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Maj George Washington Ross

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Maj George Washington Ross

Birth
Death
2 Aug 1863 (aged 37)
Burial
Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, USA GPS-Latitude: 32.8475646, Longitude: -83.6323815
Memorial ID
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Died from wounds sustained in the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Second Georgia Battalion, Georgia Volunteers, was placed in line of battle on the left of the Forty-eighth Georgia Regiment, of Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright s brigade, about 11 a.m. on July 2, in front of heights occupied by the enemy on the south side of Gettysburg, Pa.

At 5 p.m. on the 2d instant, Maj. George W. Ross, commanding the battalion, was ordered by General Wright to throw the battalion forward and to deploy as skirmishers, covering the front of the brigade and re-enforce the skirmishers already in position. Having deployed as skirmishers, the battalion was ordered to drive the enemy's skirmishers, and take possession of a fence and bottom occupied by them. This they did, with great gallantry on the part of officers and men, in the face of a pretty heavy fire, driving the enemy before them. In this position a heavy skirmish continued about one hour, during which time many men of this command were wounded.

About 6 p.m. the brigade of General Perry advanced upon our right. At the same time, General Wright's brigade came sweeping over the skirmish line. In the absence of orders, or any definite instructions in the event of an advance of our forces, the skirmishers did not assemble, but went forward with the line as it moved past them. In this way the battalion was scattered along the whole line of the brigade, and some of the men went into action with General Perry's (Florida) brigade, it pressing upon our right. This being the case, the battalion did not perform a separate and united part in the charge upon the enemy's position. Under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry, the battalion advanced to the batteries of the enemy, and assisted in driving away their cannoneers, capturing their cannon, and engaging their infantry. Our numbers (of the brigade) rapidly decreasing under the heavy fire, not being re-enforced, and the column on our right giving way, we were forced to retire, and give up the position and advantage gained by General Wright's brigade.

In this charge we lost many valuable officers and men. Major Ross was wounded near the brick house while endeavoring to turn the heads of [the captured] artillery horses toward our lines.
Died from wounds sustained in the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Second Georgia Battalion, Georgia Volunteers, was placed in line of battle on the left of the Forty-eighth Georgia Regiment, of Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright s brigade, about 11 a.m. on July 2, in front of heights occupied by the enemy on the south side of Gettysburg, Pa.

At 5 p.m. on the 2d instant, Maj. George W. Ross, commanding the battalion, was ordered by General Wright to throw the battalion forward and to deploy as skirmishers, covering the front of the brigade and re-enforce the skirmishers already in position. Having deployed as skirmishers, the battalion was ordered to drive the enemy's skirmishers, and take possession of a fence and bottom occupied by them. This they did, with great gallantry on the part of officers and men, in the face of a pretty heavy fire, driving the enemy before them. In this position a heavy skirmish continued about one hour, during which time many men of this command were wounded.

About 6 p.m. the brigade of General Perry advanced upon our right. At the same time, General Wright's brigade came sweeping over the skirmish line. In the absence of orders, or any definite instructions in the event of an advance of our forces, the skirmishers did not assemble, but went forward with the line as it moved past them. In this way the battalion was scattered along the whole line of the brigade, and some of the men went into action with General Perry's (Florida) brigade, it pressing upon our right. This being the case, the battalion did not perform a separate and united part in the charge upon the enemy's position. Under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry, the battalion advanced to the batteries of the enemy, and assisted in driving away their cannoneers, capturing their cannon, and engaging their infantry. Our numbers (of the brigade) rapidly decreasing under the heavy fire, not being re-enforced, and the column on our right giving way, we were forced to retire, and give up the position and advantage gained by General Wright's brigade.

In this charge we lost many valuable officers and men. Major Ross was wounded near the brick house while endeavoring to turn the heads of [the captured] artillery horses toward our lines.


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