USA > Mississippi > Official and statistical register of the state of Mississippi, 1908 v. 3 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02281 8899
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013
http://archive.org/details/officialstatisti03miss
THE
Official and Statistical Register
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
1908
V. 3
BY DUNBAR ROWLAND, LL.D.
.
DIRECTOR
Department of Archives and History, Member American Historical Association and National Public Archives Commission.
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NASHVILLE, TENN. .
PRESS OF THE BRANDON PRINTING COMPANY
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MILITARY HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
made no detailed report, and Bowen was severely wounded, and the Hud- son Battery is not mentioned in the official reports.
Served in defense of Vicksburg, July, 1862, under command of First Lieut. J. R. Sweaney, attached to Helm's Brigade. Under command of Sweaney participated in the battle of Baton Rouge, August 5, 1862, with the division under General Clark, General Breckenridge gave them hon- orable mention in his report. The battery had six men wounded. At- tached to Rust's Brigade of Lovell's Division, VanDorn's Army, at the battle of Corinth, October, 1862, Lieutenant Sweaney in command, but had no opportunity to participate. With Rust's Brigade, January, 1863, Port Hudson district; same, March, Lieut. Sweaney commanding. Transferred to Jackson, Miss., sent April 18, with Lowry's Regiment, to reinforce General Bowen at Grand Gulf. At I A. M., April 30, hearing that Grant was crossing the river to Bruinsburg, Bowen sent a section of the Hudson Battery, with Col. Robert Lowry's Regiment and a part of Green's Brigade to occupy the roads in front of Port Gibson, in all 775 men, which he reinforced during the battle of May I with other infantry and artillery to a total of 5,000. General Green reported that in the opening of the battle, three hours before dawn, on the Rodney road near Union Church, "the Hudson Battery, though in a very warm place, suc- ceeded in driving the enemy's battery from its position. This, however, was soon replaced by another, which opened upon us with great fury. Our battery replied with signal success, though the enemy's shells and balls fell thick around them, wounding many; yet they stood by their guns and kept up a regular fire. After three hours hard fighting the enemy ceased firing and withdrew a short distance." Sweaney retired his bat- tery for ammunition, but soon returned and was engaged until Green was compelled to retreat about 11 o'clock.
"The Hudson Battery brought off all their pieces," General Bowen said, "but had lost so many horses they were compelled to abandon their caissons. This battery suffered severely, having twenty wounded."
May 14, Lieut. Sweaney's section, camped near the Cox hospital, placed at disposal of General Forney for defense of Big Black bridge.
On the Vicksburg line tablets 131 and 132 mark the right and left guns (12-pounder howitzers) of Hudson's Battery. These guns took position on the morning of the investment and remained until disabled First Lieut. E. S. Walton commanded two guns in the railroad redan. From this detachment four men were captured during the charge made upon the fort. Tablet 150 marks the site of a 6-pounder gun, commanded by Lieuts. Sweaney and Trantham. Sweaney was killed and Walton desperately wounded, and Lieut. Trantham was left in command,
In parole camp at Enterprise, November, 1863, Captain James L. Hoole commanding; present, 64; aggregate, 102, December, exchanged. Chalmers sent Hoole's Battery of mountain howitzers, with his reinforce- ments, to General Forrest during the Meridian campaign, and they par- ticipated in the battle of Okolona, February'22, 1864, both in the town, and in the attack five miles out, where Col. Jeff. Forrest and Colonel Barks-
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dale were killed. Hudson's Battery, Lieut. E. S. Walton, two 10-pounder Parrots and two 12-pounder howitzers, in Morton's Artillery Battalion of Forrest's Cavalry, with batteries of Morton, Thrall and Rice.
In battle of Harrisburg, July 14, 1864, on the right of the line, with Roddey's Division.
In the attack on Athens, Ala., September 23, 1864, "Hudson's Battery, commanded by Lieut. E. S. Walton, was placed northeast of the fort," (Forrest's report) which surrendered after artillery firing was kept up a short time. Walton's guns were also in action at Sulphur Springs, where another garrison was taken, September 25, and at Eastport, October 10, Walton, supported by Kelley's Cavalry, defeated two gunboats and three transports loaded with troops. "Two balls penetrated one gunboat and a shell burst in one of the transports, causing it to be enveloped in steam and flame." . The battery was with Forrest in the raid in West Tennessee, which followed, and at Johnsonville, November 3, with Morton's and Thrall's Batteries, made the famous fight against the land batteries and gunboats defending the military depot. About fifty guns were in action, mostly on the Federal side. "The gunboats, in fifteen minutes after the engagement commenced, were set on fire, and made rapidly for the shore, where they were consumed. My batteries next opened upon the trans- ports, and in a short time they were in flames. The immense amount of stores were also set on fire, together with the huge warehouse above the landing. The enemy continued a furious cannonading on my batteries." (Forrest's report.) At times the rammers were shot from the hands of the cannoneers and men were nearly buried under the dirt thrown on them by the explosion of shells from the land batteries, and their work was possible only by reason of their remarkable accuracy and rapidity of firing.
