Corporal Burton B. GRIFFIN Photo Courtesy Cain Griffin General Ellison Capers Camp #1212  Moncks Corner, SC

In February 1860 the commissioned officers of The Georgia Hussars, The Effingham Troop, The Liberty Independent Troop, Liberty Guards, Bryan Troop, and McIntosh Light Dragoons, met in Savannah for the purpose of organizing a Regiment of Cavalry. The group went as far as electing a Colonel and  Lieutenant Colonel.  The attempt to organize a regiment was a failure.   In October 1861 the Liberty Independent Troop, The Liberty Guards, McIntosh Light Dragoons, and The Lamar Rifles organized into the 1st Battalion Georgia Cavalry.   The Effingham Hussars, The Screven Troop, The Bulloch Troop, The Georgia Hussars, The Chatham Light Horse, and the Blue Cap Cavalry organized as the 2nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry in April 1862.

The 1^st Battalion was stationed all along the Liberty and McIntosh coast at Riceboro, Sunburry, Dearing, South Newport and other stations on the Altamaha River. The battalion was involved in several skirmishes with federal troops and sailors who made  attempts to ascend the different rivers along the coast to attack blockade runners and Confederate posts. A skirmish occurred in mid April 1862 on the North New Port River and another occurred around November 1862 on the Sapelo River.

The 2^nd Battalion was stationed at Savannah, Isle of Hope, Skidaway Island, and Charleston, South Carolina. This battalion saw action in light skirmishing along the South Carolina & Georgia coast. 
On January 20, 1863 the 5^th Georgia Cavalry was officially organized by consolidation of the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions of Georgia Cavalry by Special Order # 20, issued by the War Department of the Confederacy. Not officially formed until January 1863, planning had been preceding since the failed attempt at organizing a regiment in 1860. The regimental flag is dated 1862, and at least one letter written on March 20, 1862, has a return address of Wm. M. Henderson, 2nd Battalion 5 GA Cavalry, Savannah, Ga. It appears at least some troopers in the 2^nd Battalion were referring to the unit as the 5^th Georgia in early 1862.  The 5th Georgia Cavalry saw action from Florida to Virginia, ending service in North Carolina, on April 26, 1865.

5th Georgia Cavalry
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