This blog is dedicated to discussing the role of Mississippians who served in the Confederate army during the Civil War.
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This blog is dedicated to discussing the role of Mississippians who served in the Confederate army during the Civil War.
Mississippians in the Confederate Army 
Hi There!! Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of information. You can be sure I will become an avid follower of your blog!!! My gr, gr, gr uncle was Col. William Witherspoon who was killed in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee. In doing research about him I have read many of your works cited and will be looking forward to reading some more of them. When you have time, would you mind giving me a little more info on approximately where the 36th Mississippi was, at the Battle of Vicksburg (I would love to buy your book).I have visited Col. Witherspoon’s plaque/statue in Vicksburg military park several times.
I have a rich family history as part of the Battle of Vicksburg. My great, great grandfather, James McGinnis, was paroled after Vicksburg and was sent to the Witherspoon plantation by Col Witherspoon and there he met Col Witherspoon’s sister, Mary Jane and they later married (my gr, gr, grandparents.). James McGinnis was a courier for Pemberton (according to his Civil War records) and I would love to know more about what that entailed.
Col. Witherspoon’s brother, John Witherspoon enlisted at Union Church in Mississipp with his Thompson first cousins. Would love to converse with you, if you have time. My email is: shabbyrose@windstream.net
Thanks,
Sheilah Broughton
I should get my brain in gear before typing. My correct email address is poreboysingray@hotmail.com.
Ralph,
I’m glad you like the blog – to add articles with footnotes to WordPress, the only way I have found that works is to write the article in Microsoft Word with footnotes, then copy and paste it into the blog.
Hello Jeff, I contributed information for your book on Mississippi veterans … I tried to email you, but I have an old address. Would you please email me? I have a couple of questions. Thanks, David
David,
What is your email address? I seem to have lost it. Or you can email me at: championhilz@att.net
I can’t find an email address for the person who writes this blog. Would you please respond here with an address? I need your permission to use a picture from the blog.
Steve,
You can reach me at: championhilz@att.net
Jeff
Thanks! Check your e-mail. It may even be in spam.
Jeff,
This is the only blog to which I subscribe and I have enjoyed every post, they have truly been interesting and informative as well as enjoyable to read. If it were for my research into Captain English MS battery, I doubt that this son of the north would have even found your blog, but I am glad that I did.
Thanks very much, the kind words are appreciated!
Since I have had little access to the Jackson papers, if you come across any references to the Quitman Light Artillery of Natchez (or Captain Lovell’s battery) and or English’s Battery (alternatively the Natchez Light Artillery) I would appreciate a heads up. Again I enjoy reading your blog and look forward to the next post.
Matthew, I do have a small list of sources for the Quitman Light Artillery – I don’t know if I have already sent them to you. If not, just let me know, and I will email them to you.
Jeff,
If you sent them to me it would have been a couple of hard drives ago, so if you wouldn’t I would certainly appreciate it. Thanks.
Jeff,
Colonel Preston Brent is my ggguncle. I have just found this site tonight in my internet search for information about Col. Brent and the 38th Mississippi. I am disappointed that your book “Beneath Torn and Tattered Flags” is not available for purchase. Am I correct in assuming that Col. Preston left the 38th after his facial injury on June 30, 1863 or did he continue to serve until the end of the war? I plan to bring my family to the battlefield in Vicksburg in the near future. I will make a point of dropping by the courthouse museum. Thanks for sharing your information, this search has been fascinating.
Charles,
Great to hear from another relative of Colonel Brent – I have talked with a number of them over the years, he must have many descendants out there! You are correct that Brent did not return to the regiment after his wounding at Vicksburg. He never resigned, however, so technically he remained Colonel of the 38th until the end of the war. The regiment was led after his wounding by Major Robert McCay, who was killed at the Battle of Harrisburg, Mississippi, on July 14, 1864. After his death, the regiment was under the command of James Henry Jones, the captain of Company D, who was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment.
Jeff,
Thank you for the additional information. And, yes, Colonel Preston Brent has many descendants including my son, Preston Riley Brent (although we are nephews of the Colonel). Direct descendants of Col. Brent are the owners of Brentwood Mansion in downtown McComb, MS. Inside the mansion is a nice photograph of Col. Brent (different from the one that is frequently used in accounts of The Brent Rifles) and a formal dress and shoes that belonged to his wife.
Jeff,
I just noticed the quote on your banner. Dude, that’s a long push to the Potomac from Corinth. 🙂
Tom
Is there a way to access a “title” list of your previous blog posts? Thanks so much!
Cheri,
There is no title list as such, but there is a search feature at the bottom of the page on the right if there is a specific subject you are looking for. Are you looking for something specific? If so, just let me know what it is, and I can tell you if I have an article about it.
Hi. I am a reenactor with a Canadian unit, 21st Miss, Co D. I am looking for any information I can get on the 21st, especially letters and diaries. Can you steer me in the right directions?
