General Notes

George was an early riser and felt that other should rise equally early. To that end, he would often pass by their homes and throw rocks at the windows and doors to get them up and out. George always took a few draughts from his jug before retiring in the evening.

One of George's sisters was considered to be quite unstable and George had her committed.

George and family all moved to Pontotoc, Mississippi in 1866. They lived in a log cabin when they first lived in Mississippi. Farmed 300 or more acres on several lots. His will gave each daughter (3) 100 acres and each grandchild a cow (except Nita).

George W. was a prosperous and well regarded Civil War Veteran. After his death, his wife, Sarah Ann Perry, lived with Nettie. Nettie then felt that all the estate from George W. Sibley's will should go to her alone. As a result, attorneys were hired by Nettie on the one side, and by her sisters on the other side and the attorneys ended up with everything.

[From Obituary sent by Edna McLain Dolland:

"He was the fifth of eleven children and was attending school when the Civil War began; he then volunteered for Confederate Service. His Confederate Record shows him as a Private in Company G, 6th Georgia Infantry, Army of Tennessee, CSA; the unit being organized in Taylor County, Georgia as the Butler Van Guards." He was a Private March 4, 1862 and Present April 30, 1864. There are no further records.
[An index card attached to the record states a summary: "Marked Absent in Hospital at Biglers Wharf for March & April 1862. Detailed for duty at the Winder Hospital, Richmond, Virginia as Nurse dated May 16, 1862. April 30 to Aug. 31, 1862 in Richmond, VA at Hospital sick. Returned to Camp Jan & Feb. 1863 present. March & April 1864 marked Present."] ]

In 1861, young George volunteered for the Butler Van Guards being organized in Taylor County; it became Company G of the 6th Georgia Infantry, the first Regiment to organized in Georgia during the Civil War. Everyone was eager to fight and bring honor to their family and state so, of course, they all hoped to be sent to Virginia, where they were sure the major fighting would take place. The young men were sent off with speeches, flags, new hand-sewn uniforms and bibles. The speech accompanying the presentation of the flag to the Butler Vanguards was:

"Gentlemen and Ladies: In presenting this flag to the Butler Vanguards, I am encouraged with the sentiment that there is too much patriotism burning upon the altar of their hearts to suffer it ever to trail in the dust, but with manful courage will they wave it at the head of the noble band, avowing no higher watchword than liberty and Southern rights. The stars are few, but they are of the first magnitude, and will shine with greater brilliancy the more heroic the achievements they wave over. I have said the stars are few, yet the mighty revolutions hat are going on will render those that are opaque more luminous, and then they will shine with greater effulgence than the stars that waved over the Swamp Fox of the noble state of South Carolina.

But, gentlemen of the Butler Vanguards, short sentences are the best; so remember when you take your exit from Butler, the smiles of the ladies will attend you, and what is far better, you will have the smiles of God. Therefore receive these colors, and with them our best wishes for success in battle and safe return. Take them, and may they wave triumphantly in the Southern army, and if needs be over the home and grave of Washington, and may they particularly, with their glowing colors of red, white and blue."

Still basking in the glow of the good feelings of family and friends, the Butler Vanguards did, indeed, head north to Virginia, joining up with he Chattahoochee Beauregards and the Pulaski Volunteers in Augusta, Georgia for the train ride. All joined in reverie and friendship, until the train reached Petersburg, where they were to change trains for the short ride to Richmond. To quote for the recollections of Green Fleming, a member of the Pulaski Volunteers, "It seems that each one of the three companies mentioned had engaged a passenger coach, fro, different railroad officials, on which to proceed to Richmond, and being that only two passenger coaches could be procured, there was a struggle as to which companies should occupy them, and for a while it seemed that the friendship which had grown so intimate between the companies was about to come to a close. Prof. John H. Brantly, who had accompanied us, requested the Volunteers to stand back and let him whip out the whole crowd and then we could have both coaches. During this time the three captains had 'compared notes,' and it being apparent that all had been treated wrong, especially the Volunteers, the Chattahoochee and Taylor companies, who had possession of the coaches, marched out, and with the Volunteers, sought and obtained another train with open cars, comfortably arranged with seats, where all fared alike and enjoyed a splendid ride.  The boys did not like the idea of riding in box cars then, but soon learned to appreciate even a stock car filled with horses.

On our arrival in Richmond we were sent to Hollingsworth Grove, a beautiful suburb of the city, and comfortably quartered."

It wasn't long before camp life took its toll on George. By April 1862, he was in the hospital at Biglers Wharf. During this time, he received orders to remain at the hospital as a nurse. While he was nursing himself and other soldiers, his regiment, which had been garrisoned at Yorktown, Virginia, fought at the Battle of Seven Pines, part of the Seven Days Battle. The regiment, led by Alfred Colquitt, fought well despite only adequate leadership on the part of General Colquitt. The unit missed the Battle of Second Manasses in August 1862 but was ready, including George, for the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The 6th Georgia suffered heavy casualties, about 200 of the 250 men engaged.

The now battle hardened troops went on to fight at Fredericksburg, a battle noted for house to house fighting and bungled planning on the part of the Union's General Burnside. The regiment then had to really show its capabilities at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Colquitt's Sixth fought under Stonewall Jackson in an attack on the Union Eleventh Corps flank. General Colquitt hesitated, thinking, he said, that the Union cavalry was massing in his front. Fortunately, under Jackson's leadership, the battle was won anyway, although, unfortunately, Stonewall Jackson died there. After that, Colquitt and his embarrassed and depleted brigade were transferred from Virginia to North Carolina and then to Charleston, which they defended during the summer and fall of 1863.

Colquitt's Brigade, including the 6th Georgia Regiment, got its chance to redeem itself when they were sent to Florida, arriving just in time to fight at the Battle of Olustee. The Sixth was detached from Colquitt's Brigade and fought on the extreme left of the Confederate line. They held their position despite losing five killed and fifty-six wounded and running so low on ammunition that they were forced to rummage through the cartridge boxes of the dead and dying. Just when they despaired of anything but death or surrender, a supply of ammunition arrived. The Sixth had truly redeemed themselves.

The Sixth Georgia remained in Georgia for several months after that before returning to South Carolina. From there they were sent to fight Cold Harbor (June 1864) and the siege of Petersburg (July 1864). The Sixth played a prominent part in both battles. By late 1864, the Sixth had lost some 900 men killed and wounded. The unit then returned to North Carolina, where they fought at Bentonville before the final surrender in 1865.

After the war, his once prosperous parents were left poverty stricken and, hence, decided, in 1866, to move to eastern Pontotoc County, Mississippi.

"After his marriage to Lula Mary Sibley, he and his wife lived in Brame, where they were member of the New Hope Baptist Church, until 1894, when they moved to Springville, joining the Springville Baptist Church and, later, in 1904, the Palestine Methodist Church. In December 1919, they moved to Pontotoc, joining the Pontotoc Methodist Church, staying only until November 1920, when they moved back to Brame. In the Baptist Church, he served as Deacon. In the Methodist Church, he served as Steward. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge [Obituary provided by Edna Earl McLain Dolland]."