General Chalmers reported that a section of the battery aided in the capture of the transport Cheeseman, October 30, at Paris Landing.
March 23, 1865, General Forrest, at West Point, ordered General Chalmers at Pickensville, Ala., to send Armstrong's Brigade with Hud- son's Battery to Selma. April 11, Hudson Battery with General Starke at Greensboro.
QUITMAN LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Captains-William S. Lovell, promoted Major; Richard T. English. First Lieutenants-John L. Holt, resigned; Lyman G. Aldrich.
Junior First Lieutenant-W. W. Wilkins.
Second Lieutenants-George W. Miller, resigned; Harvey G. Mans- field.
Third Lieutenant-Richard T. English, promoted Captain 20 Sep- tember, 1861.
First Sergeant-Lyman G. Aldrich.
Organized at Natchez. Officers commissioned of date 11 April, 1861; number of men, 68 (Adjutant-General's report). Secretary Walker despatched Governor Pettus, April 8, 1861, that the artillery company at
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MILITARY HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Natchez, William S. Lovell, Captain, was needed at once at Pensacola. Ordered to Pensacola, where general orders of April 30 announced that Captain Lovell's independent company of cavalry had been received into the service of the Confederate States. See English's Battery.
· SMITH'S-TURNER'S BATTERY.
Organized July 1, 1861 ; in active service from August, 1861.
Captains-Melancthon Smith, promoted; William B. Turner. First Lieutenant-A. G. Hough.
Junior First Lieutenant-John G. Dables.
Second Lieutenant-Joseph W. Eckford.
The company was first organized as the Chickasawhay Desperadoes of Clarke County, Captain James S. Terrall, April 24, 1861, for infantry service, original roll, 51. Consolidated with company raised by Captain Smith, commissioned July 14. Smith was a native of Alabama, graduate of West Point, who had resigned from the United States Army, in 1854, after nine years' service.
Captain William B. Turner entered the Confederate service April 24, 1861, as a private of infantry, promoted First Lieutenant; commissioned Captain May 2, 1863, for skill and valor. His battle record was Belmont, Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge. First · Lieut. Chandler S. Smith entered the service as Second Lieutenant of infantry, April 24, 1861. - Second Lieutenant W. W. Henry as Sergeant of infantry same date, Second Lieutenant B. T. Harman as Sergeant same date. Lieut. C. LeB. Ingraham killed at Chickamauga.
The battery was with General Clark at Union City, Tenn .; August 5, 1861, was ordered to report to General Pillow at New Madrid. In Oc- tober it was attached to Colonel Stephens' Brigade of Cheatham's Division in Polk's army at Columbus, Ky. When General Grant landed a force to attack the Confederate post at Belmont, on the Missouri shore, No- vember 7th, Smith's Battery was ordered to the river bank, where it opened upon the Federals across the river. General Polk reported that he was particularly indebted for victory to Captain Smith, of the Mississippi battery, and to Major A. P. Stewart, who directed the artillery in the fort.
After the retreat to Corinth the battery continued with Cheatham's Division, Col. George Maney succeeding to command of the brigade.
At the battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, the battery had 120 men and 6 guns engaged, I man killed and 13 wounded, lost 23 horses, 3 guns and 5 caissons, but took 5 guns on the first day. It happened that General Cheatham encountered the left of the line of General Sherman, reinforced by Hurlbut's Division, which marched up to Sherman's position through the remnants of Prentiss' Division streaming to the rear, and consequently Cheatham had the most determined opposition found on the field that day. He brought up Smith's guns to oppose Hurlbut's Artillery, and the Mississippians unlimbered and came into battle with the utmost prompt-
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MILITARY HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
· ness, under a fire that disabled some of their horses. Their first shot stampeded one of Hurlbut's Batteries (Myers' of Ohio) but Ross' Mich- igan Battery made a gallant fight and was a worthy antagonist of Smth during an artillery duel of an hour, in which the Michigan company lost 50 killed and wounded. When Breckenridge came up and went into line on the right of Cheatham, a charge was attempted across an open field against the Federal line, but the Confederates were driven back with heavy loss. Later in the day, when Breckenridge had pushed around to the flank of the Federal line, a second assault was successful and Hurl- but fell back toward the river. In the course of his retreat Miller's Mississippi Cavalry made a dash and captured the Michigan Battery before it could unlimber-at least four of the guns and 27 men as stated in the Federal reports. "Capt. Melancthon Smith's Light Battery did splendid service," General Cheatham wrote, "and Captain Smith and his officers were distinguished examples of gallantry." Casualties, killed, 2. Smith's Battery fought gallantly through the second day also when victory was with the Federal troops. Cheatham held from morning until after 2 o'clock, when he was ordered to retire from the position he had gained, and was supported effectively by Lieutenant Eckford, of Smith's Battery, with two guns of the battery.