Mitchell,
I’ll be glad to help if I can – why don’t you contact me directly at my email address: championhilz@att.net
Jeff
Barksdale’s Mississippi Creeper
——————————————————————————–
It seems, that before we came on the ground,
Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade, which had been
126 FROM THE RAPIDAN TO RICHMOND
marching behind us, had filed off the road, and while
Barksdale’s we were UP on the hill with the cavalry, had quietly, and silently passed into that body of woods to our
right, unseen by the enemy. Along the front edge of
that wood ran an old rail fence, covered all over with
the luxuriant vine known as “Virginia Creeper.” Wide
open fields extending in front. Soon, the ground behind
that fence was covered with another sort of
“creeper,” not as good a “runner” as that on the fence,
nor as “green,” but just as tough of fibre, and as hard
to “hold on” when it had once fixed itself, the
“Mississippi Creeper.” Silently, as ghosts, the Brigade
glided in behind that fence, and lay low, and
waited. Right here, was where the Federals’ idea of
quietly occupying the Spottsylvania line was going to
prove a snare. They had not the dimmest suspicion
that we were ahead of them, and between them and
that line. They came on, with guileless confidence,
and walked right into trouble. Presently, a line of
battle with columns of troops behind came marching
across the fields upon the concealed Mississippians.
Nearer and nearer they came, unsuspecting any danger,
till they got nearly up to the fence. One man
had actually thrown his leg over the rail to mount.
Suddenly! as lightning out of a clear sky, a blinding
sheet of flame flashed into their very faces. Then,
after one volley, swiftly came the dreadful, venomous
roll of musketry, the Mississippians loading and firing
SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE 127
“at will,” every man as fast as he could. It was just
as if “the angel of death spread his wings to the blast
and breathed in the face of the foe as he passed.”
That withering fire tore the ranks of that Division
to pieces. It didn’t take those fellows half a second
to decide what to do. With yells of dismay, they
charged back, out of that hornet’s nest, as if the devil
was after them. In headlong rout, they rushed wildly
back across the fields, and disappeared in the woods
beyond.
They left four hundred and two of their number
in front of that fence, and before the fugitives
got out of range, their General of Division, General
Robinson, was seriously wounded.
Some of our men went out among the Federal
wounded to do what they could for their relief. An
officer of a Mississippi Regiment came upon a Federal
Colonel who lay to all appearance mortally
wounded, and gave him a drink of water, and did
what else he could for his comfort. The Federal
took out a fine gold watch, and said, “Here is a watch
that I value very highly. You have been very kind
to me, and I would like you to have it, as I am going
to die. If I should get over this, and send to you for
it you will let me have it, if not, I want you to keep
it. But,” he said sadly, “my wound is mortal, I
am obliged to die.” The Mississippian left him, and
went back to his post, supposing him dead.
128 FROM THE RAPIDAN TO RICHMOND
Many years after the war, the Mississippi officer
was in Baltimore at Barnum’s Hotel. One day, he
got into casual talk with a gentleman, at dinner, and,
as he seemed to be a good fellow, they smoked their
cigars together after dinner, and continued their conversation.
By and by they got on the war. It came
out, that both of them had served, and on opposite
sides. Finally, in telling some particular incidents of
his experience, the Federal soldier described this very
fight, his being, as he thought mortally wounded, the
kindness shown him by a Confederate officer, and his
gift to him, of his watch. The Southern man said,
“What is your name?” “Col. , of Robinson’s
Division,” he replied. “Can you be the man?
Have I struck you at last?” cried the ex-Confederate.
“I’ve got your watch, and here it is, with your name
engraved in it.”
It was a singular incident, that these two should
meet again so ! The meeting was most cordial; the
Federal was delighted to get his watch again, made
doubly valuable by so strange a history.
FROM THE RAPIDAN TO
RICHMOND
AND
THE SPOTTSYLVANIA
CAMPAIGN
A Sketch in Personal Narrative of the
Scenes a Soldier Saw
By
WILLIAM MEADE DAME, D.D.
Private, First Company
Richmond Howitzers
Baltimore
Green-Lucas Company
1920
Thanks so much for posting this, it’s a great reminiscence about Barksdale’s Brigade which I had never read before.
What a great story! I’m in Gettysburg, ready to check it all out!
Think the Colonel mentioned as be thought to be mortally wounded was Andrew W. Denison of the 1st Mary Land (Enemy); he lost his right arm after this action, & received Brevet Brig. General for his actions & lived many years before & after the War in Baltimore,
Thanks for the additional information.
you’re welcome; just an educated guess; the above book has been REPRINTED Numerous times, and is available from the usual on-line sources…
Jeff,
I always eagerly read your and greatly enjoy your blog posts, but I believe the Confederate Memorial Day essay may be among my favorites. That 1914 Jacksonville reunion footage is a true gem, which I had not seen before.
Thank you most kindly for all you do to keep the memory of our Mississippi Confederate soldiers and civilians alive.
Respectfully,
Chad Teasley
Correction: “…always eagerly read and greatly enjoy your blog posts…”
Please pardon the typo in my above message!
This is a great blog you are a trove of information. I am curious if you have any pieces on the 31st MS Inf. My GGGGrandfather Andrew Jackson Holliday served and “fell to rise no more” on Oct 28th, 1864 in/around Decateur. Ironically 115 years to the day before my birth. Im always looking for info about the reg up until that time especially. I wont even bother to ask in help or advice locating his grave. As it could be a number of places, none of which i have found, obviously. Great job sir!
Jason,
Thanks for the kind words, and yes, I have written an article about the 31st Mississippi at the Battle of Baton Rouge. You can find it here: https://mississippiconfederates.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/an-avalanche-of-brave-southern-soldiers-the-31st-mississippi-infantry-at-the-battle-of-baton-rouge/