Martha Lamb Johnston
June 2002
"Doc" Johnston
Company 1, 6th Georgia Infantry Regiment
known as the "Twiggs Co. Guards."
This is the story of sacrifice and survival in one Southern family.
My great-great grandfather, Henry Lamb, was a sugar planter in Twiggs Co., Georgia, that's South Georgia, not far from Macon. He and his wife Allie, had eight sons.
When the War Between the States began, four sons volunteered on May 27, 1861 to serve in Company 1, 6th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Twiggs Co. Guards." They were sent to Virginia. On July 22 of that year three Lamb sons volunteered for Company 1, 26th Infantry, known as "Faulks Invincibles." William Faulk outfitted much of the company of 71. It was commanded by Captain Eli S. Griffin. One Lamb boy was too young to go.
The seven farm boys were privates, one became a sergeant in a year. They were all "good shots" because of the family hunting tradition which supplied venison and wild turkey for the Lamb table.
On July 29, 1861 Thomas died in Yorktown, Va. either of wounds or disease. Samuel, who was the sergeant, and William both were killed on Sept. 17, 1862 during the battle at Sharpsburg, Md. The Georgians under Gen. Toombs had sniped at Federals on the stone bridge over Antietam Creek all morning. After the Federals rushed and took the bridge, many died on the afternoon of one of the bloodiest days in American History. In December of 1862 Arthur died of disease in a Va. hospital. Benjamin lost his life, but I don't have the details.
Of seven who left home to fight for the cause they belived in, two survived to return home to the plantation in Georgia. They were Henry and my great grandfather, known as "Doc."
Doc met Mary Johnston in August 1865 on a horseback ride and they married in April 1866. They had nine children. Mary Johnston Lamb lived to be 96 and I visited her on the plantation when I was a young girl.
