The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-04
DESERVING A MONUMENT.
Slircf Of Col. Edward Bird and The
Fifth Georgia Cavalry.

v,+sran Dunoan's Account ofthe Mill
.,rv Career of Col. Bird as Com
n,rder Of the Fifth Georgia Pre-
cared From Data Furnished by Col.
al Davant and Col. W. W. Gordon.
An Honorable History of a Brave
commander and a Gallant Regiment.
Ii, a recent notice in the MORNING
NV, I'm connection with movement I'M
5,rtaBcn by survivors of the Fifth Regi-
rsnt Georgia Cavalry, c, S. A, to erect a
monument to the memory of its former
c,r9nel Edward Bird, of Ehingham coun-
~ the MoRNING News was led into some
error as to the particulars of Col. Birds
military career.
The attention of Col w. w Gordon,
the present commander of the Fifth Geor
ola Cavalry, was called to the errors, and
he agreed to furnish a brief history of
90. Birds military career in connection
with the Fifth GeorgiaCavalry. Col. r.
j Davant, who succeeded Col. Bird
as commander of the Fifth Geor-
gia Cavalry, was called upon
for the facts in reference to Col. Bird
and the Fifth Georgia Cavalry which he
kindly furnished. The data was placed
in the hands of Veteran A. McC. Duncan
of the Georgia Hussars, who prepared
the following article. As the Fifth
Georgia Cavalry was composed entirely
of troops from this immediate section of
the state, and large portion of its OPP
erati0ns were conducted in this neigh
borboOd, the history of Col Bird and his
regiment is of particular interest to many
ofthe residents of Savannah and the sur
rounding territory. The MORNING News
publishes Veteran Duncan's account,
which is as follows
As captain of the Efingham Hussars,
Can't. Bird reported for duty with that
company in Savannah on Sept. 6, 1861, and
was Immediately assigned to duty in the
line of outpost guarding the coast near
the city In October following, the Eff
fngham Hussars, the BullOoh troop,
Capt Hendry, the Screven troop, Capt.
Connor, and Company B, of the Georgia
Hussars, Capt. Wiltberger, were united in
formation of the Second Georgia battalion
of cavalry, to the command of which
Montgomery Cumming was appointed as
Northumberland. To this command soon
after was attached the Blue Caps, Capt.
Marsh.
In March, 1862, the Second Georgia bat
TALON of cavalry was recognized, and
Capt. Bird was elected its lieutenant
colonel and r. l. Davant major
In January 1868 this battalion was in
creased to a full regiment of ten companies
by union with the Liberty Independent
troop Capt Walthour; the Liberty Guards,
Capt. Hughes; the Mcintosh Light Ora
goons, Capt o. Hopkins Chatham Light
Dragons, Capt. Aiken; and the Lamar
Rangers, Capt. BradsfOrd the same con-
shutting the Fifth regiment of Georgia
Cavalry. To the command of this regi-
ment by order of the war department,
was assigned Robert H. Anderson, pre-
viOusly in command of the First battalion
Georgia Sharpshooters
From this date until February, 1864, this
regiment continued either in its entirety
or by squadrons and detached companies
to perform outpost duty between Charles
ton S. c., and Darien, Ga. In February.
1864, it was transferred to the depart
ment of Florida and was present at Olus-
tee contributing to the defeat and rout of
the federal forces under Gen Seymour
which had advanced thus far in the inva-
sion of Florida. In the spring of 1864 il
was returned to and resumed duty on the
coast of Carolina and Georgia.
in obedience to special order No. 1fS
under date of May 81, from the ad1utant
and Inspector generals Office. IL was
=.
Johnston, and leaving Savannah June 8,
reported to Cen Joseph Wheeler and was
assigned to Aliens brigade, Keliy's divis-
ion, in time to take part in the well-fought
cavalry action at MONDAY Church, near
big Shanty," on June 20, between the
federal cavalry brigade, under "Minty,n
and portion of Wheeler's command Col
Allen being soon thereafter transferred
to the command of brigade in Martins
A i
brigadier general TO succeed him in com
mand OF the brigade, which was composed
OF the Third, Eighth, Tenth and Twelfth
confederate regiments and the Fifth Geor-
gia regiment
On the promotion of Col. Anderson Col.
Bird became full colonel, Mai Davant.
Northumberland and Capt. Wiltberger
major. On July 80 the regiment bore a
conspicuous part in the series of actions
which resulted in the defeat, rout and
capture of McCook's cavalry division,
5Z0O strong, at and near Newman, Ga.
which, with 5000 other federal cavalry
selected to destroy the railroads in rear
OF Hoods army and the release of prison
eTs at AndersOnvllle, Ca, suffered com
pIeIe discontinue at the hands of Wheeler
WIN a force not exceeding 5000 men, the
Ieuefal loss amounting in round numbers
10 0,OOO, of whom B 200 were prisoners. in
CIudlng .Stoneman' and several brigade
commanders.
McCoOk escaped with not more than
oOO OF his division, part of whom re
turned without their horses
Gen. Anderson having been wounded
near Newman. Col Bird Immediately sue
Ceeoeu TO the command of his brigader
vi AuglO Wheeler lit out with a force
VI f0OO men to destroy the lines of com
IlullIcauons between Sherman and his
ouse OF supplies at Chattanooga, and af-
W. capture of many posts and prisoners
CoV4e ana wagons, and the interruption of
transportation, he divided his force, part
EIolus west and a part going east into
E5SaSI tennessee and West Virginia The
mn regiment being attached to the lat
Vet Vet force was engaged in all the various
engagements raridly succeeding each
VCIet' which occurred on this trip, and re-
turning through Carolina and Northeast
66oorgia, reported back to the army at
peat Creek station on the Georgia rail
~ me departure of Sherman from At
1GuIa II was left for Wheeler and his cav
ttlly 10 constitute the principal opposition
~, ~ ms advance on Savannah. From
SS1eu'e TO the conclusion of the struggle at
'1I..'t.e.hSboro, n. c., it was actively and
ooLll l5lously engaged, defiantly resisting,
~ Jung TO the measure of its strength,
'Hg advance of the foe
Whatever of gallant achievement was
ETits.,u,ght In these many conflicts, the
nm nm Georgia cavalry contributed its