An undated portrait of 78Jordan.1 I modified this image from a photograph of the portrait; see the photograph I modified it from if you want. 78Jordan is also in another, low-quality photo; see below.

An undated portrait of 78Jordan.1 I modified this image from a photograph of the portrait; see the photograph I modified it from if you want. 78Jordan is also in another, low-quality photo; see below.

An undated portrait of 78Jordan.1 I modified this image from a photograph of the portrait; see the photograph I modified it from if you want. 78Jordan is also in another, low-quality photo; see below.

78Jordan Norris was born 15 April 18342 in Georgia.3-8 Judging from the 1850 census (copied below), his father was 156William Norris.3 His mother may have been Delisen, 156William's wife at that time, but this is not entirely certain.

1850: 78Jordan's family in Emanuel County, Georgia. Full pages: 1, 2.3

78Jordan married 79Julia Huffman in Emanuel County, Georgia on 7 September 1853.9

1853: 78Jordan's and 79Julia Huffman's marriage record. Full page.9

By 1860 they had settled in Johnson County, Georgia, where 78Jordan would remain until his old age. They had several children. His 1860 agricultural schedule entry shows that he owned no land, 24 swine, and that he grew modest amounts of Indian corn, cotton, peas/beans, and sweet potatoes.10

1860: 78Jordan's family in Johnson County, Georgia. Full page.4

On 24 February 1862 78Jordan joined the Confederate army, specifically the 14th Regiment Georgia Infantry, Company F. His recruitment document describes him as "dark eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, is 5 feet 8 inches high." 11 He received a $50 bounty for joining.12 This date (24 February 1862) was more than 7 months after the war's first battle, and less than 2 months before the first Confederate conscription act was signed into law. Like many who joined around this time, 78Jordan probably hoped to avoid the stigma of eventually becoming a conscript, and volunteering meant that he would be able to fight alongside men he knew. Except for one 30-day furlough that began 12 February 1865,13 78Jordan was never noted as sick, captured, or absent. Decades after the war, a fellow soldier from the same company described 78Jordan, saying, "I know there was no better soldier in the ___ alwas ready four for duty — alwas cheerful —" 14

An excerpt from 78Jordan's recruitment document. Full page.11

Much of the following content about the 14th Georgia is copied from from Ray Dewberry's well-written book, History of the 14th Georgia Infantry Regiment, which transcribes letters written by soldiers in company A of the 14th Georgia. Below I reproduce some of the more interesting excerpts, but an interested reader may prefer to read Dewberry's book, which provides much more context and more excerpts from the soldiers' letters.

Although 78Jordan initially enlisted for the duration of the war, not long after he'd joined up with his regiment in Virginia, many in his brigade were distraught when their 12-month enlistment terms were involuntarily extended. A soldier in Company A of the 14th Georgia wrote a letter that reads:

The following day on April 16th, we were treated to another shock. The so-called “twelve month enlistment” has now turned into “duration of the war enlistment”; so states the law passed by the Confederate congress and President Jefferson Davis. This caused much anguish not heretofore known in camp because everyone was talking in terms of being home in just two more months. To date, the 14th Georgia had fought no battle nor experienced even a skirmish and void of anyone going AWOL, and certainly no desertions. But in two days time from the enlistment extensions, that is April 19th, two men had walked off from this company with similar happenings throughout. And to hear complaints as one moved around the camp, half were going to do likewise. The Louisiana outfit caught one of theirs below Richmond walking home, or at least the provost guard did, and returned him by wagon on the 21st morning and was shot that afternoon at 2 PM with the roll of five drums. This had a chilling effect on walk offs and for that matter even talking about it. What had heretofore appeared as minor is placed now in the most serious light.15

Letters also describe the regiment's first fight and the days leading up to it:

On the 25th of April, 1862, we marched away from camp Bartow and headed south to Richmond to work on that city’s fortifications and so that went until April 28th, whereupon the entire brigade marched within sight of Williamsburg. Nothing much happened here until the evening of the 1st of May 1862, when mortar rounds began to explode in a minor way at first but increased as the day wore on and stopped at nightfall. We are in well constructed ditches with breastworks at one hundred yard intervals. But this helped little the following morning when cannon exploded all over the area and so it went for most of the day. We kept hearing rumors that other outfit had attacked Federal fortifications without success. Whiting's army pulled out of the whole area. Our brigade was last out, being the rear guard. Nor was it a real problem pull out, for the Yankees fully expected us to attack their army and while they waited we simply left without opposition. Since scattered shells continued to pound our now left behind fortifications, we supposed they feel we are still there. We marched on the main turnpike toward James City County Courthouse and camped near Blevin’s Mill near Barhamsville until the morning of the 5th of May 1862. A detachment of Jubal Early's cavalry rode in and a conference which lasted two hours took place. After their departure we trained two hours at bayonet practice with several cuttings among us. We broke camp at 1 PM and continued up the pike at an unusual hard pace of march and went an hour past Slaterville, Virginia, and again into camp. More bayonet practice continued and more picket duty that night. Rumors abound of a Yankee force ahead of us blocking our path to Richmond. At 3 AM we made ready for battle and moved slowly up the pike leaving behind guards over our wagons and personal bags. We deployed a mile from New Kent Courthouse and at dawn on May 6th we charged triple time toward enemy lines with bayonets in place and overran their lines, sweeping even past the courthouse in five minutes time with many Yankees captured. Our regiment had fourteen prisoners and most of them taken from closets and attic of the courthouse. Despite complaints from some local citizens, by 11 AM we marched toward Richmond with our prisoners and their equipment. But around [4:30 PM] complaints became intense about exhaustion. Up half the night and pressures of the morning battle had taken its toll and the stop and encampment was granted on the York River near Saint James Church. Most all, except pickets, were asleep before nightfall and apparently some of [the pickets slept, too, because] two prisoners got away during the night. On Wednesday, May 7th, 1862, we resumed our march to Richmond and delivered the enlisted ranks of Yankee prisoners to the provost and their officers to a nearby Richmond warehouse and thereafter rejoined our brigade on the east side digging trenches and positioning eight-foot stakes outside breastworks. Preparations are extensive with dirt flying for miles as we fully expect Yankee activity in this area in about a week.16

In the Battle of Seven Pines, Confederates sought to stop Union soldiers from advancing toward Richmond. A 14th Georgia soldier's letter reads:

On Saturday, May 31st, 1862, and long before sunup, our brigade was up and running at 4 AM for perhaps four miles and waded across [...] a very swampy lowland. The idea was to sneak behind a Yankee encampment and attack it [...]. It failed to work and they were laying in ambush and served upon us all the minnie balls and cannon grape as hell itself could muster. Double quick time retreat was bugled and back across the swamp went those able to make it. [...] Upon reaching solid ground, we continued to run for over a mile and regrouped with our brigade and attempted to dig trenches before the Yankees were on top of us again. We shifted our position and was ordered to attack a Yankee breastwork on the right flank and here we lay from Saturday until the following Monday afternoon, surviving attack after attack without food, sleep, and little water. We failed to take the breastworks and was relieved by a Virginia led brigade and we retired from the field totally exhausted and the thrills and adventures of war gone from our system forever. [...] 17

By the start of the Seven Days Battles, Union forces had advanced to within a few miles of Richmond. Confederates fought successfully to force them back. As in many later battles, the 14th Georgia was within A. P. Hill's division.

Thursday, June 26th, 1862. Waded back across the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge and lined up to do battle [...] Around 4 PM, the many bugles sounded the assault and we walked slowly forward driving the Yankee 5th Corps before us taking many prisoners. As backup, the enemy had built ditches and breastworks and it was into these enclaves that the Yankee retreat halted. We continued trying to overrun their positions time and again until 9 PM but without success and the guns fell silent at that time. The artillery on our side moved slowly into position and pounded enemy positions throughout the night allowing little sleep. Grease for our gunlocks was abundantly [passed] around during the late evening hours, which usually meant battle come morning. Yankee artillery was also active throughout the night.

