brigadier general in the fall of 1862.) After the components were separated, the highest rank in the infantry battalion was Lieutenant Colonel.
    • Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson Mirabeau Lamar (He was named Lieutenant Colonel on January 18, 1862. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Crampton's Gap, Maryland, on September 14, 1862, and he died the next day.)
    • Lieutenant Colonel Luther Glenn (He was named Lieutenant Colonel on September 15, 1862. He retired on January 11, 1865.)

[edit] Companies

[edit] Battles

The infantry battalion fought in the following battles:

[edit] Cavalry component

The cavalry battalion was expanded first to eight companies, then later to eleven companies before finally being decreased to ten companies. It was redesignated as the 9th Georgia Cavalry, but continued to be called Cobb's Legion. It surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 26, 1865.

[edit] Organization

[edit] Companies

[edit] Battles

The cavalry component fought in the following battles:

[edit] Troup Artillery

The artillery battery was known as the Troup Artillery (named for former governor George M. Troup). It was from Athens, Georgia. After the Legion was reorganized, the Troup Artillery was assigned to the Artillery Battalion of Longstreet's Corps. The Troup Artillery surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

[edit] Battles

The battles it took part in were:

[edit] Trivia

A famous fictional member of Cobb's Legion was Ashley Wilkes, of Gone with the Wind, who was supposedly wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg.

[edit] External links

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