COMPANY E, 59th
REGIMENT
GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
ANDERSON'S BRIGADE, HOOD'S DIVISION
LONGSTREETS CORPS
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA C.S.A.
CLAY COUNTY, GEORGIA
COTTON PLANTERS GUARDS
Officers:
BASS, Maston Green - Elected 1st Lieutenant of Co. D, 5th
Regt. Ga. State
Troops Oct. 12, 1861. Mustered out Apr. 11, 1862. Elected Captain of Co. E,
59th Regt. Ga. Inf. May 10, 1862; Major July 10, 1863. Wounded, October 7,
1864 in Richmond, VA. Admitted to a hospital in Richmond. He died from those
wounds October 16th of the same month. His remains were returned for burial.
Note:
The below was
included in the Widow's Pension file of Mahuldah R. Bradley Bass. I believe
one article to be from the Gainesville Sun and one published in the Florida
Times Union. The other most likely published in a newspaper in Alachua Co.,
Florida.
An Interesting Letter.
Mrs. Martha Holland, of our city, is in receipt of a letter from Mrs.
M. R. Bass, of Evinston, Fla. giving her the information that she now has
in her possession the original muster roll of the Cotton Planters' Guard,
of which command her husband left Fort Gaines as a captain, and then from
which he was promoted to major. If a small number of the surviving
members of the famous and historic company can be induced to subscribe
through Mrs. Bass, to the Confederate Veteran, published in Nashville,
Tenn., she will be able to get the roster published in that periodical for
preservation. We publish below an article from the Gainesville, Fla. Sun,
giving an account of the connection of Mrs. Bass with this work. If any
of our readers should desire to see the letters referred to by the Sun,
they can do so by calling on Mrs. Holland, as they will be in her
possession for a short while, and she will assist them to communicate with
Mrs. Bass in this matter of subscription.
"Among those who are visiting this city is Mrs. M. R. Bass of Evinston,
who is a guest of her sister, Mrs. L. A. Thrasher.
Mrs. Bass is originally from Fort Gaines, Ga. and her husband was a
gallant and brave soldier of the Civil War, having organized the Cotton
Planters' Guards, Fifty-Ninth Georgia Infantry, in which regiment he was
afterward promoted to major, but who eventually lost his life in the
charge of Fort Harrison, VA. On October 7, 1864. This gallant soldier fell
in this battle mortally wounded, but, survived until 16th, of the same
month, when he died from his wounds.
Mrs. Bass brought to this office a number of valuable relics in the
form of an original muster roll, which was yellow with age, and which
contained a number of names which were familiar to the city editor of the
Sun, who was born and partially reared in the Georgia hamlet in which the
company was organized. She also has a number of letters, greatly faded,
which were written by her husband, and which contain the stories of
various battles and the hardships with which the members of his regiment
were subjected.
Altogether the records are very interesting, especially to those who
manifest an interest in the memorable campaign, and naturally the owner
prizes them highly."
---------
Rare Confederate Collection
Mrs. M. R. Bass of Evinston is in
the city, a guest of her sister, Mrs. L. A. Thrasher. Mrs. Bass is the
widow of Major M. G. Bass, Fifty-ninth Georgia Regiment, C. S. A. who was
wounded in battle near Richmond, Va. Oct. 7, 1864, from which death
resulted on the 16th of the same month. He is interred in Columbus, Ga.,
cemetery, and Mrs. Bass has the photograph of a handsome monument she has
erected over his grave. Above the inscription is carved an emblem of
three Confederate flags in cluster - a very pretty design. The photograph
was taken on the last decoration or memorial day, and gracefully draped
above the tomb are three Confederate flags, placed there by the Columbus
U. D. C. Chapter, which earlier, also decorated the grave with fragrant
flowers.
Mrs. Bass has in her possession a number of relics in the form of
letters written by her husband, with the Confederate envelope, stationary
and stamp, which are indeed interesting. She has a large collection of
relics of this kind.
Letters From the Battlefield
---------------------------------
Written by Maj. M. G. Bass of the 59th Regiment, Georgia
Volunteers, to his wife
Editor Times-Union: Please allow me to say I am now more than pleased
with your valuable paper since space has been given for true Confederate
history. You will pardon me for the extracts from letters written on the
battlefield by Major M. G. Bass, Fifty-ninth Regular Georgia Volunteers. My
husband, who fell mortally wounded on the battlefield, October 7, 1864 in
defense of Richmond, Va., the capital of the Confederacy.
The Fifty-ninth was one of the Georgia regiments in Hood's division. I
am an old Confederate war widow of Major M. G. Bass, who was in one of the
last battles of the war at Columbus, GA. I have just read the letter dated
"Chambersburg, Pa. June 29, 1863 - Dear Wife: Here we are in the state
of Pennsylvania * * * * The alarm has just been sounded that the Yankees
are approaching Gen. Pickett's division has been ordered out to meet them.
