CO. B & CO. K, 54th GEORGIA INFANTRY

Co. B and Co.. K (the Satilla Rifles) were formed and became a part of the 1st Brigade, Georgia State Troops in October 1861. Co. B was originally designated as Co. K, 2nd Regiment and the Satilla Rifles were designated as Co. A, 1st Regiment. In April of 1862 both companies were mustered out of the Georgia State Troops and became part of the newly formed 54th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry.
Company B elected George W. Moody as Captain, Lafayette N. Phillips - 1st Lieutenant, James L. Moody - 2nd Lieutenant and John Jackson Roberson - Jr. 2nd Lieutenant. Company K elected George W. Eason as Captain, James H. Hannon - 1st Lieutenant, Richard Bennett - 2nd Lieutenant and Green B. Ritch - Jr. 2nd Lieutenant.
The 54th Georgia was deployed in the coastal defense around the Savannah Beaulieu, Rose Dew and Coffee Bluff in support of the batterys there.  They were sent to the Charleston area. They were involved in numerous conflicts in that area including and action on James Island and later the siege of Battery Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina. In 1864 the 54th Georgia became a part of Mercer's Brigade and was reassigned to the Army of Tennessee in Dalton Georgia as Sherman was beginning his campaign in Georgia. They were engaged at Dalton, Rocky Face, Dug Gap, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, the battle of Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro where they fought under General Patrick Cleburne. . Under General John B. Hood, the 54th left Georgia to participate in the Tennessee Campaign. They were not engaged at Franklin, Tennessee due to detached assignment at the Tennessee River. After the battle of Franklin and the death of General Cleburne hey were assigned to General Nathan Bedford Forrest and were engaged as the rear guard from Nashville back across the Tennessee River.  They were in fights at Nashville, Columbia and Pulaski.

 They were deployed to Mississippi and finally crossed back to North Carolina where they were reunited with General Joseph E. Johnston's troops and fought in the battle of Bentonville.

William A. Bowers, Jr. - 2014