George Disney's Gravesite
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Photo by Dave Seibert
High up on Rocky Face S of Gap is the lone grave of English-born George Disney, Co K, 4th KY Inft Lewis' "Orphan Brigade" Bates Div, Hindman's Corps. The 4th KY was deployed to form a living telegraph line from base to summit of the ridge at the point where the view commanded Federal movements in open valley NW. Disney, atop the ridge was killed by a random bullet Feb 25 1864; he was buried where he fell. Dalton Boy Scouts, on a hike, found the grave and directed by Scout Master Wm M Sapp Sr, replaced the inscribed heart-pine board with a marble marker, May 13, 1917. (Marker located at US41 near Mill Creek Gap at Georgia State Patrol HQ)
There is a Disney hiking trail - which is said to be one of the most difficult and steep trails in northwest Georgia - that leads to George Disney's gravesite. The trail also goes through the area of the Battle of Rocky Face which was May 8-10, 1864.
"A Singular Death -In February 1864, Rocky Face Ridge was occupied by Johnston as a signal station. The Fourth Kentucky was so deployed as to form a living telegraph line from the valley next to Dalton to the top and front face of the ridge at a point where, next to the Federals the assent was perpendicular. From the top of this ridge the Federal Army was in full view. The next day after the formation of this line, there was a collision of Federal and Confederate forces on the right of our line, and when the Federals would move, word was passed from man to man of the living telegraph as "Two more brigades advancing on such and such a point". The first night after the formation of the telegraph, the men slept at their posts. The next morning George Disney, a private of Company B, arose to a sitting posture, after a night's sleep on the top of this height in the open air, was in the act of gaping, as men are wont to do on first awaking. He was seen to suddenly resume his recumbent position, as though resolved to take another nap; but he had been so lying for an hour or two, men tried to wake him found that life had departed. .......He was a native of England." History of the Orphan Brigade by Edwin Porter Thompson, 1898.
There is a photo of the gravesite itself on findagrave.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6077463; georgiainfo; "History of the Orphan Brigade" by Edwin Porter Thompson, 1898.
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This page was last updated on -03/17/2024
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