George Hillery Lafayette Ivey was born in Wilkes County, Ga. September 26, 1826. On September 5, 1861 he and Caroline S. Dixon were joined in Holy Matrimony in Elbert County, Ga. His occupation, as that of many of the South, was that of a farmer which was interrupted by his desire to serve his new country.

G.H.L. Ivey, as he was listed on his military records, enlisted in mid August 1863 at Camp Lee near Savannah with Capt. Davies. Pvt. Ivey served in Co. B of the 24th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry as battalion teamster. As a teamster, the pay rate was 25 cents per day in addition to his private rate of $12 per month.

When the organization of the 7th Regiment, Georgia Cavalry on February 13, 1864, the 24th Battalion, 21st Battalion and the Hardwick Mounted Rifles were consolidated to make up 10 Companies of the 7th. Company B of the 24th became Company C of the 7th. Ivey retained his status as Teamster.

The 7th Georgia Cavalry was ordered to Virginia in March 1864 and was stationed in Columbia, S.C. for a few weeks preparing for the trip to Northern Virginia. The departure was in late April with the majority of the supplies transported by rail to Richmond, Va. and the 900 plus men riding horseback to the destination.

Pvt. Ivey was shown to be located at Columbia in April and at Stoney Creek Station, Va. in July where he remained until October 1864. At this time he was suffering with swollen and painful feet and could no longer perform his duties. His attending physician issued him a 40 day sick furlough. His condition continued to deteriorate and later was compounded with poor eye sight.

In 1903 G.H.L. Ivey applied for and received Soldier's Pension. At the time, still in poor health, he was living with and worked for his children, receiving board for his work. He lived 11 more years and died February 7, 1914. His obituary in The News & Farmer of Louisville, Ga. read:

On February 7, 1914, Mr. G.H. Ivey
died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J.C. Reagan, He
was born September 26, 1826. Was a faithful soldier in
the Civil War. He leaves a wife, one daughter and three
sons to mourn his death. The remains were interred at the
Boyd Cemetery in the presence of a large congregation.
Religious services were conducted by Rev. J.P. Craft.

On April 10, 1914 Mr. Ivey's wife, Caroline S. Ivey, began the process of applying for "Widow's Pension" and by October was granted the pension.


Information provided by O. Torbitt Ivey, Jr., great grandson of G.H.L. Ivey.


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