[The next morning the Confederates attacked only to discover that the enemy had already retreated, so the Confederates gave pursuit.] On the retreating enemy’s road was many wagon loads of dead and wounded Yankee bodies, discarded tents, haversacks, knapsacks, blankets, overcoats, canteens, and wagons of every size. By 10 AM we had advanced to Cold Harbor before receiving serious resistance and here our advance was stopped by a rain of cannon shot. For the remainder of the day and into the night our brigade was locked into mortal combat seldom witnessed on any earthly battlefield. Both sides shot at each other point blank, hand to hand group fights with stick, fists, minnie ball sacks, rocks, and homemade spears. But again God was with us and we survived what was later described as mere rear guard action. [...]

[Saturday, 28 June 1862] Lots of dead Yankees and their horses are lying around unburied and we anxiously expected attack at any moment. It never came and after dark we simply slept on the ground with weapons on ready all night. [...] Monday, June 30th. Up early before daylight and scout reports indicate the enemy is in full retreat back toward Williamsburg. It is in that direction we go encountering some minor rear guard action designed to simply slow us down. Trees were cut in our path and bridges burned or exploded but we continued our march on into the White Oak Swamp area and into camp [...].18

On the last day of fighting (1 July 1862), the 14th Georgia was kept back as reserves but watched the battle from a distance. After the battle ended, they slowly returned toward Richmond, looking for stray Yankees, then camped south of Richmond for the next few weeks.18

A. P. Hill's division was moved under Stonewall Jackson's command due to personal conflicts. At the Battle of Cedar Mountain (a.k.a. Slaughter Mountain), Jackson would repel a Union advance led by John Pope.

On August 8th, 1862, we are encamped near the Orange County Courthouse. The heat is devastating and stragglers are everywhere to be seen under the shade of trees. August 9th we are bugled from sleep at 2 AM in the morning. In short order we are off and running again. The rumors are wild as to what all this means. The hot temperatures soared from bad to almost unbearable as the day progressed. As evening approached, the sound of cannon could be heard growing closer and closer and written signs along the roadway identify the distant high ground as Slaughter Mountain. Advancing up Culpepper Road [...] Thomas' brigade went to the right in support of Early's Virginia brigade [...]. We positioned behind a wooden fence with a huge cornfield to our front and none too soon as the Yankees burst forth from the woods beyond and came forth toward us in uncountable numbers. Being so ordered, we withheld discharge until our distance was sixty yards and the crash of musketry and artillery cleared the entire cornfield. Immediately afterward, at least a hundred enemy cavalry emerged from the same wooded area and charged our lines with great determination. But our sister regiments had advanced sufficiently to our left to assure a withering crossfire, which wrecked havoc on their advance, which sent horses running in every direction. The enemy infantry on observing the destruction of their cavalry returned to the wooded area and continued their retreat. Our bugles blew double-time forward and we left our hiding places and pursued the retreating army until nightfall to a place called Hudson’s Mill. We dug holes and slept by our arms for the remaining portion of the night. Near morning we left the front of the enemy’s gathering army and marched back to Slaughter Mountain and begin tending our wounded and burying our own and enemy dead. Sunday, August 10th, 1862- dug trenches preparing for a Yankee attack, which never happened. Everywhere could be seen the scavenging of blue and gray bodies for whatever they might yield. Shoes was always the top item for self and trade. Afternoon brought forth thunder storms with very heavy rains. Monday, August 11th truce granted the Yankees and their wagons entered the area to reclaim the remaining unburied and wounded. Late that evening after the truce teams had departed we piled pine trees along our front lines and fired them to create the illusion of warlike preparations for the following morning; but Jackson had no such intent, and we relocated back across the Rapidan River to improve upon our defenses there. However, no attack came, so we withdrew to move onto the Crenshaw Farm area located between Gordonsville and Orange Courthouse but without tents and slept on the ground and in the open air.19

After repelling Pope at Cedar Mountain, Robert E. Lee turned his full attention to trapping Pope. Stonewall Jackson marched his men 62 miles in 48 hours and captured Pope's supplies from behind him. This maneuver would soon provoke the Battle of 2nd Manassas (a.k.a. 2nd Battle of Bull Run). The following letter describes the weeks leading up to the battle, including enjoying the delicacies and supplies captured from Pope, and then on to the battle itself and the smaller Battle of Ox Hill soon thereafter.

Friday, August 15th, 1862 - broke camp late in the afternoon and marched northward arriving into camp at Mountain Run with Clark's Mountain in full view to the east of us. The next two days we spent in the most rigid training by General E. L. Thomas heretofore known. He rode from regiment to regiment shouting his disapproval at our performance at Slaughter Mountain. This rebuke was not well received as we had expected handclasps instead of tail kicks. Nevertheless, great respect existed for General Thomas, and his criticism was simply tolerated. [...] A gold citation was added to our regimental colors. [...] August 19th, we underwent no training and instead lounged around and went fishing. August 20th, 1862, we left the area marching northward toward Culpeper and that night camped near Hazel River in the woods near a swamp. Had a pleasant night except for the usual insects and noisy frogs. Two men claimed snakebites. Hunger abounds and marching with only a handful of squash plus wormy corn-on-cob removed from passing fields. This led to excessive irritation in the ranks and fights, which might not have otherwise been. And adding to this is the extreme heat as we trudge along in Virginia's famous red clay dust. [...] Friday, August 22nd, 1862- up early and the march continues with rain-clouds building overhead and us praying for it to happen. In the afternoon, it did happen and no one complained about walking in it. The conjecture among us is that Jackson has something in mind as there is no slowing the pace. Camped that evening in White Sulphur Springs near a burned bridge. [...]

August 27th up very early and marched into Manassas Junction. Fires were everywhere and we made no attempt to put them out. Yankee boxcars were coupled together on sidetracks with many on fire, and yet others had already burnt to their trucks. Still many boxcars had been salvaged and guarded for their content. On some, Jackson’s personal guards were literally thrown out of the way and we set about sampling such delicacies unknown and not imagined; that is, champaign, whiskey, spices, coffee, lobster salad, sardines, candy, nuts, fruit juices, pickled pig feet, and things with names not understood. It was truly Christmas in August and all loaded down to the extent that much had to be discarded on the march. August 28th, 1862- bugled awake at one o’clock in the morning with yells that the Yankees are coming [...] By early afternoon, we crossed over Bull Run Creek, was involved in a short artillery skirmish, and arrived into Stonewall's ranks before the trap sprang shut.

August 29th- Friday starting an hour after daylight, the blue enemy came on wave after wave only to be slaughtered like cattle in front of a railroad embankment which we successfully held. Powder and minnie was soon exhausted with defenders taking advantage of the great abundance of stones seating the railroad ties. Our 14th was front line on top of the embankment and was forced off the top only to be helped back by our sister reserves, and to continue in this tooth and nail fashion until the day's end and honestly thought darkness would never arrive. August 30th the battlefield was quiet somewhat until two o'clock in the afternoon when again the Yankee army came forth three lines deep with banners and in beautiful array as though on a parade field. But as they approached our lines, the artillery from our rear and from Longstreet's unnoticed army devastated the on comers. Their lines became ragged, stunned, and unable to move. And in that state, our bugles blew us forward and we captured a goodly part of Pope's army with the remainder put in full retreat. We pursued them until nightfall when heavy rains began which favored the enemy and rendered forward movement more difficult.