Lieut. W. B. Turner, commanding, in battalion of artillery under Maj. Melancthon Smith, attached to Cheatham's Division, Polks' Corps. In the battle of Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863, Turner had four 12- pounder Napoleon guns, served them at short range, fired 220 rounds and did great execution, at a loss to the battery of 2 killed and 5 wounded, and 2 horses killed. They crossed the Chickamauga on the 19th, with Maney's Brigade, marched to the north and went into battle where Forrest's Cavalry was attacking the left flank of General Thomas on the Chattanooga road. The place was one of great confusion and danger and in obedience to orders Turner posted three guns on a hilltop to the rear, which then became, because of his occupancy of the position, one of the chief historic spots of the field. One gun, under First Lieutenant Smith, remained with Maney's Brigade, which was driven back in a shattered condition. Maney reported: "My advance gun, under the immediate command and efficient management of Lieutenant Smith, after covering the retiring line with several well-directed shots at short range, was withdrawn to the hilltop and took position with the other three, the battery, by order of the Division General, being retained there with the line formed to check the enemy's advance." The battery was the rallying point of the division of Cheatham, who reported that Jackson's and Smith's Brigades were now advanced to the right and left of Turner's Battery. "The enemy, flushed with a supposed victory, boldly advanced upon my line, and coming within short range was checked and forced back in disorder by the well- directed discharges of shell and canister from the guns of Turner's Bat- tery." In his report of that day's battle Cheatham made personal reference to this, "I cannot forbear to refer to the important service ren- dered by Lieut. William B. Turner, commanding battery. Posted on an
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MILITARY HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
elevation commanding the approach of the enemy, he used his advantage with great effect and displayed a degree of efficiency in the service of his guns highly commendable to himself, his officers and men, and accomp- lished a result the importance of which it is difficult to estimate." The division rested quiet under the protection of Turner's guns until ordered into the fatal night attack. Maney proudly mentioned his "four as good guns, and in my judgment, as gallantly and efficiently manned and served as any our service can boast." Three times, he said, the Union lines were shattered by the artillery fire, and this conduct was but a repetition of what Turner and his men had done at Perryville and Murfreesboro.
After the siege of Corinth the battery accompanied Bragg's army to Chattanooga. In the organization of August 18-20, 1862, attached to Maney's Brigade of Cheatham's Division, Polk's right wing, Army of the Mississippi, Capt. Melancthon Smith was made Chief of Artillery, and the battery was commanded by Lieut. W. B. Turner. The battery accom- panied the army in the Kentucky campaign, and at the battle of Perry- ville, October 8, 1862, had 4 wounded. The battery was placed on a hill on the extreme right, overlooking the Federal line of battle, and Turner opened an enfilading fire at a distance of 250 or 300 yards, with canister and shell, until the Federals fell back, when the Confederate infantry captured the battery which had been replying to Turner. That night Turner and his men took their horses to the front and brought off seven pieces of artillery that had been captured. Under the command of Lieutenant Turner the battery, two 12-pounder Napoleons and two 12- pounder howitzers, took part in the battle of Murfreesboro. Maneys, . Brigade advanced to Lavergne, where General Wheeler was stationed, December 26, and advised General Bragg that Rosecrans' army was advancing, whereupon Bragg fell back to Murfreesboro, and went into line of battle. In the battle of the 3Ist, Cheatham reported: "General Maney placed Turner's Battery of Napoleon guns in position near the brick-kiln, which in a short time silenced the battery on the east side of the road (Wilkinson pike)." This was the only one of Cheatham's batteries used that day (Wednesday) and it "did good service," Cheatham said. "On Friday and Saturday Captains Stanford, Scott, Carnes and Turner did excellent service with their guns, which had been advanced up the railroad by order of Lieutenant-General Polk," to assist in the attack on Round Forest. Turner reported that the battery was engaged four times Wednesday and six times Friday. "We drove back a line of in- fantry on Wednesday, and on Friday, in conjunction with Carnes' and Stanford's Batteries, were engaged with several of the enemy's batteries and drove back a column of their infantry." That evening, at sundown, Turner opened with his two light 12-pounder guns on an approaching column of infantry and repulsed it. During the two days they fired about 800 rounds. One man was killed, Henry Sellers, and 4 wounded. Smith was severely wounded as he was covering the retreat of Maney's Brigade, and Turner put in his place Lieut. C. LeB. Ingraham, who was killed in the fight that followed. "My battery fired during the engagement, which
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MILITARY HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
lasted one hour, 220 rounds of solid shot, shell, spherical case and canister. The repulse of the enemy was effected by my battery alone, as there was only an occasional shot fired by a few sharpshooters who had remained to support it." (Turner). On the 22d Lieut. W. W. Henry's section was the first to take position on Missionary Ridge, opposite Chattanooga, and that night the entire battery moved over the ridge to the place assigned them in the line of siege. The casualties of the 19th were 2 killed and 4 wounded. The battery was not in action on the 20th. Private F. H. Hendrix, killed, was named in the Roll of Honor.
