Virgil Adam Stewart Parks

After graduating from law school in January 1861, he briefly practiced in Bainbridge, Decatur County. He enrolled on 13 August 1861 and was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company D, 17th Georgia Infantry on the 15th.

He was with his Company in action in Maryland in 1862, and described some of the action at Sharpsburg on 17 September for the Savannah Republican:

Gen Tombs posted us -- the Seventeenth, Fifteenth and Eleventh regiments -- behind a stone wall, upon a hill, with high ground in our rear, where the Washington Artillery, (Captain Rosser's old company,) took position. Upon our right and left were large corn fields, and ground much higher than that which we occupied, while all was open in front. About four hundred yards in front was a creek, and on our right (in front) was a considerable body of timber lining deep ravines.​

About 1 p.m., we discovered three large columns advancing beyond the creek -- one into the corn-field on our left, one against our position, and one on our right. They made a very handsome display. For some time there was some apprehension for our right and left flanks, which we feared were not sufficiently strong. On they came in solid phalanxes, threatening to carry everything before them by the weight and discipline of their columns. -- When the first column had reached the right place, a battery upon our left having the range accurately, and the "Washington Artillery" on the hills to our rear, let them have a few discharges of grape and shell, which broke their solid body and caused a panic. I never witnessed such a sight. The centre first gave way, then fled, communicating the panic to the whole column. The hills for hundreds of yards were black with the flying Federals, not in platoons, companies, or regiments, but in a confused mass. Those on our right were in a like manner broken and repulsed. Those in our immediate front, who had driven in our skirmishers, also retired, and everything on the vast fields overlooked by our position, became as quiet as a Quaker village on a Sabbath day. Occasionally, however, this reign of quiet was broken by artillery practice across the hills. At 4 o'clock Gen. Gregg's S.C. brigade relieved us, and we were ordered to the rear to rest....​

He was elected Captain in January 1863, but was killed in action at Gettysburg on 2 July 1863.

His service from the Roster 1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 via fold3. His presence in Maryland from an account he sent the Savannah Republican, published on their front page on 1 October 1862, excerpted above; online from Georgia Historic Newspapers. Thanks to Laura Elliot for the transcription. Personal details from family genealogists, at least one of whom has his full name as Virgil Adam Stewart Parks.

c. 1836 in GA

07/02/1863; Gettysburg, PA