August 31st- rain or not, we continued forward throughout the day finding no resistance until the evening of September 1st near Chantilly Plantation near a place called "Ox Hill." Powder was wet on both sides and hand to hand combat became the order of remaining daylight. The lines were uncertain that night and the Yankee General Kearny stumbled in the area occupied by the 55th Virginia and was killed as he attempted escape. The following morning as we went forward, the enemy was gone leaving at least a hundred wagons of equipment." 20

The 14th Georgia was spared during the disastrous Battle of Antietam. A letter home explained:

On the evening of the 15th, most of Jackson's army left northward but our brigade was left behind for guard and parole duty. With not enough guards, many of our prisoners escaped. These duties continued through to the evening of the 18th at which time we departed. By midday of the 19th, our brigade had rejoined Jackson's army near Shepherdstown as it returned from Sharpsburg, Maryland. Wagons loaded with the wounded were endless in passing. Insults against Jackson, Longstreet, and Lee were numerous. [...]

With the coming of a large Yankee force, we retired southward and camped near Bunkersville located not far from Winchester, Virginia. Here we remained, regrouping, training new recruits, and resting in general. October 28, 1862, broke camp and marched to a point near Berryville and remained near Castleman's Ferry until November 10th. Stonewall Jackson had enjoyed our railroad damage last month and sent us here to accomplish more of it, and so we proceeded to tear up Yankee track for at least twenty-five miles.21

The Confederates enjoyed a wildly lopsided victory at the Battle of Fredericksburg, but A. P. Hill's division first had to repel an intense attack by William Franklin, whose men had invaded the area using pontoon bridges. Hill's front brigades initially crumbled, but Thomas' brigade (of which the 14th Georgia was part) reinforced them and drove Franklin back.

[...] our journey somewhat ended the following day, December 3rd when we marched onto Military Road and a short march later, into some thick woods five miles south of Fredericksburg, Virginia. We had been on a continuous march for the past twelve days after leaving camp north of Winchester. Perhaps we had covered during this time frame around two hundred miles and over some of the most appalling terrain on the face of God’s earth and through weather, such as rain, snow, sleet, and any other condition one can possibly nightmare up. The weather turned against us on December 4th and 5th with snow generally five inches deep and snow drifts up to four feet. Shoes, clothing, and especially overcoats were lacking with almost everyone. The suffering among us is indescribable. We shifted our camp onto an area called Yerby's Farm. On December 10th, the weather improved and we moved into battle position, it now being clear that Lee expected the Yankees in a big way and thus the purpose for the unbelievable hard march.

On Thursday, December 11th, 1862, we are located just off Military Road digging our trenches, or as some put it "our graves". [...] The Yankees are busy bees floating lots of boats, connecting them, and building bridges on top of the floating boats in order to cross the river. [...]22

The letters continue:

The gathering storm is at the moment being taken by our side with great calm. Gambling continues unabated into the wee hours. The three very pretty New Market girls are packing to leave as they sense the rising tension. They were the talk of the camp [...] Friday, December 12th is spent aiding Major Walker to level his cannon areas and also dig trenches for powder storage. Also we fill up pickle barrels with dirt and roll them into place around the artillery compound. Ike and Tom Mitchell return from helping to shoot at Yankee bridge builders and inform us that the City of Fredericksburg has fallen and is now occupied by uncountable hordes of enemy troops.

Daybreak reveals a heavy fog, but as the morning progressed, this gradually faded and mostly gone by mid-morning at which time a thunderous yell is heard from the enemy’s side and their expected attack is underway. Major Walker’s fourteen artillery pieces start their shoot rendering great frustration in talking or listening. In short order things were tooth and nail with minnie balls and enemy shells falling in great abundance. The Pender and Lane brigades to our front were being overrun and our brigade was bugled forward in double-time fashion in support of our sister brigades. As a result we pushed forward into their ranks, and it became a Pender-Thomas brigade and thus unified we devastated Yankee onrushes. Jubal Early's brigade also shifted placing the enemy in a horrible crossfire. The Walker artillery battery is fast dumping bucketfuls of nuts and bolts into cannon mouths which multiply enemy dead and wounded into piles of mangled human carnage. Certainly half of the attacking enemy lay dead or dying before our lines and those fortunate enough to escape in retreat did not again return. Our portion of the line was secure by [2:30 PM] but we could hear constant cannon and rifle fire to the north of us before General Longstreet's front. We continued in our trenches unattacked throughout the balance of the evening even until 9 PM when relieved by Early's Virginia regiments and we departed exhausted and suffering under a chorus of enemy moans from their wounded laying unattended on the battlefield and their screams growing into a united wail which seem to grow louder, ghostlike, and profoundly nerve-racking and there was no rest or sleep until we moved out of hearing. At 4 AM on the morning of 14 December 1862 we moved back into the trenches and continued throughout the day expecting a renewal of battle which came not. After Christmas we moved south and followed the river down stream perhaps twenty miles and began building a large fort complete with breastworks of sorts. This was called "Camp Gregg" and it was here we settled into winter quarters and ultimately a four month stay to almost the end of April, 1863.22

The letters next describe the regiment's experience into early spring 1863:

Drill, inspections, and mocked combat become a daily routine. That which drew criticism difficult to bear, centered on movements within a brigade; that is, bugle blasts were often misunderstood causing charges in the wrong directions to the maddening screams of General Thomas. Our division spent January gathering money and foodstuffs for the city of Fredericksburg whose people were destitute. There was hardly a home untouched by battle in the entire area and businesses are in ruins. As we moved our gifts up Military Road to the city, the rains were constant, and everywhere were shallow wet graves with body remains openly visible. Most were glad to get back to Camp Gregg.24

The letters continue:

February 1863 is noted for the religious revival in camp. Lots of discussions on holy subjects and everybody had a different point of view. A hundred men in our regiment were allowed to go home on furlough. [...] Sunday, March 8th comes Preacher Lyman of the 49th Georgia and he wound down about [1:00 PM]; after which we enjoyed a meal of boiled goober peas before we marched off to picket duty on the Rappahanock River. We hear the distant whistle of Yankee locomotives coming and going. The boredom is relieved somewhat while on picket duty by trading and conversing with the Yankees across the way. Goober peas, coffee, and items taken from their dead would usually go for shoes, which we lacked more than anything else. [...] March 9th, 1863 gives us excellent weather but that was followed the next day with rain, snow, and sleet... sometimes one, then the other. We write letters, play cards, argue the bible, and sleep... not necessarily in that order. [...] Sunday, March 22nd heard Preacher Lyman again. Inspections and drill remainder of the day until about [5:00]. Horribly windy. We are getting tired of hanging around this place. Let's fight and get this thing over with. Tuesday, March 31st. Heavy snow today and we thought it was all over with. Monday, April 6th the snows are melting fast. The 14th against the 35th in a ball game which resulted in a massive free for all fist fight. This was not a small thing. Multitudes were locked into bayonet duels but no one was seriously hurt. Summary hearings and a few court-martials came forth. Many made to dig up tree stumps. Others marked time on a pickle barrel- a rather silly thing to watch, with the barrel rolling at times. Tuesday, April 21st, 1863 comes the medical corps with vaccinations and very sore arms for all.24

At the Battle of Chancellorsville, Jackson's corps made a surprise flank attack.

