USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 16
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Grant was in command in July of the Federal troops in north Mississippi and west Tennessee. A large part of the force that had occupied Corinth was marched toward Chattanooga, leaving General Rosecrans to hold Corinth. Grant made his headquar- ters at Memphis.
General Hardee, with the Army of the Mississippi, started for Chattanooga July 21, leaving northeast Mississippi to be defended by Gen. Sterling Price and the Army of the West. Statham's brigade and other Mississippi commands were under VanDorn in the first defense of Vicksburg (q. v.). The troops that went with Hardee were afterward part of the Army of Tennessee. (q. v.)
General Pemberton's force for the defense of Vicksburg, (q. v.) in 1863, was also named the Army of the Mississippi, and in 1864 Polk's corps of Johnston's army in Georgia was given the name of the Army of Mississippi (See Army of Tennessee).
Army of Northern Virginia. Before the battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861, Mississippi had sent five regiments to Virginia. The 2d, Col. W. C. Falkner, and 11th, Col. W. H. Moore, were in Bee's brigade in the army of Gen. J. E. Johnston; the 17th, Col. W. S Featherston, and 18th, Col. E. R. Burt, and 13th, Col. William Barksdale, were with Beauregard at Manassas Junction. The 2d regiment was particularly distinguished in the battle of Manassas. With two companies of the 11th, they were among the first troops to meet the Federal flank attack, which threatened rout to the
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Confederates. Colonel Falkner, leading his men against Rick- ett's battery, was one of the chivalric figures of that great day. The 2d lost 107 killed and wounded, the 11th 28, 17th 12, 18th 38.
After this battle the 13th, 17th and 18th were brigaded under Gen. N. G. Evans. They, mainly, defeated the Federals at Ball's Bluffs, October 21, 1861, after which the North mourned the death of Colonel Baker, and Mississippi the loss of Col. E. R. Burt, au- ditor of the state. The Mississippi loss was 28 killed and 73 wounded, mainly in the 18th regiment. (See Conf. Mil. History, vol. VII, p. 24) A Mississippi brigade was formed later in 1862, under the command of Gen. Charles Clark, who, being transferred to Mississippi, was succeeded by Gen. Richard Griffith. This bri- gade included the 13th, Colonel Barksdale; 17th, Col. W. D. Holder; 18th, Col. T. M. Griffin, and 21st, Col. Benj. G. Hum- phreys. The 2d, 11th, 12th, 16th, and 19th and Brandon's bat- talion were scattered in other brigades. The 20th, Col. D. R. Rus- sell, was with Gen. R. E. Lee in western Virginia, the Jeff Davis Legion was with Stuart's cavalry, and Gresham's battery was in North Carolina. Thus Mississippi had more than ten regiments on duty in the east in 1861.
During the Peninsular campaign of 1862, the 2d battalion, Col. John G. Taylor, fought at Yorktown, April 5, 1862, and part of the 17th regiment near there April 16. The 19th was conspicuous for bravery in the battle of Williamsburg, where Colonel Mott was badly wounded. The regiment, under Lieut .- Col. L. Q. C. Lamar, made a gallant and successful attack. After three color bearers had fallen, Lieutenant Jones planted the flag among the Federal cannon. The regiment lost 15 killed and 85 wounded out of 500 engaged. The 2d battalion, on the same line, lost 5 killed and 30 wounded. At the battle of Seven Pines, this battalion, on the skirmish line, lost 12 killed and 71 wounded. The 2d and 11th regiment were active in this battle, and the 12th, Col. W. H. Taylor, lost 41 killed and 152 wounded. . The Jeff Davis Legion, under Col. W. T. Martin, took an important part in Stuart's fam- ous raid around McClellan's army before Richmond, and Martin was recommended for promotion.
In the valley, with Stonewall Jackson, Colonel Posey was wounded at Cross Keys, where the 16th regiment lost in all 6 killed and 27 wounded.
Featherston's brigade began its record at the battle of Gaines' Mill and Frazier's farm. The 12th and 19th regiments and Tay-
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lor's battalion, formed this command, which lost 115 killed and 542 wounded. Colonel Taylor was killed at Frazier's Farm.