In December, 1863, after the battle of Missionary Ridge and retreat to Dalton, Turner had been promoted to Captain. Present for duty, 107. Early in 1864 Lieutenant Smith was on detail as Regimental Adjutant. He had once been passed for promotion to Captain, was again recom- mended for promotion. March 29, 1864, four Napoleon guns, 89 men present for duty.
During the Atlanta campaign, 1864, Col. Melancthon Smith com- manded the artillery of Hardee's Corps, Hoxton commanded the battalion, Captain Turner commanded the battery.
September, 1864, Captain Turner commanding the battalion, Lieu- tenant Henry the company. In the Franklin-Nashville campaign, Col- onel Smith, commanding artillery of Cheatham's Corps, battalion com- manded by Captain Turner. March, 1865, Colonel Smith commanding :
right wing defenses of Mobile, Captain Turner commanding the company.
SEVEN STARS ARTILLERY.
Of Copiah County, officers commissioned by Governor May 14, 1861 ; enlisted at Hazelhurst September 1, 1861.
Captains-Hezekiah G. D. Brown, Calvit Roberts.
First Lieutenant-Calvit Roberts.
Junior First Lieutenant-John E. Butler.
Second Lieutenant-Micajah D. Wade.
First Sergeant-William H. Thompson.
Enrolled, 114.
Captain Calvit Roberts' .. company, aggregate present, 77, at Port Hudson. report of August 31, 1862; assigned to Maxey's Brigade, Jan- uary, 1563, in the breastworks at Port Hudson; Lieut. F. W. Coleman in command April 30, 1863. Roberts' Battery temporarily assigned to Colonel Miles' line on the breastworks, May 15. Two guns of Roberts' Battery was with Col. John L. Logan in the fight at Plains' store, May 21, at the beginning of the siege of Port Hudson, and continued with his command, headquarters at Clinton, La. The other section was in the lines during the siege. Colonel Brand, commanding right wing, reported one man of the battery wounded June 26. That part of the battery sur- rendered July 8 and paroled, was commanded at parole by Lieut. F. G. W. Coleman.
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The section with Colonel Logan served with that command in Louisi- ana and Mississippi; with Logan's Cavalry in several skirmishes with Winslow's Federal Cavalry during McPherson's reconnaissance from Vicksburg toward Canton, October 15-19, 1863. Winslow reported a severe fight near Brownsville, October 15, in which the Fifth Illinois was thrown in much confusion, while Logan gave most importance to the fight near Livingston, October 16, where he claimed a substantial check to the enemy. In this battle the artillery was effectively engaged. Later in 1863, mentioned as attached to Griffith's Brigade of Jackson's Cavalry; early in 1864, Roberts' Battery attached to Wirt Adams' Brigade of Cavalry.
QUITMAN LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Captain-J. Frank Kerr.
First Lieutenant-R. H. Purdom.
Second Lieutenant-M. W. Boyd.
Third Lieutenant-James T. Lester.
This company, of Jackson, is included in the Adjutant-General's report of September, 1860, Captain Kerr commanding. Previous to January 10, 1861, when the Louisiana State Government took possession of the United States forts on the river in that State, Governor Pettus was requested by the Governor of Louisiana to protect the latter from rein- forcement of the forts from up the river. Governor Pettus sent Captain Kerr, with sixteen of the Jackson Artillery, and ordered Capt. H. H. Miller to call out the volunteer companies of Vicksburg, and take such position as would enable him to prevent any hostile expedition from the Northern States descending the river. Kerr arrived at Vicksburg Jan- uary 10, and fortified at Fort Hill, supported by three Vicksburg infantry companies. Next day a steamer from Cincinnati was fired upon, but the boat made its landing as usual and nothing warlike was discovered in the cargo.
