The Coweta Guards

Private William Thomas Overby
43rd Virginia Cavalry
September 23, 1864 ~ Front Royal, Virginia

This is a second monument on the Courthouse Square in Newnan, GA. and is erected in memory of William Thomas Overby, Confederate Hero. He enlisted May 31,1861, into Co. A 7th Ga. Infantry. He was wounded at second Manassas, Aug. 30, 1862, then joined Co. D, 43rd Batln. Mosby's Rangers. They raided within Federal lines to embarrass the enemy, causing U. S. Grant to issue the order that "when found Mosby's men were to be hanged without trial." William Overby was captured at Front Royal, Va. on Friday, Sept. 23,1864. He was offered his life if he would reveal the hiding place of Mosby's men. This he refused, and was executed without trial. A federal said "He was the Nathan Hale of the Confederacy." Scott said, "He was a famous soldier and died unafraid." A lady, present at his death said, "He died a Christian-unafraid." William Overby suffered death rather than betray his friends. He is buried in Markham, Va. The monument reads: "Erected 1956 by Alfred Colquitt and Newnan Chapters UDC, Inscription by Col. Thomas Spencer. At the top of this granite Boulder are crossed battle flags.

The 7th Infantry Regiment was formed in May, 1861, at Atlanta, Georgia, and in June moved to Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Its members were raised in the counties Coweta, Paulding, De Kalb, Franklin, Fulton, Heard, and Cobb. Assigned to Colonel F.S. Bartow's Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, it was active in the fight at First Manassas. In April, 1862, the regiment had 611 effectives and served under the command of General G.T. Anderson until the end of the war. It participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, except when it was detached with Longstreet at Suffolk, in Georgia, and at Knoxville. The 7th was not involved in the Battle of Chickamauga. It was active in the long Petersburg siege south and north of the James River and later the Appomattox Campaign. It reported 153 casualties at First Manassas, 147 during the Seven Days' Battles, and 120 at Second Manassas. Losses were light at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, but from April 14 to May 6 there were 98 disabled, and from August 1 to December 31, 1864, the unit had 56 killed or wounded. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered with 24 officers and 164 men. The field officers were Colonels George H. Carmical, Lucius J. Gartrell, William W. White, and William T. Wilson; Lieutenant Colonels Moses T. Almon, James F. Cooper, and John Dunwoody; and Majors Lemuel B. Anderson, E.W. Hoyle, John F. Kiser, and Horace H. Witt.