Griffith's brigade was under fire at Seven Pines, and a month later was at Gaines' Mill and Savage Station. General Griffith was mortally wounded June 29, and Col. William Barksdale took command. At Malvern Hill Barksdale's suffered the heaviest loss of any brigade engaged. All the regimental commanders, Carter, Holder, Griffin and Brandon, were wounded. The total loss was 91 killed and 434 wounded. At Gaines' Mill the 2d lost 21 killed and 79 wounded, the 11th, 18 killed and 142 wounded, the 16th, 16 killed and 51 wounded.
In the cavalry operations of this campaign Col. W. T. Martin commanded a brigade, with great distinction. His legion was later assigned to Wade Hampton's brigade, and after a famous career under Stuart, surrendered with Hampton at Greensboro, in April, 1865.
The army had been under various names until this Richmond campaign of 1862, after which it was the Army of Northern Vir- ginia, under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The Missis- sippians were all assigned to Longstreet's corps. Featherston's brigade (12th, 16th, 19th regiments and 2d battalion) to Ander- son's division, and Barksdale's brigade, as above organized, to McLaw's division. The 2d and 11th remained in Law's brigade of Hood's division.
The 12th and 16th won the praise of Wilcox at Kelly's Ford, August 21. At the battle of Second Manassas Featherston's bri- gade was distinguished and lost 26 killed and 142 wounded. The 2d and 11th lost 15 killed and 153 wounded. Barksdale's brigade was not in this battle, but took part in the capture of Harper's Ferry, September 13, in which the skirmishers, under Maj. J. M. Bradley, were particularly distinguished.
In the Maryland campaign of 1862, and particularly at Sharps- burg, the Mississippi loss was heavy, indicating the work they did. Col. P. F. Liddell, of the 2d, a veteran of the Mexican war, was mortally wounded at Sharpsburg; S. F. Butler, next in rank, badly wounded, and Maj. T. S. Evans killed. Of the 11th, Col. John M. Stone, Lieut .- Col. D. W. Humphreys and Maj. J. A. Blair were wounded. The total loss of the two regiments, very small in number present, was 35 killed and 223 wounded. Barksdale took in 891 men, and lost 33 killed and 257 wounded. Col. Carnot Posey, commanding Featherston's brigade, was mentioned by Longstreet as one of the most prominently distinguished officers
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of his division. His brigade loss was 44 killed and 260 wounded. The 16th regiment, (of this brigade) under Captain Feltus, went into battle with 228 men and lost 144 killed and wounded. The arduous campaigning of the year 1862 ended at Fredericksburg, in December, when Barksdale, in the presence of both armies, the Confederates on the hills behind him and the Federals on the op- posite bank of the Rappahannock, held the town with part of his brigade, until the enemy had forced a landing. The 17th regiment lost 106 killed, wounded or captured. Featherston's brigade was in line of battle, without shelter or fire, four December days. The 2d and 11th had been ordered to Richmond, where they and - the 42d regiment, and the 55th North Carolina, were organized in a new brigade, under Gen. Joseph R. Davis.
Thus there were three Mississippi brigades for the great cam- paigns of 1863. Davis' brigade was with Longstreet in the opera- tions about Richmond early in the year. In the Chancellorsville campaign, when Jackson started on his flank movement, Barks- dale's Mississippians were left to hold a line three miles long at Fredericksburg, including Marye's hill, where they made a heroic struggle, fighting at the last with clubbed guns, against over- whelming numbers. The brigade loss was 226 killed and wounded. General Featherston had been transferred to the defense of Vicks- burg, and Col. Carnot Posey promoted to brigadier-general, com- manding his brigade, afterward known as Posey's, while a new Featherston's brigade was formed in Mississippi. Posey's brigade was with Jackson, leading the advance of his flank movement. Jackson's route was felt out by the Mississippi skirmishers. In the first attack upon the Federals, Colonel Harris was severely wounded. Posey's charge into the Federal works on Sunday, cap- turing many prisoners, was one of the famous features of Jack- son's last victory. Col. J. M. Jayne was wounded there. The brigade casualties were 212.