The company officers above named were commissioned 9 February, . 1861. April 8, Secretary Walker asked Governor Pettus to order the artillery company at Jackson, of which R. H. Purdon is Lieutenant, to Pensacola. April 15, Maj .- Gen. Charles Clark reported that he had re- ceived report of Kerr's company at Hall's Ferry, and ordered them to march immediately and report to General Bragg. At Pensacola, April 20, it was announced that the company had been received in Confederate service. June 30 the battery was attached to the Tenth Regiment.
. In 1863, attached to the cavalry command of General Chalmers in Northern Mississippi. May 21, General Chalmers ordered Captain Kerr, with one rifled gun, to accompany Colonel Slemons' command to some point on the Mississippi River, near Austin, to fire upon and capture passing steamboats. On the same duty with Chalmers on the river in June, and in engagements along the Coldwater and Tallahatchie. Under General Chalmers' command, at Panola, July, 1863; sent to Grenada, July 14.
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STANFORD'S BATTERY.
Of Yalobusha County, organized May 17, 1861; mustered into service of Confederate States at Grenada November 6, 1861.
Captain-Thomas J. Stanford.
First Lieutenant-Hugh R. McSwine.
Junior First Lieutenant-Ansell A. Hardin.
Second Lieutenants-Tillman R. Trotter, James S. McCall.
Junior Second Lieutenants-James S. McCall, William A. Brown.
Muster roll of November 6, 1861, for twelve months, 11 officers and 70 men.' Roll of June 30, 1862, 21 officers and 117 men (includes 5 died).
Stanford's Battery was ordered to Columbus, Ky., November 7, and remained there with General Polk until the evacuation and retreat to Corinth. The battery was then, in March, 1862, fully equipped, with two 12-pounder howitzers, three 6-pounders and one 3-inch rifle. At the reorganization of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's army, the battery was attached to A. P. Stewart's Brigade, and at the battle of Shiloh was the only Mississippi organization in the division commanded by Gen. Charles Clark, who was wounded and succeeded by Stewart. The battery was reinforced before going into the battle of April 6, 1862, by a detachment of the Vaiden Artillery, taking the place of men that were sick. Because of the scarcity of ammunition, General Polk said, Stanford's men had never before heard the report of their own guns, but they fought with the steadiness and gallantry of well trained troops. As was the case with most of the batteries, Captain Stanford was left at first to find his own position and work where he seemed most needed. He found a Federal battery in action and opened upon and silenced it at 600 yards distance.
According to General Ruggles, in the course of the fight that com- pelled the surrender of General Prentiss' Federal Division, he brought up Trabue's and Stanford's Batteries to oppose a Federal column advancing and gaining ground, "and when the conflict was at its height these bat- teries opened upon his concentrated forces, producing immediate com- motion, and soon resulted in the precipitate retreat of the enemy from , the contest. At this moment the Second Brigade and the Crescent Regiment pressed forward and cut off a considerable portion of the enemy, who surrendered." On the second day, April 7, Stanford and his gunners were sent to the support of a column commanded by General Breckenridge and engaged a Federal battery at a range of 500 yards, keeping up the battle gallantly, though Breckenridge's charge failed, until almost surrounded, when Stanford brought off as much of his battery as he could. Meanwhile, his persistent stand had enabled the infantry to rally before falling into a complete rout. He gave honorable mention to Lieutenants McSwine, Hardin, Trotter and McCall, and to Lieutenant Dunlap, temporarily attached. The battery had 131 men in the battle, of whom 6 were killed or mortally wounded, 15 wounded and 2 captured. They lost also fifty horses and four of their six guns, but this was through
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no fault of their own. The guns were afterward recaptured but could not be brought away.
During the siege of Corinth, with Stewart's Brigade, Clark's Division. Died at Corinth, 20 or 25. After the retreat to Tupelo, the company set out July 23 on the march to Chattanooga.
After the transfer to Chattanooga, organization of August 18, 1862, Capt. T. J. Stanford commanding, attached to Stewart's Brigade, Cheat- ham's Division, Polk's right wing, Army of the Mississippi. Accom- panied the army to Kentucky and were engaged in the battle of Perry- ville, October 8, 1862, where the casualties were 2 killed, I wounded, by a single shot in an artillery duel with a battery a mile distant. When the infantry charged the battery advanced and aided materially in the victory won in that part of the field. After this battle they marched back through Cumberland Gap to Knoxville, and across the mountains to Tullahoma. Since leaving Tupelo they had marched 1,200 miles.
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