Generals Pender and Thomas, on the left, found the enemy posted behind a breastwork of logs and brush, immediately in their front, at a distance of about 150 yards. The breastworks were charged and carried, the men never hesitating for a moment, driving the enemy before them and pursuing him until a second line was reached, which was in like manner broken. A third line of the enemy was now encountered. After a desperate and prolonged fight, without supports or a piece of artillery to aid them, but on their part subjected to heavy artillery fire of from ten to twelve pieces, these gallant brigades fell back in order to the breastworks from which the enemy had been driven, and which they held until re-enforcements were brought up, when again the attack was renewed and the enemy driven from this part of the field of battle. - from the report of General Henry Heth on the battle of Chancellorsville

About the Brigade: This was a Georgia brigade. It was original to the Light Division and remained in Pender's Division after the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia along with the rest of the Light Division brigades save that of Field/Heth and Archer. The first commander was General Joseph Reid Anderson, of Tredgar Ironworks fame in Richmond. When Anderson returned to the important work in Richmond, General Edward L. Thomas, a Georgian, took command of the unit. With few interuptions, Thomas commanded the brigade for the duration of War.

Image of General Edward L. Thomas, long-time commander of the brigade

The brigade included the 14th, 35th, 45th, and 49th Georgia Regiments.

Of all the Light Division brigades, the least seems to be known about Thomas' brigade. At Gettysburg, for example, the Offical Records do not even list the names of the commanders. Reports by General Thomas are usually short and the reports of most of the regimental commanders are lacking. Neverthless, this Georgia brigade was distingushed and made up of men of great quality. It was a trusted unit in the Army of Northern Virignia.

14th Georgia

• Col. Arnoldus V. Brumby
• Lt. Col. James Monroe Fielder (11/24/26-5/10/63)
• Of Morgan Cty, mortally wounded at Chancellorsville
• Col. Robert W. Folsom
• Lt. Col. Washington Lafayette Goldsmith (07/15/1837-07/03/1925)
• Lt. Col. William A. Harris
• Maj. Charles C. Kelly (?-?)
• Captured in 1865 in Richmond
• Col. Richard Paul Lester (?-?)
• Served until Appomattox
• Col. Felix L. Price (1835-?)
• Of Jackson; graduate of Georgetown; wounded at Cedar Mountain
• Lt. Col. Whiteford S. Ramsay

35th Georgia

• Lt. Col. Gustavus Adolpheus Bull (03/18/35-6/1/62)
• Of Troup Cty, mortally wounded 5/31/62 at Seven Pines
• Maj. William L. Groves (?-?)
• Resigned to serve in state legislature
• Col. Bolling H. Holt
• Lt. Col. William Henry McCullohs (11/1839-07/18/1912)
• Of Talbot Cty; died in Harris Cty.
• Maj. James T. McElvany (12/3/34-?)
• Of Gwinnett Cty, wounded at Cedar Mountain
• Col. Edward L. Thomas
• Maj. Lee A.J. Williams (?-05/19/64)

45th Georgia

• Lt. Col. James W. Carter (?-05/06/64)
• Killed at the Wilderness.
• Lt. Col. Charles A. Conn (1836-03/25/65)
• Wounded in the Wilderness; killed in action at Petersburg
• Maj. Aurelius W. Gibson (?-?)
• Of Knoxville, GA wounded at Fraziers Farm and captured at Petersburg
• Lt. Col. Washington Leonidas Grice (2/22/32-03/09/25)
• Of Caroll Cty; post-war Macon judge
• Col. Thomas Hardeman
• Maj. Matthew R. Rogers
• Col. Thomas J. Simmons
• Lt. Col. William S. Wallace

49th Georgia

• Col. Oliver Hugh Cooke (1831-1887)
• Resigned to serve in state legislature 1864
• Maj. James Barnes Duggan (11/1/33-09/29/1915)
• Of Washington Cty, post-war state legislator
• Maj. John A. Durham (1826-06/11/64)
• Mortally wounded May 23 at Jericho Ford; buried at Hollywood
• Col. John T. Jordan
• Col. Andrew Jackson Lane (1823-?)
• Wounded at Seven Pines and Mechanicsville.
• Lt. Col. Seaborn M. Manning (1824-09/09/62)
• Mortally wounded at Cedar Mountain
• Maj. John Haynes Pate
• Col. Samuel T. Player
• Lt. Col. Jonathan Rivers
• Lt. Col. Wiley J. Williams