The organization of the Mississippians in the army after Jack- son's death was as follows:
Longstreet's corps, McLaws' division; brigade of Brig-Gen. William Barksdale-13th regiment, Col. J. W. Carter; 17th, Col. W. D. Holder; 18th, Col. Thomas M. Griffin; 21st, Col. B. G. Humphreys.
A. P. Hill's corps, Anderson's division ; brigade of Brig .- Gen. Carnot Posey-12th regiment, Lieut .- Col. M. B. Harris, Maj. S. B. Thomas; 16th, Col. Samuel E. Baker; 19th, Col. N. H. Harris; 48th (including the 2d battalion) Col. J. M. Jayne.
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A. P. Hill's corps, Heth's division; brigade of Brig .- Gen. Joseph R. Davis-2d regiment, Col. J. M. Stone; 11th, Col. F. M. Green ; 42d, Col. H. R. Miller, and 55th North Carolina.
The three brigades were in the battle of Gettysburg, which was opened by the collision of A. P. Hill's corps with Reynolds' of the Union army, July 1, when Davis' brigade was engaged with great distinction. Colonel Stone was particularly commended. Lt- Col. H. Mosely and Maj. W. A. Feeney, 42d, were severely wounded. When heavily assailed the regiment held its position until every field officer but two were shot down, and its ranks terribly thinned.
On the evening of the second day the brigades of Posey and Barksdale took part in the attack of Longstreet's corps upon the southern flank of the Federal army, the extremity of which, on Roundtop hill, had been abandoned by General Sickles to advance and occupy the Peach orchard on the road south from Gettysburg. The battle began at 3:30 p. m. Part of Longstreet's line fought up the sides of Roundtop and in the Devil's den, but were beaten · in the race for that position by troops sent to the support of Sickles. But the main battle was about the Peach Orchard, which the Federals yet held, after the fiercest struggle, at 6 p. m. Then McLaws ordered an assault, and soon "out of the circle of fire which surrounded the post on the south and west emerged the storming columns of Wofford's Georgians and Barksdale's Mis- sissippi brigade. Yelling like demons, black with smoke, and lusting for hand to hand conflict, the enveloping mass of Confed- erates rushed the enclosures and speedily gained possession of them and a great gap was opened in the Federal line."
Wofford and Barksdale handled their troops in masterly fashion, and turned at once against the flanks of the Federal lines. "Between 6 and 7 p. m. the whole aspect of the struggle changed in favor of the Southerners." The Federals fell back in confu- sion toward and across Plum run. "The wheat field became the arena of a desperate struggle," Wofford's Georgians attacking the enemy fiercely. "On their left Barksdale, conspicuous on horse- back, led his Southern riflemen, who singlehanded had barred the passage of the whole Federal army at Fredericksburg, right into the hostile masses, where he fell mortally wounded, and whence the remnants of his gallant troops cut their way back with diffi- culty through the enveloping mass of blue infantry." ("The Crisis of the Confederacy," Capt. Cecil Battine, London, 1905.) Barks- dale's Mississippians, in this onslaught, reached Plum run, along
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which Hancock was forming a new line, at the base of the rocks of Round Top. A Federal report of the action declared that the fire of 25 cannon were concentrated to drive back Barksdale's men and recover a battery they had taken. "When all that was left of Bigelow's battery was withdrawn, it was closely pressed by Humphreys' 21st Mississippi, the only regiment which succeeded in crossing the run. His men had entered the battery and fought hand to hand with the cannoneers; one was killed while trying to spike a gun, and another knocked down with a hand-spike while endeavoring to drag off a prisoner." The loss of Barksdale's bri- gade was 105 killed, 550 wounded, and 92 missing, the greatest casualty, except in missing, of any brigade of Longstreet's corps.
On the third day Davis' brigade was in the assault on Ceme- tery hill, under the division command of General Pettigrew. While waiting behind the batteries for the order to charge, 2 were killed and 21 wounded. About three p. m., they advanced in line with Pickett's division on their right, and when within three- fourths of a mile of the Federal line were met with grape, canis- ter and shell, through which they pressed forward, closing up the gaps as they went, into the storm of minie balls, and on to the stone wall, into a concentrated hell of murderous war, that swept the remnant back to the Confederate lines. Every field officer in the brigade was killed or wounded. The casualties of the brigade in the three days were 180 killed, 717 wounded.
