by LTC (Ret.) Joe Griffith

At the outbreak of the Civil War the new Confederate government had no standing army, few arms, and no artisans or factories to supply them. To meet the urgent demand to arm the thousands of volunteers coming into service, even the old-fashioned squirrel rifles and double barreled shotguns in the hands of civilians were requisitioned into service. However, something more had to be done to meet the increasing arms demand.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Georgia Militia, Governor Joseph E. Brown took emergency action to arm his troops. He put the shops in the State to work making what came to be known as "Joe Brown's Pikes." In his book Reminiscences of the Civil War, General John B. Gordon described the pike as "a sort of rude bayonet, or steel lance, fastened, not to guns, but to long poles or handles, and were given to men who had no other arms."1

On February 20th, 1862, Governor Brown issued an executive letter addressed to the Mechanics of Georgia with a patriotic appeal to the artisans of the State (e.g., machine shops and blacksmiths) to make ten thousand Georgia pikes with a six foot staff, and an accompanying side knife with eighteen inch blade, weighing about three pounds.2

Governor Brown also instructed in his letter how the pike and side knife were to be used. He explained his tactics for his pikemen as follows: "Let every army have a large reserve, armed with a good pike, and a long heavy side knife, to be brought upon the field, with a shout for victory, or when the time comes for a charge with bayonets." Governor Brown went

In 1862, Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown ordered 10,000 pikes be made to arm his troops when no firearms were available.

Confident in the superiority of his pike and side knife over the ordinary bayonet, Governor Brown continued: "Hand to hand, the pike has vastly the advantage of the bayonet, and those having the bayonet, which is itself but a crooked pike, with shorter staff, must retreat before it."4

In order to follow up on the success of his pikemen over a routed enemy, Governor Brown goes on to explain: "When the retreat commences, let the pursuit be rapid, and if the enemy throw down their guns and are likely to outrun us, if need be, throw down the pike and keep close at their heels with the knife, till each man has hewed down, at least, one of his adversaries."5

TYPES OF PIKE MADE FOR GEORGIA

Reacting to orders from Governor Brown, on March 12, 1862, the Chief of Ordnance, Major Lachlan H. McIntosh described the pattern for the pike to be manufactured for the State of Georgia in a letter to potential contractors. The specifications were that "the heads of the pikes to be made of steel, well tempered; the staff to be of ash, white oak, or hickory, well seasoned--to be straight stuff, not crossgrained. For every pike, that passes inspection, we will pay five dollars." In addition, pike pattern samples were furnished to interested contractors by the State Arsenal and Armory at Milledgeville.6

Eager to help out with the war effort, contractors all around Georgia began to make pikes and knives. In addition, the Georgia State Armory at Milledgeville, using convict labor, also began making pikes and other type weapons as well. From March 18 to September 16, 1862, 7099 pikes were received into the State Arsenal.7

The pikes for the State of Georgia were of two patterns. The first was the clover-leaf pattern, distinctive because of its three blades, when viewed together, resembled a common clover leaf. The main blade was ten inches long with two leaf-shaped side blades (used as bridle cutters) and a six foot staff. The second pattern was a retractable blade pike which was spring loaded and when triggered, a sword like blade was released with great force and speared an enemy. Ironically, this fearsome impaling pike was invented by a man of peace, a Reverend Doctor Graves, a Methodist minister originally from Vermont, who during the Civil War was living in Georgia.8

However, based on the surviving retractable blade pikes available today on display in museums, it is doubtful that the pike ever functioned as designed. Those pikes do not have the strong springs installed. In fact, in 1862, government armories could barely make a serviceable spring of less than a inch much less the two foot long springs required to make the retractable blade pike function properly. The retractable blade pikes are believed to have been manufactured at Macon or Chattanooga.9

It is not known exactly how many pikes and side knives were manufactured in Georgia. However, when the Georgia State Arsenal and Armory at Milledgeville was captured on November 22, 1864, the Federal 3rd Wisconsin Mounted Infantry (Wilson's Raiders) reported burning among other supplies, some 5,000 pikes.l0

