John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch and Roster Of The Georgia 7th Cavalry Regiment John C Rigdon

The Georgia 7th Cavalry Regiment was organized during the spring of 1864 at Rome, Georgia. It was formed by consolidating the 21st and 24th Georgia Cavalry Battalions and J. L. McAllister's Hardwick Mounted Rifles. Predecessor Unit: The Georgia 21st Cavalry Battalion [also called White's Partisans] was organized during the summer of 1862. Attached to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, the unit served along the Georgia coast until the spring of 1864. It then merged into the 7th Georgia Cavalry Regiment. Major William P. White was in command. Predecessor Unit: The Georgia 24th Cavalry Battalion was formed during the early spring of 1863 with three companies, later increased to four. The unit served in the Savannah River area and in January, 1864, totaled 298 effectives. In the spring it merged into the 7th Georgia Cavalry Regiment. Major Edward C. Anderson, Jr. commanded the battalion. This Regiment served in Virginia under Bartow County General Pierce M. Butler Young. It participated in The Wilderness Campaign and later the battles about Cold Harbor and conflicts south of the James River. Sent to Georgia, the 7th Cavalry was dismounted and with 200 men took part in the defense of Savannah. It returned to Virginia and continued the fight around Petersburg and Appomattox. It has the distinction of being the last unit out of Richmond as it fell to the Federals. This book has a first hand account of the fall of Richmond by Edward M. Boykin Companies Of The GA 7th Cavalry Regiment The men were recruited in Augusta and Hardwick and the counties of Miller, Randolph, Banks, and Wayne.