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Item Code: 2024-1307
Born about 1834, Albert H. Branch enlisted in Company I of the 3rd Georgia Infantry on June 3, 1861, a company organized by Capt. Blodget at Augusta from April 2 to June 30. His enlistment date is given in some records as April 27, so June 3 may actually be a date of muster in for one year’s Confederate service. He was later described as a resident of Richmond County, GA, standing 5’10” tall, of ruddy complexion with dark hair and blue eyes.
In August 1861 the company was transferred from that regiment for artillery service, and was designated Milledge’s Company Georgia Light Artillery after Blodget’s resignation in May 1862. It was assigned to a battalion of Reserve Artillery known also as the 2nd Battalion Reserve Artillery, 3rd Battalion Reserve Artillery, and Nelsons Battalion Reserve Artillery.
Branch is listed as present on all muster rolls in his service records until his capture at Waynesboro, VA, March 2, 1865, though one secondary source says he had been wounded at the Wilderness and then returned to duty. He was incarcerated at Fort Delaware until release on June 16 after signing the Oath of Allegiance.
The battery served in the Department and Army of Northern Virginia, serving in the Richmond area, and participating in the Seven Days Battles, armed with a 6-pounder smoothbore, a 3”rifle and two 12-pound howitzers. In August their armament was upgraded to six rifles, though of differing types and in September 1862 they took part in the Antietam Campaign, followed by the Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvile, and Gettysburg Campaigns, in the latter battle taking part in some of the fighting on July 3, firing from the extreme left of the line on Seminary Ridge with one ten-pound and two 3-inch rifles. There followed service in the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns, followed in 1864 by the Wilderness, Spottsylvanis, the North Anna, Cold Harbor. One secondary source has Branch wounded at the Wilderness, but returning to duty by July/August.
As part of Ewell’s Corps the battery took part in his invasion of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and march into the Valley, with fighting at Monocacy, Winchester, Charles Town, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek in 1864. On March 2, 1865, still with Early as part of the Valley District, they were at Waynesboro where Sheridan shattered the remnants of Early’s forces, the battery losing 24 men captured, including Branch, by CWData’s count.
The letter is dated March 8, 1863, written to his parents from the winter camps near Chesterfield Station, and reflects some weariness with the war, or at least dissatisfaction with any sign of progress.
A transcript follows:
"Camp near Chesterfield Station
March 8, 1863
Dear Mother and Father,
Yours of the last came safe to hand which afforded me a great deal of pleasure in hearing from you all and hearing you were all well. This leaves me in good health and [I] live in hopes it will find you all the same. Dear Father, I wish you would come up to see me as I am anxious to see you as any of the family. If you come, you must come to Hulitt Station instead of Noel's as it is nearer our camps and we are over there every day or two after corn. If you wil let me know, I will come over after you. If you cannot come, let George come up. It is impossible for me to get off to come [home]. I am anxious to see you all.
We are still in winter quarters but I don't think we will be there long. I cannot say which way we will go from here. I am getting very tired of a soldier's life. I wish the war would end so that we could all be once more free. It don't look here it is any nearer the end now than it was a year ago.
When you write to sister, give her my love and let me know if she is still in Richmond. Try and come up as soon as possible. Give sister and George my love. Write soon as you get this and let me know if you can come up. Give my respects to all of my enquiring friends.
Nothing more but [I] remain your affectionate son, —A. H. Branch"
Branch seems to have gone by “Henry” in later records, his middle name we presume, confusing some genealogical records, but he married in 1869 and was a carpenter working in Waynesboro, GA, in 1880, with wife and four children, but reportedly predeceased his wife, Tallulah, who died in 1898. She was buried in the Confederate cemetery at Waynesboro, where Albert may be interred but does not seem recorded. \
The letter is in very good condition, fully legible, in brown ink. The paper has folds, but only minor stains, and no holes or tears.[sr][ph:L]
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