Grave of Dr. Thomas Coke Glover

From Find-A-Grave Site.

Born January 28, 1826, in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia. Died September 19, 1864, at Winchester, Virginia.

Buried at Stonewall Confederate Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia. A total of 1850 are buried there.

Lt. Col. 21st Georgia. They have him being listed as KIA at the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Winchester. I think someone just got confused as he was killed at Winchester.

He married Elizabeth Susan Camp (The Mother of Confederate Reunions) in 1852. She is buried in Corsicana, Texas.

--Old Secesh

The 21st Georgia Infantry-- Part 4: More Engagements Than Any Other Unit

The regiment went back to Petersburg and took part in the assault on Fort Steadman, one of the last offensives by the Army of Northern Virginia. At the Appomattox surrender, just 53 men from the 21st were paroled.

It has been claimed that the 21st Georgia was in more engagements than any other unit in the war.

Of all units on both sides, they 21st had the third most killed in battle. And, the regiment that lost the most, the 8th New York had its men killed by the 21st.

Elizabeth Camp Glover, wife of Lt. Col. Thomas Glover of Company A, organized the first Confederate reunion which continued through to the 1930s when age and death thinned the ranks until the last one was held at Richmond, Virginia.

--Old Secesh

The 21st Georgia Infantry-- Part 3

The two Confederate regiments (21st Ga. and 21st NC) were recalled to Richmond when Lee wanted "two twenty-firsts be sent to me." They fought at the Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff, protecting the James River approach to the Confederate capital.

At the Battle of the Wilderness, Co. E of the 21st Georgia defended the horseshoe. After that, the regiment was at the Battle of Cold Harbor and Siege of Petersburg.

They then went on Early's Raid into Maryland and took part in the Battle of Monocacy and the attack on Fort Stevens, guarding Washington, D.C.. At this last battle, the 21st became one of the few Confederate units to get within sight of the Capitol building.

The 21st remained in the Shenandoah Valley after that until the rout at the Third Battle of Winchester where Lt. Col. Thomas Glover was killed on September 19, 1864.

--This Was What You'd Have to Call a Battle-Hardened Group. --Old Secesh

The 21st Georgia Infantry-- Part 2

At Antietam, they were at some of the hottest action at Dunker Church, East Woods, Mumma Farm and the cornfield. In December 1862, at the Battle of Fredericksburg, they played a key role in plugging a hole in Jackson's line which Union forces were preparing to exploit.

On the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, they were one of the few Confederate units to actually enter the town.

In 1864, the 21st Georgia and 21st North Carolina were detailed to North Carolina for coastal duty and were at the battles of New Bern and Plymouth. At Plymouth, the 21st captured a Union fort and 3,000 prisoners.

--Old Secesh

The 21st Georgia Infantry-- Part 1

From the e-enactment group's website.

Since I have been writing about Confederate Lt. Col. Thomas Coke Glover and his wife, Elizabeth Camp Glover, who is credited for having the very first Confederate reunion in 1867. Her husband served in the 21st Georgia and it was their reunion. I was unfamiliar with this regiment and quite impressed with what I found out about them. This was one of the Confederacy's best fighting groups.

The 21st Georgia was mustered into Confederate service from June to August 1861 and came from counties surrounding Atlanta westward to the Alabama border. They were transported to Virginia and took part in Stonewall Jackson's famous Valley Campaign in 1862. In June they were back at Richmond and were in the Seven Days' Battles under Robert E. Lee.

At Second Manassas, they captured the Union depot and at one point ran out of ammunition and resoted to throwing rocks. They suffered 76% casualties at this battle.

More to Come. --Old Secesh

Elizabeth Camp Glover Marker-- Part 2

She was the widow of Lt. Col. Thomas Glover of Co. A. 21st GA Inf. CSA. Thomas died at the Third Battle of Winchester. In 1867 after the War Between the States with "For God and Country" her motto she rode the countryside of Campbellton County, GA to assemble the comrades of her fallen husband to a basket dinner and "to talk over the war."

Thus began the Confederate Reunions. She lived to be 86 years of age, dying at Corsicana, Texas, April 14, 1915. She is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas." The marker stands right at her grave.

--Old Secesh

The Mother of Confederate Reunions-- Part 3

Two other parts can be found in my Running the Blockade Civil War Navy blog from last week (1-24-14). Also two other parts in this blog.

In a 1928 issue of Confederate Veteran, Co, A of the 21st Georgia had 200 men when the war began. By the end, only 30 remained. Only 12 made it to the first reunion and Col. Thomas Lathem of Atlanta gave the keynote talk. It was decided to continue the reunions as long as two were alive.

They had another basket dinner at the next one. However, for this one, all veterans of Campbell County were invited. "They vowed by the help of God to teach their children for all time to come that the cause for which they fought was just and right, to teach them to be proud of the part we took in the conflict, that we were overcome by the numbers--not whipped, but overcome."

Mrs. Glover died April 14, 1915, and is buried in Texas.

--Old Secesh

The Mother of Confederate Reunions-- Part 2

Dr. T.C. Glover organized and fought with Co. A, 21st Georgia Infantry and was in 107 actions until he was killed at Winchester, Virginia. His wife, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Susan Camp, is buried in Corsicana, Texas. A marker on her grave says that in 1867, she rode the countryside around Campbellton, Georgia, to assemble her husband's comrades and have a basket dinner and "to talk over the war."

This is believed to have been the first Confederate reunion and as such, deserves the moniker "The Mother of Confederate Reunions." It was held in June 1867.

Swapping Stories and Meeting Old Friends. --Old Secesh