DAHLONEGA NUGGET - 1 SEPT 1863
A memoir of Captain
Augustus
Franklin Boyd of
Co. B. 52nd Regiment GA
Volunteers and son of
Sarah
J. and Wier Boyd of Dahlonega, Georgia.
He was born 16th of August
1844, in Lumpkin
County, GA and was killed
in action at the battle
of Baker's Creek, Mississippi,
aged 18 years 9
months. In the 12th
year of his age he joined the
M.E. Church and professed
religion the year fol-
lowing at Lumpkin Campground.
He remained an
acceptable member of the church,
and always
maintained a good moral
character, avoiding those
vices which often seduce the
young from the path
of virtue, and especially
in camps.
Though young he volunteered
to the call which sum-
moned his country men
to arms in July of 1861,
and he was mustered into the
military service of the
Confederate States as a 1st
Corporal in the Blue Ridge
Rifles, commanded by Capt.
Joseph Hamilton of Phillip's
Legion. He actively
performed the duties of a soldier
and braved the dangers incident
to the trying campaign
through which the legions
passed in N. W. Virginia un-
der General Floyd.
Upon the organization
of the 52nd Ga. Regiment in March of 1862, his
father being in command
of the 52nd Ga. Regt. and appointed Sgt. Major;
a vacancy ocurring
in Co. B. 52nd Georgia Vol. Regt., he was elected
Captain of the Company
in December 1862.
The duties of his position
he discharged with honor to himself and for
the benefit of his
company. He was a drill officer of marked accuracy
and ability. Always
rendering prompt obedience to the orders of his
superiors; he was strict
in requiring it of those under his command
maintaining firmness
in discipline, but always kind to his men.
He was at the engagement
against the enemy at Tazewell, Tn in 1862, and
at the fight at Vicksburg,
Mississippi in December, in both of which he
maintained a cool and
gallant bearing displaying to an an eminent
degree those qualities
which make a brave soldier determined on victory
or death.
In the unfortunate battle
at Baker's Creek where he fell, the heavy
columns of the
advancing enemy were compelling the Confederate lines
to falter and give
way yet Captain Boyd still rallied his men and held
his position until
the fatal ball pierced him through the forehead and
he fell dead on the
field.
Thus ended the brief
and brilliant career of this good young man and
brave soldier.
Few of his age had more friends and fewer enemies.
Being of sprightly
turn and easy manners, he readily introduced himself
to others in acquaintance.
None knew him, but to love him. For his
country he had the
warmest patriotic feeling; against Northern
domination he entertained
the strongest contempt, amounting to hatred.
But he died for his
country at his post, and his relatives & friends
take consolation in
the belief that he is gone to where [the] rude
alarms of war are heard
no more. G. Hughes, Dahlonega, Georgia,
August 32nd, 1863 [Sept 1, 1863]
LETTER WRITTEN
BY CAPT. BOYD
Camp 52nd.
Ga. Regt. 12 May 1863
Dear Father,
We are now camped.
Lines seventeen miles below Vicksburg near the River
called Big Black,
the Yankees are on the other side with a force of 50/60
thousand men.
Our right is five or six miles in advance of our army. I think
they thought the 52nd
was the best Regt. & sent us in advance. From
all
the movements
I think there will be a fight here shortly & it will be one of
the greatest battles
that has ever bin fought during this war. I will say
to
you, confidentially,
that it is in the opinion of both officers and soldiers
that General P________
has told us the Yankees are moving in the direction of
Jackson. I have
nothing more of importance to write to you. If you do not
get a letter from me
again shortly, It won't be easy for if the Yankees move
on Jackson it will
stop our communication. One of my men by the name
of
John Goss was tryed
by a General Court Martial for desertion & was sentenced
to a ball
chained to his leg during the war & to add to our fortification.
I reckon this will
be a warning to all future deserters. There is a consider-
able excitement in
our Regt. [about] who should be
elected for congress
from our district it
is reported that Findley, McMillan, and Young are
run-
ning; it is my opinion
that Young will be elected, it is nonsense for a man
to run for any office
that has seen him serious. I am still enjoying good
health; our Regt.
is in the same good health. The boys from D________ are in
good health.
My Company is still the Star company in the Regt.
Tell Fannie to send
me a copy of the Piece of Poetry she wrote when it is
printed. I heard another
high compli ment passed on her by a Captain and a
Sergt the other day.
They said she was the sweetest young lady in D_________.
I hope she will have
a model to study music for I think she can learn
to
perform well on the
piano. Tell her to write to me soon. Give my love to the
family relations
and all inquiring friends.
Write soon. Direct
your letters to Vicksburg. Excuse all mistakes for I
have to write on my
knees and in haste.
Your affectionate Son,
Capt. A.F. Boyd.
(This letter was most
probably Augustus' last letter home as he
was killed four
days later at Baker's Creek, MS. David
D. Boyd )