The following morning we struck out following Stonewall Jackson into the wilderness, and to a point that only he and God knew about. With so many brigades leaving on the morning of May 2nd, ours didn't join the end of the line before [11:00]. [...] This was a different march and no smoking or talking allowed in the most rigid way. Every man knew we were sneaking around the enemy for a flank or rear attack. We passed quietly by Catherine Furnace area and headed south. But fifteen minutes had passed and the tail end of our army was under attack making it necessary for Archer and our brigades to run back in aid. Some of the wagons and men of Best's 23rd Georgia were under attack; indeed most of them were captured. But the enemy had fled and we reversed fast. We hurried to catch up with our main army but the main attack by them was under way long before we could get there. Without us and General Archer's brigade, the enemy was still swept from the field. That night under cover of darkness, we prepared for the morning of May 3rd, ourselves making up the second line of attack, then being prepared we slept by our guns on the ground the remainder of the night obtaining whatever sleep possible, which was very little. At the crack of dawn, we rushed forward and began our work of Yankee destruction. The enemy had constructed heavy fortifications complete with breastworks but we drove them backwards and overrun their line in short order and continued our push over top of yet another second line of fortifications similar to the first. But bulging out ahead of our army had placed us in grave crossfire and we had to run backward to our former position for protection. And later that night cannon shell became so intense that we retreated even further back to our original lines. The Yankee shells set the woods afire and before our very eyes the wounded of both sides were burned alive in the most nightmarish experience that human beings could be expected to undergo. Many from both sides yelled "truce, truce" but it never happened. The morning brought a frightful scene of multiple charred bodies in their dead positions of attempts to flee the heat and flames which gave no mercy.24

78Jordan allegedly ran forward with the 14th Georgia's regimental flag during the charge on May 3rd, although the source is questionable; see more information here. The area his regiment charged that morning was generally around coordinates N38.3135 W77.6476. The flag in question still exists and is stored inside Georgia's state Capitol; you can see a picture of it here.

The letters describe the weeks following Chancellorsville:

Monday, June 8th, 1863, a colorful parade assembly with citations pinned on our brigade and regimental flags. [...] And on the morning of June 14th [...] [o]ur whole army had faded westward and we obviously were last out. We past through the last battlefield area with little conversation. The burnt out woods, half buried corpses, rotting horseflesh, half gone forests and other evidence of recent war were everywhere to be seen. So it was good to pass quickly on through the area. And afterward, the troops seem to gain stability and morale. Regimental and brigade flags were unfurled. Slow, fast, and sometimes even fancy drumbeats sounded and songs were sung. The 35th Georgia had the best harmonizers and we enjoyed listening to them sing but grossly disliked them as a group and dubbed them as the "braggarts of the brigade". The 14th and 45th often intermingled mainly because of blood kin in both. By evening of June 17th we were marching through Culpeper. The inhabitants were haggard and famine marked their faces and the difference between last year and today was the talk of the company. By early morning of the 19th we started into the Blue Ridge Mountain range by way of Chester's Gap and near noon on the 20th we were at Front Royal and we did not linger but continued two miles north to the Shenandoah River. A boat bridge across had been built and men and wagons were crossing but not fast enough and a pileup of thousands were in fields and along the banks. Millions of bats from mountain caves were everywhere to be seen darting and diving after men's caps were thrown into the air. And soon thousands were engaged in the slaughter of bats with sticks as they followed hats to the ground and this went for hours. By the 22nd of June 1863 we went past Berryville, and the 23rd was at Shepherdstown and late that evening crossed the Potomac River, past through Sharpsburg, Maryland on the 24th listening to many stories from the previous year. Thomas' brigade had missed this battle last year since we were at the time transacting business at Harper's Ferry. Through heavy rains we marched on reaching Hagerstown, Maryland and past into the great state of Pennsylvania on the 26th of June 1863. Certain it is that we shall run into the Yankee Army somewhere up here, and equally certain it is that we shall beat their tails. On the 27th we past Chambersburg and turned eastward and encamped near a small community called Fayetteville. Remaining here on the 28th and 29th, we moved just beyond Cashtown on the 30 of June 1863.26

The Battle of Gettysburg was a serious defeat from which the Confederacy never really recovered. The 14th Georgia only fought briefly on the first day, but its attack was successful. Although the regiment was held back as reserves for the rest of the battle, they had a good view and helped the wounded.

[1 July 1863] we were up early at 5AM and dressed for march in a slow drizzle of rain and we fell in to go and here we stood while brigade after brigade left. Finally, with half the morning gone, we left also a full hour behind the rest. Since grease cans were past around last night and a full ration of whiskey this morning, then we suppose the Yankee army must be close by. But eastward we went down the Chambersburg Pike and soon heard the boom of cannon at a distance and upon reaching a small creek called Willoughby Run began to observe stragglers from some of the units that had passed before us. Many wounded being attended to and laying along the creek bed. We begin to deploy to the left and to the right with the 14th regiment walking forward on the left side of the pike near a new railroad bank. Before finishing our deployment the charge bugle sounded and off we run splashing across the creek and up the ravine amid a terrible spray of grape and musket minnie. The Yankee famed Iron Brigade was caught in the stampede and few were able to escape back into the City of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. And we charged past many of our own exhausted brigades, and many unwounded were pressed ahead of us into the doing of their duty. And the stubborn enemy began to waiver and finally break and routed down the ridge with hundreds of the slow runners being captured and from the heights we could see some of our own army entering the city. But we were bugled southward onto Seminary Ridge, which had just been cleared of the enemy and here we, part of Thomas' brigade and sister brigades gather for further direction from General Pender. None came and until we slept, across the way came forth sure sounds of preparations by the enemy of breastworks, ditches, and the marches of multitudes gathering to do battle. Creaks of the wheels coupled with grunts of horses define without doubt the placement of cannon.

July 2nd, 1863. Thursday. Up early and deployed on the eastside of Seminary Ridge and waiting for the bugle to attack. And we waited. [...] the summer heat was becoming extreme. Our deployments could easily be seen by the enemy, and the shells were increasing by the hour. As General Pender rode along our waiting lines, one of the incoming shells exploded nearby seriously wounding him and two other staff officers riding with him and they were taken from the field by stretchers-bearers. The wait continued until well after [4:00] at which time to our extreme right our army's cannon opened upon the enemy even as an extreme clap of thunder and as the evening progressed the Alabama, Virginia, and Mississippi outfits located just to our right charged down the ravine into battle and disappeared into the thick smoke collecting. We stood up and waited for our own bugles to blow. But the signal never came and near dark many of us ran down the ravine to help the returning wounded of the 5th and 8th Florida Regiments back up the hill and the mass numbers of the wounded were shocking to behold among General Wilcox's Alabama regiments.

July 3rd, 1863. Was up before daylight this Friday morning fully expecting to share in whatever was to come. [...] As was the case yesterday we waited through out the morning. Many sewed their names into their shirts, a depressing thing to watch. But many saw this battle as Fredericksburg in reverse. The Yankees had the heights instead of us and is next to impossible to capture. Our failure to do so yesterday failed to add hope to this morning. A spectacle heretofore unknown among us were the multiple prayer circles openly engaged in by officers and ranks. At about [1:05] the artillery to our rear and to our right opened upon the enemy heights across the way and continued for at least two hours. The very trees seem to dance on top of the ground and the whole of Seminary Ridge whereon we stood rocked and reeled as though hell itself was attempting to break free. Shortly after [3:00] the bugles of our army began to sound forward the charge and everyone to our right went forward but we and everyone to the left of us did not. And Colonel Folsom and staff came galloping by stating we would be held in reserve and to ready for a counter-attack if our army did not fare well. Our army did not fare well and thousands were killed and wounded. The sight of their return, at least those spared, was a nightmare to behold and we could not leave our defenses to help as done last night but waited for the counter-offensive which never came.27

After their Gettysburg defeat, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia limped back to Virginia.

July 4th, 1863. Saturday. Periodic shells though out the night made sleep most difficult. Waiting for enemy attacks which never happened. Very cloudy and early afternoon brought forth a drizzle and by nightfall, we formed in the muddy roads and headed south and march all night. No smoking or torches of any kind. Mud, muck, and mire at times up to our knees and the whole moving disorganized at snails pace- but still in the direction of dear ole Virginia and safety. We retreated on through Fairfield reaching them by [4:00] the following day. The villages and farms are no longer immune from their stocks and foodstuffs. We take as we go and how the locals squeal.

