8th Georgia Infantry Webpage

George O. Dawson
Captain, Co. I, 8th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Biography | Sword | O. R. Battle Reports

Biography:
[Biographical information generously provided by Blanchard Smith,
whose wife is descended from Henrietta W. Dawson, sister of Capt. Dawson]

George Oscar Dawson was the son of William Crosby Dawson (1798-1856), a noted U. S. Senator, Representative, Military Officer, Judge, and statesman. George Dawson was a lawyer, and was several times a Representative in the Georgia Legislature.

George never married. He had a sister named Emma Caledonia Dawson, who married Edward W. Seabrook (1830-1882), CSA, of South Carolina. George had another sister named Henrietta Wingfield Dawson.

In May 1861, George O. Dawson became Captain of Company I, the Stephen's Light Guards, also known as the Greene Light Guards, from Greene County, Georgia.

At the Seven Days Battles, June 28, 1862, Captain Dawson assumed command of the Eighth Georgia Infantry Regiment, due to casualties sustained to Col. Towers, and other officers. Read Dawson's dramatic reports from these battles at Garnett's Farm and Malvern Hill, included at the bottom of this page...

Captain Dawson was wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas, Va. August 28, 1862. He was elected Major December 16, 1862. George was wounded at Gettysburg, Pa. July 3, 1863. Later he was assigned as Commandant of Post at Columbus, Ga. June 10, 1864. He applied to Secretary of War for assignment to Military Court of General Hampton, C. S. A., March 28, 1865.

Sword:
[Image generously provided by Blanchard Smith,
whose wife is descended from Henrietta W. Dawson, sister of Capt. Dawson]

Confederate Sword, engraved:

To Maj. Geo. O. Dawson
As a token of regard and esteem
Dawson Artillery "May it never be sheathed
Until Southern Independence is accomplished"

Blade etched "Deo Vindice"

Made by Louis & Elijah Haiman, Columbus, GA
[Reference: "Confederate Swords," Wm. A. Arbaugh, 1979, Orange, Va., p. 91.]

O. R. Battle Reports:
Report 1 - June 28, 1862
Report 2 - July 2, 1862

BIVOUAC EIGHTH GEORGIA REGIMENT,
Garnett's Farm, Va., June 28, 1862.

Lieut. CHARLES C. HARDWICK,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brigade, First Division.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Eighth Regiment Georgia Volunteers in the engagement of this evening:

About the hour of 3:30 o'clock the regiment received orders to charge a battery of the enemy opposite Garnett's farm at a distance of half a mile or more. The regiment moved forward promptly to execute said orders, Companies A and B being deployed as skirmishers. The charge was made with great celerity and perfect order, and so rapid was the advance of our skirmishers that many of the enemy's picket were killed and taken prisoners before they were aware of our presence. Within 150 yards of the point of departure one of our skirmishers was shot down. Moving steadily onward the fire of the enemy made sad havoc in the ranks. Advancing some distance through a thick wood, about 150 yards distant from its skirt, in an open field, the enemy's breastworks appeared in full view.

In the charge through this open space many of the officers and men were killed and disabled.

We succeeded in driving the enemy from their position, which was maintained with great spirit and determination against great odds until ordered to withdraw. The regiment fell back in good order.

The following is a list of the killed, wounded, and missing: Among the officers, Col. L. M. Lamar was seriously wounded, Lieut. Col. J. R. Towers was taken prisoner, Maj. E. J. Magruder was wounded slightly, Lieut. J. M. Montgomery, Company E, was killed, and Lieut. C. M. Harper, of the same company, was taken prisoner, Capt. A. F. Butler, Company B, was wounded dangerously, and Lieut. W. W. Williamson, Company G, was wounded seriously, and Lieut. T. J. Blackwell, Company I, was wounded slightly, besides 23 enlisted men killed, 55 wounded, and 9 missing.

The bearing of officers and men on the field entitled them to the commendation of their superior officers and the gratitude of their country.

 Respectfully,

GEO. O. DAWSON,
Captain Company I, Comdg. Eighth Georgia Regiment.

[O. R. series I, vol. 11, part 2, pg. 711]

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH GEORGIA REGIMENT,
July 2, 1862.

Lieut. CHARLES C. HARDWICK,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brigade, First Division.

LIEUTENANT: In obedience to orders I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Eighth Regiment Georgia Volunteers in the battle of Tuesday, July 1:

The casualties of the battle of June 28 having devolved upon me the command of the regiment, I am more than gratified that the conduct and bearing of officers and men fell under your immediate observation. From the moment we were ordered to advance upon the strong positions of the enemy, posted on the heights of Malvern farm, exposed for the space of four hours to a most terrific fire of artillery, the spirit and determination of the troops seemed to gather strength as the peril of the battle increased. Several of the regiment were either killed or wounded at the distance of over 2 miles from the point of attack.

When the last order to charge the enemy's position was given we moved rapidly forward through an almost impassable ravine of thick undergrowth and wood to the base of a hill, 30 yards distant from an open field, where the enemy were posted. Here the regiment was saluted and urged forward by General Magruder, under the eye and immediate command of the general. Although fatigued and exhausted from a continued march of two days and nights without sleep, the regiment seemed to gather fresh strength. Then it was that we made the dashing charge of over 400 yards across an open field exposed to a most terrific fire of musketry and artillery. Halting at the base of the hill for a few moments, protected partially from the fire of the enemy, we adjusted our line of battle preparatory for another charge. Just then Adjutant Hardwick, at the peril of his life, came boldly forward and gave the order to fall back. Our retrograde movement was not characterized with the same order as our advance, the regiment falling back with great reluctance. Under a heavy fire from the enemy we rallied to the point designated by the adjutant in good order, awaiting further orders.

About 9 o'clock we were ordered to repair to our camps, which we did in good order.

Too much praise cannot be given to the brave officers and men who imperiled their lives in this battle.

The regiment lost 4 killed and 8 wounded, all among the enlisted men.

Respectfully,

GEO. O. DAWSON,
Captain Company I, Commanding Regiment.

[O. R. series I, vol. 11, part 2, pg. 712]

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