As previously mentioned contractors were making pikes and knives all over Georgia. For every pike that passed inspection at the State arsenal, the contractor was paid five dollars. For a knife, with scabbard tipped, belt and clasp, they were paid four dollars and sixty cents.11 That was good money for such items in those days. For example, abolitionist John Brown purchased pikes to arm his liberated slaves for his raid on Harpers Ferry for one dollar and twenty-five cents each, which he thought was much too expensive.12

When no firearms were available to defend Savannah, a Major Brown of Habersham County offered to raise a battalion of troops armed with pikes to go to defend the Georgia coast. He told Governor Brown he would have the pikes made if he would pay for them. Governor Brown agreed.

So, Major Brown contracted with Mr. E. P. Williams of White County to make his pikes. The pattern of pike provided to Williams is not known, but Governor Brown later described Williams, as "a citizen of high character," although his pikes were of a "different" and "inferior" pattern. As justification for paying for them anyway, Governor Brown said the pikes "did not cost quite as much."13

E. P. Williams owned a combination gristmill, sawmill, and blacksmith shop on the east side of Sautee Creek just north off the Unicoi Turnpike, five miles east of Helen, Georgia. In his blacksmith shop he manufactured and delivered to the State Arsenal, 107 of his pikes on July 10, 1862 and an additional 140 pikes on September 16, 1862. Today, there is still a trace of the mill dam in Sautee Creek and a depression where the mill house stood. It must have been very hot during those days of summer pounding out pikes from the white-hot forge. No doubt the ringing of hammer to anvil was heard throughout the valley.14

On February 12, 1862, The Southern Watchman at Athens, Georgia reported:

On Thursday last we witnessed what was to us a perfect novelty--a company of volunteers from Habersham County, under the command of Capt. L. Stephens, armed with pikes. It is said the Yankees exhibits a natural aversion to cold steel--if so, they will scatter when they see these "mountain boys." We learned from Maj. Brown, (late of The Clarksville Herald, who was along) that he expects to get up a battalion equipped in this style .15 [Note: A complete muster roll of the unit was listed following this article]

Also, on February 12, 1862, The Southern Banner at Athens, Georgia reported:

A company of stalwart mountaineers under Captain Littleton Stephens passed through Athens. Mr. Lewis J. Lumpkin, proprietor of the Lumpkin House, gave the company a warm and substantial breakfast, free of charge.

The pikes are in the shape of a cross with six edges upon the end of a wooden staff. They are intimidating weapons, and in the hands of brave men, as they are, will do good execution.16

Although, in the end, Major Brown failed to raise an entire battalion, the one company of pikemen who went from the hills of Habersham County to the defense of the coast in February of 1862 was said to be a favorite of Colonel William H. T. Walker, the commander of the Savannah Brigade.

Although the soldiers from Habersham County seemed content to parade with their pikes, the practice of being armed with an ancient style spear was not always accepted by those being issued the weapons. For example, at Big Shanty (Kennesaw), where the Andrew's Raiders stole the Confederate supply train and locomotive "General," the soldiers on guard at Camp McDonald (next to the railroad station) were armed with pikes. Henry Whitley, assigned to Company F, 56th Georgia Infantry, on guard duty at the station at the time of the raid complained that he was powerless to do anything because he and the other soldiers were only armed with pikes.17

Knowing they would shortly be sent to the front in Virginia, Confederate conscript units were bitterly opposed to being armed with a pike, which was in their eyes little better than a sharpened stick, facing an enemy equipped with a modern rifle and bayonet. For example, when pikes were about to be issued to the 31st Georgia Regiment, it almost caused a revolt among the troops. They had no illusion about the killing efficiency of the modern firepower they were about to face in the north.18

Fortunately, the State of Georgia was eventually able to obtain a supply of firearms and, therefore, the Joe Brown Pikes were not needed. However, there was public ridicule of Governor Brown for squandering scarce defense resources on what were mockingly called "Joe Brown Pikes." As a reaction to the public uproar the Georgia General Assembly called upon Governor Brown for an accounting on the manufacture and use of the weapons. Critics considered such weapons not only impractical but even anachronistic. In short, a gross waste of money.l9