July 7, 1863. On the heights between Hagarstown and Williamsport digging trenches and waiting for Meade's Yankees half of us digging, the other half sleeping in the mud. As we prepared for the expected Yankee attack, our army's engineers were building a pontoon bridge across the Potomac River under trying circumstances without which escape would be impossible. But finally it was completed by the 13th of July and our men and equipment went over at a place called Falling Water. [...] And we watched as the pontoons were cut on our side and shot away by cannon on the far shore and the thankful cheers of thousands as the many boats were carried by the angry rain swollen current swiftly down stream. We then marched twenty miles and went into camp just west of Bunker Hill, Virginia at a place called Mill Creek.

July 19th 1863. [...] Again we broke camp and marched to Chester Gap and continued across the Blue Ridge Mountains and into Culpepper. A lot of our wounded were housed in the hospital here and we took time to visit them.27

After Gettysburg, the 14th Georgia wouldn't fight again until the following spring. However, in October the regiment did watch (but not participate in) the Battle of Bristoe Station, when A. P. Hill, acting alone and rashly, sent two North Carolina brigades to their doom.

[4 August 1863] in a cornfield a mile outside of Orange Courthouse. This is a massive encampment with soldiers setting up in every direction the eyes look. The former wounded are returning and new recruits added. Flour, bacon, potatoes, and other items are coming in great abundance. Clothing and shoes are also being provided. Apples and blackberries are also plentiful.

August 26th. A deserter was tied to a pole and shot amid a lot of loud drum beating.

September 21st corps grand review with General Lee present. A lot of pretty ladies were present from distant places. We render the air with three cheers in honor of General Lee to demonstrate our continued support and indeed it was sincere and heartfelt as we felt his need. And at first a few, and then many, and then most, stood forth and raised his right arm to the square and yelled "to the death" and this many times. As we marched past the reviewing stand, we could see he was well pleased and the camp's critics were no longer to be found for fear of the great majority. Shooting deserters begins to be the talk of the camp. General Lane of the North Carolina outfits has shot at least ten during this month alone; ours only two. Desertions are very few and those AWOL are returning by the multitudes. The manpower strength of our brigade has more than doubled while here at Orange. Another extremely noticeable change is religious revivals — they are everywhere and the whole army is alive with it. Forty-five, including Colonel Folsom, in our 14th regiment were baptized on the 21st of September 1863 on the banks of the Rapidan in plain sight of Yankee pickets. We notice a part of Longstreet's command are no longer in their place; they indeed have slowly been pulling out for the past two weeks but now have become the talk of the camp. Are we leaving also and go where they went? Tuesday, September 22nd, picket duty on the Rapidan. Thursday, September 24th. Back in our Orange position enjoying the boredom of camp life. Thursday, October 1 Walker's Ford on the ole Rapidan River doing the usual picket duty trading and talking with Yankee pickets. They tell us of an overwhelming defeat of the Union Army out west by General Longstreet. If one wants to know anything about our army, one need only ask a Yankee picket. Rumors are flying that our whole army was heading west to Tennessee and beyond. [...]

October 9th, 1863. Up before daylight with yells and screams everywhere to be heard and the whole army is on the move. October 10th, marched through Madison, Virginia and afterward broke into a double time toward Culpeper Courthouse, arriving on the 11th. The Yankees had pulled out in a hurry leaving a small amount of equipment behind. We are totally exhausted after running clean around Cedar Mountain hoping to capture a goodly part of the Yankee army, but that came to naught and a severe disappointment to us all but we continued hot pursuit toward Warrenton, Virginia entering it on the afternoon of October 13th. That night a big red glow on the skyline east of us indicated mass Yankee burnings as they retreated.

Wednesday, October 14th leaving in the early morning hours, we run awhile and walk awhile hoping to catch up with the retreating northern armies but only finding burning camp fires but no Yankee army. Heading down the Auburn Mills Road, it is obvious the Yankees are running scared as knapsacks, canteens, overcoats, and foods litter the road side. At last we arrived on the heights overlooking Broad Run and Bristoe Station areas to see multiple thousands of the enemy covering the plains across the creek. Our cannon opened sending them into panic in every direction and down the road went several North Carolina regiments and poured across the plains aligning themselves and running forward at the same time. Our brigade watched from the heights as the Yankee trap snapped shut. The enemy's thousands hiding behind the Bristoe Railroad embankment and the distant Yankee artillery killed and captured a goodly portion of North Carolina's finest right before our eyes. The area had been pinpointed for artillery before our arrival because the explosions all happened at exactly the same time. It was obvious to us all that our General Hill should have recon the area with cavalry before rushing troops in. The enemy that we had pursued so hard and fast simply pulled out of the area with us standing on the heights watching as no further effort or attack on our part took place. And as the Generals and staff came for a closer look at the carnage, no one spoke or waved for we were mad at them.

October 15th, in a hard rain, we ventured down and helped gather the wounded and bury the dead, both of which numbered at least two thousand. October 16th. We are on the march in hard rains pursuing the Yankee army into the Bull Run area and waited receiving unaimed shells to slow pursuit. But Meade's Army kept going apparently wanting no part of a third Bull Run. Our cannons were mired in mud and the chase was over but not the war and we went to work tearing up the Orange and Alexandria Railroad tracks between Bristoe Station and the Rappahannock Bridge which itself had been blown up by the Yankee army. But we did more by burning up each crosstie and afterward went back across the river, dug in and waited. Monday, October 26th, Went to picket duty on the Rapidan and relieved the 14th South Carolina. Shot at some Yankee cavalry watering their horses. One unhorsed, bowed gracefully, returned to saddle, and slowly left amid some limited hand claps from our side. [...]

President Jefferson Davis came for review on November 25th and we endured a long speech in a cold rain. [...] November 30th night. Through most of the cold night we massed in the woods south of Orange Plank Road to flank attack the enemy; this done, we went forward in a rush the morning of December 1st to find no enemy whatever. A severe disappointment and genuine remorse over this pullout as felt we could pen the Yankee army against the Mine Run for an artillery slaughter from which he wouldn't likely survive. [...] On Tuesday, December 16, 1863, we [...] boarded train cars to Staunton, Virginia, changing only at Gordonville. From there we marched to Buffalo Gap by foot and encamped. Ice was everywhere to be seen with tree limbs bowed to the ground.

On Saturday, December 19th returned to Staunton, Virginia and rode the train cars to Milborough and camped near the train tracks. The winds and temperature rendered matters unbearably cold. Nearby was an old man's wooded picket fence, which our regiment proceeded to take down all around the entire home; then to pile same up, including the gate, and burn for warmth. That not being enough the troops fanned out over the whole village pulling down fences which added fuel to a bonfire no doubt observed by the lurking enemy on the distant mountain tops. But it also attracted the attention of General Thomas who rode into camp so fast and set forth a dressing down that was difficult to live down for months. Over seventy dollars was extracted from all, even those who had no part, and turned over to the elderly gentleman. That was an expensive fire but at least we had a warm night with a degree of sleep. On December 24th, we marched around a nearby mountain and camped near New Market and was visited by two of the three young ladies that had followed us to Fredericksburg last year. They rode about camp on horseback shaking hands and laughing loudly but remained in saddle and left in two hours time not to be seen again. We suppose their hometown connections was the reason for the businesslike approach. On Christmas day, the people of New Market treated us with free pies and other goodies; indeed, multitudes of table were spread to overflow and lavishly set forth in great abundance. It was a royal sacrifice on their part, especially considering wartime conditions. The unusual kindness was ever a part of our conversation. On December 29, 1863, a clear but very cold day. We marched through Mount Jackson [...] December 30th we marched beyond Woodstock and encamped and the following morning continued our march in very cold rain to Strasburg, Virginia.

December 31st watched two soldiers of the "Louisiana Tigers" get tied to stakes and shot amid the usual roll of drums.

