George McGruder Patterson

In 1860 he was a 28 year old school teacher and principal of the Magnolia High School in Sumter County, GA. He enlisted on 1 March 1862 at Americus, GA as a Private in Captain A.S. Cutts' Sumter Flying Artillery and was elected Senior 2nd Lieutenant on 16 April. They were designated Company B of the newly formed Sumter Artillery Battalion (11th Battalion Georgia Artillery) on 23 May, and he was promoted to First Lieutenant on 8 June and elected Captain on 21 July.

He commanded the battery in Maryland, part of the Artillery Reserve of the Army. They were attached to D.H. Hill's Division and fought at Frostown Gap on South Mountain on 14 September, near the Dunker Church and in farmer Mumma's cornfield at Sharpsburg on the morning of 17 September 1862, and later that day and on the 18th on Hauser/Houser's Ridge to the west.

He continued in command of the battery at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and to Petersburg in late 1864, and was with them to at least 20 February 1865, when he took a leave of absence.

By 1870 and to at least 1880 he was again a teacher and principal, living in Americus, GA. By 1900 he was at Cordele in Dooly County (to Crisp County in 1905), GA and in 1910 was at Valdosta, GA, still teaching at age 78.

His service from Jones.1 the ORs., 3 and his Compiled Service Records,3 online from fold3. Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1860-1910, and the Mercer University Bulletin of 1889-90. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Fredonia Kiddoo (1839-1921) in May 1857 and they had 7 or 8 children.

04/30/1832; Scriven County, GA

06/29/1910; Valdosta, GA; burial in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Valdosta, GA