The brigades of the Army of Northern Virginia which suffered the heaviest losses in killed and wounded at Gettysburg were, 1st, Pettigrew's North Carolinians; 2d, Davis' Missisipians and North Carolinians ; 3d, Daniel's North Carolinians; 4th, Barksdale's Mis- sissipians.
In September, 1864, Barksdale's brigade, under the command of Humphreys, promoted to brigadier-general, went with Long- street to Georgia, and had a conspicuous part in the defeat of the right wing of Rosecrans' army at Chickamauga, Sunday, Septem- ber 20. They captured during the day over 400 prisoners, five stand of colors and 1,200 small arms. After a few weeks in the siege of Rosecrans at Chattanooga, they marched with Longstreet in the campaign against Knoxville, suffering the intense discom- forts of that memorable November and December, with scant ra- tions and poorly supplied with shoes and blankets. Humphreys' brigade and Bryan's Georgia brigade were selected to make the assault on the Federal works at Knoxville, November 29. The 13th and 17th Mississippi formed the first column. Under a heavy
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fire of artillery and musketry, and, as they entered the ditch, mis- siles of all kinds, those first at the walls of the fort bridged the ditch with their bodies for their comrades to scramble over and plant the colors of the 13th and 17th upon the parapets. But every man who rallied to them was killed or captured. Col. Ken- non McElroy, 13th, was killed; Col. John C. Fiser, 17th, lost an arm on the parapet. Their regiments lost 140 men. The death of Colonel McElroy was mentioned with great regret and high ap- preciation of his worth, in the official report of Longstreet. Hum- phreys' brigade was back with Lee in time for the great campaign of the Wilderness, in May, 1864. Col. N. H. Harris had been pro- moted to brigadier-general to succeed Posey, who had been mor- tally wounded at Bristoe Station. Following is the roster of regiments and commanders at the Wilderness:
Humphreys' brigade (formerly under Griffith and Barksdale) : 13th regiment, Maj. G. L. Donald, Lt .- Col. A. G. O'Brien; 17th, Capt. J. C. Cochrane; 18th, Capt. W. H. Lewis, Col. T. M. Grif- fin ; 21st, Col. D. N. Moody. In Kershaw's division, Longstreet's corps.
Harris' brigade (formerly Featherston's and Posey's) : 12th regiment, Lt .- Col. S. B. Thomas; 16th, Col. S. E. Baker; 19th, Col. Thos. J. Hardin, Col. R. W. Phipps; 48th, Lt .- Col. Thos. B. Manlove. In Anderson's division, later Mahone's, Hill's corps.
Davis' brigade: 2d regiment, Col. J. M. Stone; 11th, Lt .- Col. Wm. B. Lowry; 26th, Col. A. E. Reynolds; 42d, Lt .- Col. A. M. Nelson. In Heth's division, Hill's corps.
