Cobb's Legion Explained

Unit Name:Cobb's Legion
Allegiance: Georgia
Type:Multiple Component Legion
Dates:Summer 1861  - April 26, 1865
Nickname:Georgia Legion
9th Georgia Cavalry
Carlton's Troup Artillery
Battles:American Civil War
Notable Commanders:Colonel Thomas R. R. Cobb

Cobb's Legion (also known as the Georgia Legion) was an American Civil War Confederate States Army unit that was raised from the state of Georgia by Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb during the summer of 1861.[1] A legion in the Civil War usually meant a combined-arms unit, consisting of two or three branches of the military: infantry, cavalry, and artillery. When it was originally raised, the Georgia Legion comprised 600 infantrymen in the infantry battalions, 300 cavalry troopers in the cavalry battalions, and 100 artillerists in a single battery.[1] The legion concept was not practical for Civil War armies and, soon after Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia on June 1, 1862, the individual elements were assigned to other units.[1] [2] [3]

Infantry component

After the infantry battalion was brought up to regimental strength the unit was assigned to Howell Cobb's brigade in Lafayette McLaws's Division of James Longstreet's Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Howell Cobb was absent after the Battle of Malvern Hill in July 1862 until August 1862 and again in October 1862 before moving to another command.[4] T.R.R. Cobb, commander of the infantry component of the former legion, commanded Cobb's brigade in his brother's absence and took full command in November 1862.[3] Cobb was succeeded in brigade command by Colonel William T. Wofford after Cobb was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg.[3] The regiment surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. The cavalry became a regiment in Brigadier General Wade Hampton's brigade of Major General J. E. B. Stuart's division and kept the name of Cobb's Legion or the Georgia Legion.[1]

Organization

Companies

Battles

The infantry battalion fought in the following battles:

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 or the Georgia Legion.[7] It surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 26, 1865.

Organization

Companies

Battles

The cavalry component fought in the following battles:[7]

Troup Artillery

The artillery battery was known as the Troup Artillery (named for former governor George M. Troup). It was from Athens, Georgia. It was commanded by Captain Henry Hull Carlton after the Legion was reorganized, the Troup Artillery was assigned to the Artillery Battalion of Longstreet's Corps. The Troup Artillery disbanded April 9, 1865.[9]

Battles

The battles it took part in were:[9]

Famous members

References

Literature

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Longacre, 1986, p. 147.
  2. Krick, 1993, p. 263.
  3. Heidler, 2000, p. 462.
  4. Heidler, 2000, pp. 460-461.
  5. Eicher, 2001, p. 592.
  6. Warner, 1959, p. 344.
  7. Sifakis, 2006, pp. 165-167
  8. Warner, 1959, p. 348.
  9. Sifakis, 2006, pp. 144-146.

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