January 3rd, 1864 made an arc march through Hardy and Grant Counties to a point just south of Strasburg called Fisher's Hill and camped overnight, then by rail back to Mount Jackson, then by foot back to Staunton arriving January 12th. A tremendous number of our men are now developing rheumatism in their backs and knees. Back rubbings to each other are common place in our camp now with hot moss and lime dust. On January 22nd, we marched to Harrisonburg in Rockingham County and into winter quarters, which indeed was long overdue. Written passes are plentiful and this is the greatest area for resting and rousing in the entire State. Companies took turns as the provost guard within the city and things went fairly orderly throughout our stay here. But to our surprise we remained here until March 1st, 1864 and departed in the cold rain and marched 80 miles back to our regular command at Orange Courthouse of Thomas' brigade, Wilcox's division, and General A.P. Hill's Corps and thence back to the daily grind of regimental and brigade training.28

At the Battle of the Wilderness, the 14th Georgia was initially sent in to support another unit that was struggling but quickly became mired in the dense woods. The next morning the Union soldiers attacked fiercely.

[The evening of 5 May 1864] the Yankee army came on in mass attacking our main army located to our extreme right. Indeed Davis' Mississippi outfits were slowly falling back and one of General Hill’s staff came on the run to direct us to their ranks to give aid and strength. We ran past the 13th and 14th South Carolina Regiments on their knees pleading for deliverance and speared deep into the Yankee held forest only to be recalled. Indeed, retreated back to our own lines crawling because rifle minnies were coming in every direction climbing limbs and rendering the pine trees bare of bark. We crawled toward southern voices in the dark and shot at northern sounding yells often only a few feet away. So thick and heavy were the forest entanglements in this area that no one could see far in any direction and didn't dare move throughout the night for fear of stumbling into the enemy. The slightest sneeze triggered hundreds of shots from every direction. About [3:00 AM on May 6th], a clear Yankee voice reasoned thus: I am Cake of the 96th Pennsylvania and our armies are mixed up. Come daylight, you and I know all hell will break loose and probably nobody in the sound of my voice will live to tell about it. You Rebs let us stand and move out and we will do likewise. Nobody answered but suddenly came alive with movement and men moving fast in whatever direction they felt best. And we moved back a hundred yards into the ranks of the 2nd Mississippi and survived to fight another day. Come daylight the Yankee army came on strong and hard which caused us to slowly retreat backward. The shot and shell would slowly eat up the woods in front of us causing our lines to seek the next batch to our rear to hide behind. Backwards we went and by [6:30 AM] we had slowly retreated but nevertheless fighting up to a half mile from where we began this morning. We are losing the battle. Slowing Yankee movement was Bill Poague's artillery [...] who was double-shotting his cannon and firing over our retreating heads to the detriment of thousands of on rushing groups of enemy that were falling by the hundreds but still they came and if not for the arrival of Longstreet's men, we would have been taken by the enemy. But Longstreet's men filtered through our ranks at [7:00 AM] and in this counter-attack sent the Yankees reeling and our command just sat down and rested from almost total exhaustion. But this rest was of one hour duration and we fell in column and ran ten minutes northward and into battle line and charged Yankee breastworks that were incomplete and overran the one assigned to us. But upon seeing hordes of enemy on rushers, we vacated this position and fell back onto a creek bed and here we fought off attack after attack until blessed nightfall descended and laid this nightmarish days work to an end. After dark we regrouped and up until midnight we dug trenches and built breastworks for the enemy attacks which would surely come in the morning.

Enough moonlight displayed the horrors of hell as scary as any that could be imagined. Dead Yankees and our own were all over and every place to be seen. Hanging out of trees, half in and out of creeks - ruining the drinking water, even our own relatives had to be ignored in preparation for the coming morning battle. Never the less, come morning we would fight to the death and pull as many Yankees from among the land of the living as we possibly can. The butchers bill is high on this battle. Many have been captured [...]. We watched helplessly at a distance as they were taken out and marched off the field. [...] [Their regiment's commander] Colonel Robert Folsom, shot in his side and chest removed by stretcher bearers to the ambulance wagon on Orange Plank Road. [...]

Saturday May 7th, we received little sleep due to the cannonading throughout the remaining night hours. It is drizzling rain. We waited for an attack which never came. At [10:30 AM], General Hill came by looking very sickly himself as he was helped from his horse, and shook many hands and proceeded to do much with the Mississippi regiment next to ours. We waited throughout the day with nothing happening outside of few shot and shell. Sunday, May 8th, 1864 remaining in position improving trenches and breastworks. Monday May 9th although the Yankee army seemed right in our front, much of our army began pulling out and heading south. No doubt the enemy is doing likewise as they lost heavily in the last three days.29

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House was defensive—to stop the Union army from getting between the Confederate army and Richmond.

About [3:00 PM] we began arriving at the Spotsylvania Courthouse area. Crossing Brock Road, we headed into the field east of that city. The town's people were furious that we were seeking confrontation with yankees here instead of elsewhere. But it mattered not as shells were beginning to fall and refugees were leaving southward thus jamming roads with wagons and cattle tied to one another. May 11th, 1864 - with our trenches and other fortified positions completed, we wait in the drizzling rain for the enemy. The rain increased to torrents at nightfall. The enemy became aware of our presence and gathered also [...]. Thursday, May 12th, 1864- the enemy went on the attack [...] and was pushing the 28th North Carolina back on top of us and we merged into their ranks and together drove the enemy from the field taking several hundred prisoners. For the remainder of the day and night was constant onslaught by them, then counter-attacks by us. Tooth and nail and hand to hand combat ensued as thousands on both sides would head into each other with bayonets and attempts to stick each other through the log spaces. Cannon from both sides was rushed to within fifty yards of this mass assembly and fired point blank into the opposing ranks opening wide gaps, only to observe them filling in again. Friday, May 13th evolved into slow but constant skirmishing between the armies but a respectful distance in-between. Saturday, May 14th, 1864- provided a great lull and rains continued. The ditch of running water from the direction northward was literally running red with what appeared to be pure blood from the wounded tending themselves.30

Similarly, the Battle of Cold Harbor was another defensive fight to protect Richmond from being cut off. The Union sent its men in recklessly against well-entrenched Confederate defenders and therefore suffered high casualties.

On June 1st, we beat off minor attacks with the aid of well placed artillery. June 2nd, 1864 Wednesday we entrenched with some unusual zigzag type fortifications laid out by our engineers to receive a superior force. Cold Harbor crossroads was nearby. Hard downpours of rain continued that evening and throughout the night rendering it difficult to walk up and down our mud filled ditches. Friday, June 3rd, 1864- at 4:30 AM, Grant's army attacked head-on. It was an all-out attempt to overrun and secure us for his own. But it worked not. Instead our artillery and flanking movements worked in beautiful coordination and before our lines fell a massive number. Slaughter of enemy onrushes became an act of pitiful futility on their part. Our lines, as far as the eye could see, were having similar successes and the Yankee lines ever came forward in a seeming trance-like death wish, which they received in great abundance. This continued until half past noon, then slacked off to a lull. The countryside in our front was so thickly strewn with blue uniforms as to constitute a continuous connected carpet across the landscape. After that, we settled into our trenches for endless cannonading from the enemy with light skirmishing which continued until June 12th.31

Over the next few weeks the 14th Georgia was shuffled around to various smaller engagements in defense of Richmond and Petersburg, often while exhausted or seriously outnumbered. Morale was probably low among the Georgia units, since they were defending Virginia even as Sherman was actively razing Georgia. The regiment was not present for the Battle of the Crater on 30 July 1864, but they could see and hear the massive explosion from afar; another ancestor of mine, 174Thomas B. Logue, died at this battle.