We remain here until wanted.
-------
Hagerstown, Md. July 8, 1863 - Gen. Ewell's command attacked them on
the evening of the 1st. of July. We were about four miles off, but were
immediately put in motion and arrived upon the battlefield after dark. The
next morning, 2nd day, we were ordered into the fight.
--------
We were ordered to charge a battery, which we did in gallant style, but,
the Yanks stood their ground, defending themselves with desperation and we
were repulsed: we charged them the second time and were repulsed. We
rallied the men and charged them the third time, almost into the mouths of
their cannon. Grape canister and musket balls fell in a shower like hail
around us. I could hear bones crash like glass in a hailstorm. The ground
piled with the dead and dying. Yanks and Confeds lying in piles together.
Night coming on and our men being exhausted, we were compelled to fall back
and rest on our arms until morning.
-------
At daylight the next morning we were ordered, our regiment, the
Fifty-ninth Georgia , to the extreme right of the line where the Yankee
cavalry were attempting to flank us. We found them and soon gave them a
good whipping., they running after a hotly contested fight for about fifteen
minutes. I led the regiment in the third charge on the second day, Col.
Brown having been wounded and in the hands of the enemy. Of my old company
"Cotten Planters" Guards, Flt. Gaines, GA. First Lieut. B. I. Brown, Third
Lieut. W. Withcakie are wounded and in the hands of the
enemy.
------
July 14, 1863 -- We are again on Virginia soil, about five miles from
Williamsport, Md. on the Potomac. I last wrote you from Hagerstown on the
8th inst. On the 10th Inst., at the battle of Funkstown, Md, the following
Georgia, regiments lost heavily in the fight the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh,
Seventh, Fiftieth, Sixty-first, Tenth and Fifty-ninth. Our regiment, the
Fifty-ninth Georgia, out of 227 lost or killed and wounded, eighty-eight.
We must say with the poet:
"Oh, Georgia's glorious chivalry!
The loved ones and the brave!
They poured their blood like water forth
And died that they might save."
------
Camp Fifty-ninth Georgia Regiment, near Gordonsville, April 30, 1864 - My
Dear wife: Yours at the 20th Inst. received Since writing you last I have
received all your letters.
You will now direct as follows: Major M. G. Bass Fifty-ninth Georgia
regiment: Anderson's Brigade, Field's division, Army of Northern Virginia,
Gen. Field is now commanding this division. Gen. Hood having been promoted
to a lieutenant general. We are now with Gen. Lee.
------
Battlefield, near Spottsylvania C. H. May 9, 1864. My Dear Wife: This
is the fifth day of the fight, the ground strewn with the dead and dying;
Five Yanks to one Rebel killed. You can imagine what a hard struggle it is
when I say Gettysburg cannot be compared to it. Will write again soon if
spared.
-----
Near Spottsylvania, Va. May 16, 1864 - My Dear Wife: We are now about
four miles southeast from where we were when I wrote you last and are
throwing up breastworks. We fought the enemy six days in the other
entrenchments, and repulsed them every day with immense slaughter.
-----
Near Spottsylvania, Va., May 19, 1864 - We are still upon the battlefield
confronting the enemy. They are maneuvering toward our right today in the
direction of Fredericksburg. No matter how they move, Gen. Lee will keep
himself between them and Richmond and offer them battle on all occasions.
It is estimated that Grant has lost in the last fifteen days 70,000 men,
killed, wounded and stragglers. God grant this war may soon end in a
complete victory to us.
Lieut. Co. Gee, Fifty-ninth Georgia regiment, is wounded and has gone
home. Col. Brown is here. Fifty-ninth Georgia regiment lost in killed and
wounded ninety-two. You must write often, perhaps some of your letters will
reach me. Tell Bob he must be a good boy and write to me often.
-----
Do excuse the intense interest and intrusion, or interruption, if such it
may be upon your
valuable time by this old Confederate woman. Very truly
M. R. Bass
Evinston, Fla. March 10.
Additional Information about Maston Green Bass:
Maston Green Bass married Mahuldah R. Bradley November 27, 1851, in Fort
Gaines, Clay Co. GA. They had a son, Robert G. Bass.
Grand Lodge of Georgia
1854 Darley Lodge, No. 17,
Fort Gaines, Clay County, Georgia
M. G. Bass, Junior Deacon
M. G. Bass, J.J.C., performed marriages in Clay Co. GA.
1860 Census of Clay Co. Ga. pages 37-67
District 431 - June 21 1860
Fort Gaines Post Office
249 249 Bass, Maston G. 31 m Grocer $300 Geo
Bass, Mahulda R 27 f Geo
Bass, Robert 8 m Geo
After the death of Maston Bass, Mahulda and Robert relocated to Evinston,
Alachua Co. Florida.