In response, on December 12, 1862, before the General Assembly, an unrepentant Governor Brown answered his critics. He cited the successful use of pikes by the Duke of Wellington in the fight against the great Napoleon when 79,000 pikes were placed in the hands of the Spaniards. He emphasized that if the Spaniards in 1808 and 1809 could rout the troops of the great Napoleon with pikes, why would they not be effective in the hands of Georgia soldiers? Governor Brown pointed out to the legislators that he had planned to use the pikes only as a stop-gap measure until guns became available.

In direct response to the General Assembly's request for an accounting, Governor Brown said that he had purchased 7,099 pikes. At the request of President Davis, he had issued 1,229 pikes to the Confederate army for use in the west. Therefore, as of December 8, 1862, there were still in State arsenals 5,870 pikes ready for issue at the direction of the General Assembly.20

As far as is known, no Joe Brown Pike was ever actually tested in battle against a northern soldier. However, there are surviving relics in museums, labeled "Joe Brown Pikes" intended to honor, not mock, the memory of their most fervid advocate, Governor Joe Brown of Georgia. Museums and weapons collectors alike proudly display the pikes not only as a curiosity of war, but because they always attract the interest of visitors.

If you want to see an authentic "Joe Brown Pike," there are a few clover-leaf and retractable blade pikes displayed in Georgia museums. For example, the Atlanta History Center has a rusty head of a clover-leaf pike in its Civil War exhibit. Also, at the Visitors Center at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, there is a head (no staff attached) of a clover-leaf pattern "Joe Brown Pike."

If you want to see a retractable-blade pattern of the "Joe Brown Pike," there is one in mint condition on display at the Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum at Washington, Georgia. In addition, several "Georgia" pattern pikes and a bridle cutter pike made at the Augusta Arsenal for the Confederate government are also on display there. It should be noted that "Georgia" pattern pikes were not made by or for the State of Georgia, but were made for the Confederate army. Therefore, the "Georgia" pattern pike is not a "Joe Brown Pike."

Perhaps the best exhibit of "Joe Brown Pikes" is at the Augusta-Richmond County Museum at Augusta, Georgia. There are well preserved clover-leaf, retractable blade, Georgia, and bridle cutting pattern pikes on display.

It should be pointed out that, as with any artifact, there are counterfeit or reproductions of the pikes in circulation. It is difficult to know for sure if a pike is authentic, but that uncertainty is now part of their mystic as an oddity of the Civil War.

The Georgia National Guard is planning to open a museum in the future to display artifacts of its history. A "Georgia" pattern pike will be included in the exhibit as a tribute to Governor Joe Brown's determination, in the face of not having firearms to issue to his troops. He stood his ground, ready to fight with only pikes, if necessary, to drive back the enemy with southern cold steel at close quarters.

1. General John B. Gordon, Reminiscences of the Civil War (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1903), 5.

2. Allen D. Candler, The Confederate Records of the State of Georgia, Vol II (Atlanta, GA: Charles P. Byrd, State Printer, 1909), 199.

3. Ibid., 199-200.

4. Ibid., 200.

5. Ibid.

6. Candler, Confederate Records, 350.

7. Ibid., 353.

8. Rodney Hilton Brown, American Polearms, 1526-1865 (New Milford, CN: N. Flayderman & Co., Inc., 1967), 137.

9. Ibid., 127.

10. Ibid., 120.

11. Candler, Confederate Records, 350.

12. Brown, American Polearms, 87.

13. Ibid., 346.

14. Ibid., 353.

15. The Southern Watchman (Athens, Georgia), 12 February 1862.

16. The Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), 12 February 1862.

17. Brown, American Polearms, 123.

18. Ibid., 134.

19. Patricia L. Faust, ed. Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War (New York: Harper & Row, 1986), Joe Brown Pikes.

20. Candler, Confederate Records, 344-353.