On June 15th, we went in search of the enemy and marched into the White Oak area and encountered yankee cavalry, many of whom were captured. June 18th, 1864 the enemy had melted out of existence and reports indicated Petersburg, Virginia is under attack. Throughout the day we crossed over the river at Chaffin' Bluff and later continued on an extremely hard march down the Petersburg turnpike. There were many sick among us for lack of food and rest which severely weakened us this past month and a half, and this forty mile march to save the city of Petersburg in the extreme heat, may be likened to a death march which many were unable to accomplish and simply straggled in days later. Nevertheless, the main body continued on arriving late in the evening. June 19th, 1864 rested somewhat but nevertheless improved entrenchments southeast of Petersburg. General Beauregard is being heralded as today's hero for holding the lines until reinforcements arrived. June 21st, 1864. It being rumored the yankee General Birney was building a fort a few miles south of the city, we headed in the evening in that direction west of Jerusalem Plank Road and attacked. The enemy was already disorganized and unprepared but our good fortunes netted four good artillery pieces and perhaps two thousand prisoners. June 28th, 1864. Some Mississippi outfits relieved us in the trenches and we went by rail to Richmond, and then beyond to the Rapidan for picket duty. July 8th, 1864 we returned to Petersburg to the same area. July 13th, 1864. Marched up to the northeast side of Petersburg on the Appomattox River.

July 30th, 1864 a terrific explosion to the south of us with massive amounts of black smoke boiling upward high into the morning sky [at 4:45 AM]. The nearby cavalry mounted to run in that direction. Our curiosity at a peak, it was a heavy conversation piece for days. Although neither our brigade or regiments was near the area, still the rumors were wild with multiple fantacies. That afternoon the Virginia cavalry unit returned explaining the yankees had blown up a portion of our line by tunneling under but had been repulsed with heavy losses. Some of our men braved shell and rifle fire just to go down and look at this amazing thing and while there aided the wounded and buried dead in the hundreds.32

The siege of Petersburg would continue until spring 1865, and it saw the gradual decline of Confederate morale and fighting strength due to hunger, news of defeats elsewhere, desertions, and liberal approval of furloughs. 78Jordan Norris himself took a 30-day furlough beginning on 12 February 1865.13

October 13, 1864 a boring life laying around trenches often dodging distant sniper minnies and doing a little of that ourselves. November 28, 1864, [...] Our company, regiment, and brigade have greatly diminished in numbers and are not being replaced. And whereas we acted with emphasis on a brigade level, and still do, still its more ofa regimental thing now. Regiments are pulled out and sent here and there doing different tasks and might not return for days. December 25th spent Christmas in the trenches as it was the 14th's turn and nothing over and above received as the Petersburg population was empty. Many desertions among the 1st, 7th, and 14th Tennessee regiments stationed near us. February 15th, 1865 gloom and doom. Our prospects are dimming and consternation is setting in. All of our large cities have fallen except Richmond. Our old friends among the North Carolina units are heavy with desertions. Into the trenches comes only pot stew and little of that. Homemade wooden shoes are commonplace or perhaps enemy shirts or pants tied around bare feet. [...]

On April 2, 1865, and near [5:00 AM], cannonading saturated our trenches and surrounding lines. A sea of the enemy poured over our lines and to the south of our trenches. Half veered southward, and the other half northward toward us. Our depleted numbers could never stand this assault and the bugles blew retreat. Many of our 14th regiment ran into Fort Gregg nearby which was located in between our original trenches and the strong secondary lines. The wiser ran for the secondary defense line two hundred yards behind Fort Gregg; but only a few made it. Our artillery came alive and tore great gaps into the enemy onrushers and our minnies sent them into our previously held trenches and except for the usual, the remaining portion of this day and evening was in this position. General A. P. Hill, our corps commander is dead. [...] After nightfall a few horses were left to shoot guns periodically and do some yelling but the rest of us started the big pullout. The artillery first, then cavalry, and lastly us foot soldiers retreated up the Boydton Plank Road into Petersburg and across the Appomattox River using the Pocahontas Bridge [editor's note: They probably actually used the Battersea Bridge.] and northward up the River Road into freedom such as it was. We were among the last out of Petersburg shortly after midnight. The heavy rains had set in and explosions were everywhere to be heard. Rockets were firing off in different directions over the city out of control. The five bridges over the Appomattox River were blown up to fall into the rocky bottoms.33

Exhausted, sleepless, hungry (The Army's food supply routes had been cut.), and corned by overwhelming numbers of the enemy in multiple directions, much of Robert E. Lee's Army vanished in the final week leading up to the surrender. A letter describes the 14th Georgia's final days:

On April 3rd, 1865 - following the army in the muck, mire, and cold rain, we made our way through the deep wagon ruts. There was plenty of drinking water from the rains, but no food whatever. The rain swollen creeks with overflowing banks caused our army to double back on multiple occasions. But ropes from tree to tree across the waterways was the order of the day as we wound our way to Amelia Courthouse. On April 6th, marched to a small community called Rice whereat we quickly surrounded a small enemy force of two regiments and consumed it completely to the man. The prisoners tells us they were running ahead of us to destroy bridges or to otherwise slow our line of march. We encamped north of Farmville in the evening. April 7, 1865- leaving early, we continued across a partially destroyed bridge at a narrow neck of land on the Appomattox River and onward toward the Appomattox Courthouse area. April 9th, 1865, some fighting to the west of us by General Gordon's men but by 8 AM, everything fell silent. And so it continued throughout the day as a truce held except for two shots hours apart. At the command station General Thomas ordered the final bugle blast for assembly and we were informed at 5:15 PM that our army had surrendered two hours before. A lot of Yankee wagons arrived that evening and continued into the morning of April 10th with hardtack, coffee, and loads of bread poorly cooked but greatly appreciated, April 12th morning- we marched forward to the Appomattox Courthouse and stacked our rifles and afterward divided into our own county groups and started for Danville, Virginia to hitch a rail ride homeward.34

The first postwar record I've found of 78Jordan is Johnson County's 1866 tax digest, which shows that 78Jordan lived in militia district 1202 (map), had four children, but owned no property, and thus he paid the minimum tax.35

In 1867 the U.S. Congress passed several Reconstruction Acts. These Acts divided the former Confederacy into several military occupation zones, which were ruled by Union military commanders. The Acts also directed the commanding officers to register Southerners who wanted to vote in upcoming elections. One registration requirement was to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States; the obvious intent was to disfranchise any lingering Confederate resistance. 78Jordan must have made the oath, since he's on a Reconstruction-era list of registered voters from militia district 1202, Johnson County.36

This voter registrar proves that 78Jordan swore loyalty to the U.S. government after the Civil War.36

The 1870 and 1880 censuses show 78Jordan's family grow a lot.5,6 An 1876 tax digest again shows that 78Jordan owned no real estate, and only modest values of household items, farm animals, and equipment.37

1870: 78Jordan's family in militia district 1202 (map), Johnson County, Georgia. Full page.5

1880: 78Jordan's family in militia district 1203 (map), Johnson County, Georgia. Full page.6

Around 1881 78Jordan may have relocated to militia district 1326 (map), judging from two records in 188238 and 1883.39 The move positioned him near Gumlog church, where 78Jordan would serve as pastor for most/all of the rest of his life (as proven by his obituary46 and implied in a brief history of that church.41 Below is a photo of the church and its congregation, taken circa 1880, although unfortunately this copy is very small.42

Gumlog church, circa 1880. The above image is modified from this file.42

Wrightsville's local newspaper mentioned 78Jordan briefly in May 1882:43

78Jordan mentioned in Wrightsville's newspaper. Full page.43

Circa the 1890's 78Jordan attended a Confederate veterans' reunion in Kite, Johnson County. He's included in a photo of the attendees, although sadly this copy is quite small.44 78Jordan is on the back row, the second man from the right.

circa 1890's: This photo from a Confederate veterans' reunion in Johnson County includes 78Jordan.44

A zoomed-in view of 78Jordan

An application dated 30 October 1899 explains that 78Jordan had been a farmer but had become "unable to support himself" due to a "Great amount of sickness" and "old age and inferiority." The application goes on to elaborate that "some ten years ago [he] had [a] severe attack of typhoid fever since which time he has [never?] fully recovered and grows feebler as age creeps on." 14 Subsequent pages mention an unspecified nervous system disorder, and describe how his savings had dwindled while he was unable to work, and that by 1899 he had nothing left and no property.

