Branch family papers

Collection Description

Charlotte Sawyer Branch (1814-1894) was the widow of John Henry Salah Branch (d. 1846) and resided in Savannah, Georgia. Her sons, Sanford W., John L., and Hamilton McDevit fought in the Civil War. John L. Branch served first in the 1st Georgia Infantry Regiment (1861) then the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment and was killed at Manassas, Va.; Sanford W. and Hamilton McDevit served in Company B of the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Sanford was wounded at Manassas and taken prisoner of war, and Hamilton fought at Manassas and in Georgia.

The collection consists of the papers of the Branch family of Savannah, Georgia from 1830-1961. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence between Charlotte Sawyer Branch and her sons John L., Sanford W., and Hamilton McDevil Branch, who served mainly in the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

The letters describe the 1st Battle of Bull Run, the death of John, the subsequent capture of Sanford (who had stayed with his dying brother), the Seven Days Battle, the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, and the Battle of Gettysburg, where Sanford was wounded and captured again. Hamilton transferred to the 54th Georgia Infantry Regiment and writes about the regiment's involvement in the Atlanta Campaign, particularly the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. He also writes from Mississippi, Alabama , and Tennessee while serving with Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Branch family papers, ms25, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 March 18.

Donated by Margaret Branch Sexton in 1958-1961.

Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online as part of America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia.

Related Materials and Subjects

Alabama -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.