Unit History
Beginning as the 'First Georgia Partisan Rangers,' on May 21, 1862, the unit's name was changed on July 1, 1862, to 'Smith's Legion, Georgia Partisan Rangers.' The unit consisted of a Cavalry and Infantry Battalion. For a time, it was under the command of Col. Sumner J. Smith. The Cavalry Battalion, consisted of six companies.The unit was raised from Union, Polk, Floyd, Gilmer and Towns counties. It was attached to the Department of East Tennessee and was involved in the Kentucky Champaign.
In the spring of 1863, the Cavalry Battalion merged with the 6th Georgia Cavalry Regiment. Its commanders were Lt. Colonel John R. Hart and Major Benjamin F. Brown. The 6th Regiment Georgia Calvary was formed in the spring of 1863 by consolidating the cavalry battalion of Smith's Georgia Legion and 4 independent Calvary companies, one being Gaval's which joined in March of 1863.
During the conflict it served in Davidson's, J.J. Morrison's, C.C. Crews', and Iverson's Brigade. The unit was active at Chickamauga and Philadelphia, participating in the Knoxville and Atlanta Campaigns, then took part in the defense of Savannah and the campaign in the Carolina's. The 6th Regiment Georgia Calvary fought most of it's battles alongside the Army of the Tennessee.
During April 1865, it surrendered with the Army of Tennessee. Its commanding officers were Colonel John R. Hart, Lieutenant Colonels B.F. Brown and Joel C. Fain, Majors Alfred F. Bale and John T. Burns.
Recruitment Poster
Headquarters 1st Reg’t Partizan Rangers,Blairsville Union County, Georgia
May 5th, 1862
I have been authorized by the Secretary of War to
raise a Regiment of
PARTIZAN RANGERS,
For three years or the war. The non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates will receive a bounty of Fifty Dollars each, and are entitled to the same pay and organization as the other troops.
Men of the Mountains! The same sanguinary and re-lentless foe who is visiting the cities and seaports of the Confederate States with fire, sword and devastation, is now approaching with slow but measured tread your own mountain begirted homes. Can you supinely await longer their approach? Nay: up, up, my Countrymen, and to arms!
Three hundred Spartans, fighting for the sanctity of home and fireside, dared meet, in mortal combat, the armed millions of a Persian despot. Is home, country and liberty less dear to you than to them, and the men of 1776? If nay, then let us in the hour of our country and freedom’s peril, rally to their standard, and swear to make each pass in the grand bulwark of mountains which God has upheaved around our homes, a Thermopylae in which the heroic deeds of the noble Spartans shall be emulated.
We can defend our country, repel the foe, and transmit the priceless heritage of freedom to our children if we will. Failing we can but die. Death is such a struggle is glory. Submission to the Federal tyrant is infamy and slavery.
Parties wishing to form a portion of my Regiment, will address me at Blairsville, Union County, Georgia.
S. J. SMITH
S. J. Smith's Commision Document
Photo copy of Sumner J. Smith's Confederate Commision