Sometime between 189445 and 1900, 78Jordan relocated to Montgomery County. Most of his children had moved away, but John (his firstborn son) and a few other people still lived with him.7

1900: 78Jordan's family in militia district 1221 (map), Montgomery County, Georgia. Full page.7

His wife 79Julia died in 1907,46 so in the 1910 census we find 78Jordan with just his son John.8

1910: 78Jordan's family in militia district 1221 (map), Montgomery County, Georgia. Full page.8

He died on 19 August 1915. A copy of his obituary is below.40

78Jordan's obituary. Full page.40

78Jordan is buried next to his wife in Bethsaida Church cemetery, Treutlen County, Georgia at coordinates N32.50629 W82.62463.1 Below are a few photos of his grave. As best I can tell, the (now barely legible) inscription reads, "The gift of God of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Sources Cited:

1: "Elder Jordan Norris" (image, URL <https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/117900111/person/212074683681/media/4fc86fc5-54ec-494b-bf47-f14a2ae0d943?_phsrc=dKa17&_phstart=successSource>), uploaded by Ancestry.com user pamela stevens on 31 May 2022.

2: Tombstone of Elder Jordan Norris (born 15 April 1834, died 19 August 1915), Bethsaida Church Cemetery, Treutlen County, Georgia at coordinates N32.50629 W82.62463. Photographs taken by 1Bryant Knight on 22 July 2023.

3: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). District 28, Emanuel County, Georgia. Pages 459B and 460A, dwelling 224, family 224, William Norris household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 68. Ancestry.com, accessed 25 July 2023. Although I used Ancestry.com, a (lower quality) image is on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6769-CR7?i=31> and <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6769-CV2?i=32&cc=1401638>.

4: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Johnson County, Georgia. Page 39 or 483, dwelling 265, family 248, Jordan Norris household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 128. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBT-7KB?i=38&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZML-WPP>.

5: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia District 1202, Johnson County, Georgia. Page 179B, dwelling 99, Jordan Norris household. NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 160. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12151-89953-5?cc=1438024> accessed 18 December 2014.

6: 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 1203, Johnson County, Georgia. Enumeration district 61, page 8, dwelling 76, family 76, Jurden Norris household. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 154. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-5ND?cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM8GZ-3ZY>.

7: 1900 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Lothair, Militia District 1221, Montgomery County, Georgia. Enumeration district 78, sheet 16A, dwelling 286, family 288, Jordan Norris household. NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 213. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DZMW-KDW?i=30&cc=1325221>.

8: 1910 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Lothair, Montomgery County, Georgia. Enumeration district 138, sheet 7B, dwelling 12, family 12, Jorden Norris household. NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 201. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RJZ-45S?i=1>.

9: Emanuel County, Georgia. Marriages book A (1817-1860), page 44. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BK-Y1QM?cc=1927197&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ289-J2ZS>.

10: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Johnson County, Georgia. Pages 11-12, entry 4, J. Norris farm. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 5. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-53L2-XB?lang=en&i=401>. The NARA provides a helpful template.

11: Compiled Confederate service record of Jordan Norris of Company F, 14th Georgia Infantry, image 1 (et seq.) of 14. NARA microfilm publication M266, roll 45. National Archives Catalog, <https://catalog.archives.gov/id/94529973>, accessed 20 July 2023. Image 1 does not indicate his regiment and company, but subsequent images do. Hereafter abbreviated as "Service record."

12: Service record, op. cit., image 9.

13: Service record, op. cit., image 10.

14: Georgia Archives RG 58-1-1, Confederate pension application for Jordan Norris of Montgomery County, image 2. Virtual Vault, <https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/TestApps/id/203090/rec/40>, accessed 21 July 2022. Hereafter abbreviated as "Pension application."

15: Ray Dewberry, History of the 14th Georgia Infantry Regiment (Heritage Books, Westminster, Maryland 2008), pages 10-11. Hereafter cited as "Dewberry."

16: ibid., pages 11-12.

17: ibid., page 15.

18: ibid., pages 19-20.

19: ibid., pages 24-25.

20: ibid., pages 27-29.

21: ibid., page 33.

22: ibid., pages 40-42.

23: Andrew J. Russell, a photograph labeled "Ponton [pontoon] bridges at 'Franklins crossing' 2-1/2 miles below Fredericksburg, Va., laid April 29th 1863 - from plain above river bottom Bridges were laid here in Decr. 1862 & in April & June 1862 [i.e., 1863]" (online image), Library of Congress, <https://loc.gov/pictures/item/2011647796/>.

24: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 50-53.

25: Photograph described as "Views in Fredericksburg, Wa., showing destruction of houses by bombardment on December 13, 1862" (online image), Library of Congress, <https://loc.gov/pictures/item/2014646159/>.

26: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 60-61.

27: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 61-63.

28: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 65-68.

29: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 77-78.

30: Dewberry, op. cit., page 87.

31: Dewberry, op. cit., page 95.

32: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 98-99.

33: Dewberry, op. cit., pages 107-108.

34: Dewberry, op. cit., page 115.

35: Johnson County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1866, militia district 1202, entry for Jordan Norris. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892" / Johnson / 1866 / images 18 and 19 of 44), accessed 27 July 2023.

36: Georgia's 1867-1868 Returns of Qualified Voters. Johnson County, election district 16, section for militia district 1202, entry for Jordan Norris. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, U.S., Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869" / Return of Qualified Voters / Johnson / 16 / image 20 of 23).

37: Johnson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for 1873-1881, section for 1876, militia district 1203, entry for Jordan Norris. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892" / Johnson / 1873-1881 / images 18 and 201 of 593), accessed 27 July 2023.

38: The Wrightsville Recorder (Johnson County, Georgia), 21 January 1882, page 3, column 5, first item in the column. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn90052204/1882-01-21/ed-1/seq-3/>.

39: Johnson County, Georgia. Tax digest book for 1882-1887, section for 1883, militia district 1326, entry for Jordan Norris. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892" / Johnson / 1882-1887 / images 159 and 160 of 658), accessed 27 July 2023.

40: "DEATH OF AN AGED MINISTER: Rev. Norris, Well Known Throughout Section," The Montgomery Monitor (Montgomery, Georgia), Thursday 26 August 1915, page 1. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn89053231/1915-08-26/ed-1/seq-1/>.

41: A History of Johnson County Churches Compiled for the Johnson County Historical Society (Magnolia Press, Swainsboro, Georgia, 1986; ISBN 0-916369-06-4), pages 58-59. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8S-99L3-P?cat=367947>.

42:Photograph of congregation of Gum Log Primitive Baptist Church, Johnson County, Georgia, ca. 1880. Digital Library of Georgia, <https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_vang_jhn039>.

43: The Wrightsville Recorder (Johnson County, Georgia), 27 May 1882, page 3, column 1, about 80% of the way down the page. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn90052204/1882-05-27/ed-1/seq-3/>.

44: Photograph of Confederate veterans, Kite, Johnson County, Georgia, ca. 1900. Digital Library of Georgia, <https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_vang_jhn033>.

45: Pension application, op. cit., image 4, lines 14 and 15. His responses to the questions imply that he moved from Johnson to Montgomery sometime between 1894 and 1900.

46: Tombstone of Julia Norris (born 8 September 1838, died 6 October 1907), Bethsaida Church Cemetery, Treutlen County, Georgia at coordinates N32.50629 W82.62463. Photographs taken by 1Bryant Knight on 22 July 2023.