The work of Harris' brigade at "the bloody angle," on the Spottsylvania line, is familiar to all students of the most heroic features of the great war. After Hancock had surprised and cap- tured Johnson's division, stationed there, General Lee in person brought up reinforcements, about 7 a. m., and rode at the head of Harris' brigade until exposed to heavy artillery fire, when the officers called on the General to go back and some of the men caught the reins of his bridle and turned "Traveler's" head to the rear. Lee obeyed, saying, "If you will promise me to drive those people from our works, I will go back." Supported on the left by Ramseur's brigade, they charged and regained as much of the line as they could occupy, but were exposed to the enfilading fire from parts the Federals continued to hold, as well as the tre- mendous bombardment and repeated assaults on their front. Gen- eral McGowan came up to their support, and being wounded, his brigade reported to General Harris for orders. Under a constant
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and destructive fire and often fighting hand to hand with assail- ants, they held their ground through the day. At six p. m., they received a message that if they could hold out until sunset all would be well. They held out through the dreary night, the cold rain that began in the morning still falling, the conflict raging through the night with undiminished fierceness. A white oak tree standing near the center of the brigade, 22 inches in diameter, was hewn down by the minie balls from the Federal line. At three o'clock a. m., the Mississippians were withdrawn to an in- ner line that had been constructed. (Diary of Gen. Harris.) Among the killed were Col. Samuel E. Baker, Lt .- Col. A. M. Fel- tus, Adj. D. B. Lowe, of the 16th regiment; Col. T. J. Hardin and Adj. A. L. Peel of the 19th; Captains McAfee, Davis and Rein- hardt of the 48th. The brigade was again conspicuous at the North Anna river, and after arriving on the Cold Harbor line, was stationed on Turkey Ridge. On the 6th, to ascertain Grant's plans, Harris was ordered to feel the enemy in their intrench- ments. Over half the men sent on this self-sacrificing duty were killed or wounded. From the 8th to the 12th they lost an aver- age of ten or fifteen a day under the fire of sharpshooters and artillery. Then came the transfer to the old battlefield before Richmond, where the men had their first bath and change of cloth- ing since May 4. June 18 they were in the lines at Petersburg, and again in serious battle. On the Weldon railroad later, with Mahone, they suffered heavy losses in killed, wounded and cap- tured. June 25, Col. N. B. Harris, of the 12th, was killed. Re- turning to Petersburg, they were under heavy fire at the time of the mine explosion. August 16 to 18, they were in battle be- fore Richmond. August 21, under the command of Colonel Jayne, Harris being sick, the brigade fought again on the Weldon rail- road, where Col. E. C. Councell, of the 16th, was killed, and Col. S. B. Thomas, Major Bell, Adj. Howard McCaleb, of the 12th, were wounded and captured. Many were killed, and a large part of those two regiments captured. After this, they occupied Rives' salient on the Petersburg line, exposed to a constant fire day and night, of artillery or mortars and sharpshooters, until the latter part of October, when they were in the battle of Hatcher's Run. Again, in December and in January, they fought on the Weldon railroad, where Colonel Manlove was wounded and captured. After that they were near James river, until early in March, when they were ordered to Richmond, and General Harris was put in command of the inner lines of defences, with his brigade and re-
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serve forces, to meet Sheridan's raid. Returning to their post near the river, they had comparative rest until ordered to Peters- burg at 1 a. m., April 2. Immediately obeying, the brigade marched in fine spirits, and soon realized from the roar of battle that extraor- dinary events were at hand. Four hundred strong, they marched at double quick to the Boydton plank road, toward which col- umns of Federal troops could be seen as far as the eye could reach, moving forward to surround Lee's army. Harris threw his little command behind the hills and advanced skirmishers to the front as if he had a long line. But soon he was outflanked, and in obedience to orders he put the 12th and 16th regiments, about 150 muskets, in Battery Gregg, under Lt .- Col. James H. Duncan, of the 19th ; and the 19th and 48th regiments, 250 men, under Phipps and Jayne, in Battery Whitworth. The artillery was withdrawn, to save it, from the latter work, but there was no time to remove the guns from Gregg. For two hours these men hald those little forts, the main struggle centering about Battery Gregg, where the Louisiana artillery aided the deadly marksmanship of the Missis- sippians. They drove back three assaults before they surrendered, after being surrounded. "In those nine memorable April days," writes an English author, "there was no episode more glorious to the Confederate arms than the heroic self-immolation of the Mississipians in Fort Gregg to gain time for their comrades." The remnant of the brigade marched with Lee westward, fighting again on the road, and on the 12th they stacked about 150 rifles at Appomattox Courthouse, and next day they started in small squads "to tramp the many weary miles that separated them from their desolated homes." (Diary of Gen. Harris.)
This may be taken, in general, as affording an idea of the ex- perience of the other brigades. Davis' brigade fought through the Wilderness and Cold Harbor, served on the lines east of Richmond, fought at Ream's Station in August, 1864, and later on the Peters- burg lines. Humphreys' brigade was with Early in the Shenan- doah valley, and held their ground at Cedar Creek after other com- mands had given way. Humphreys was wounded and disabled September 3.
Davis' brigade, commanded by Col. A. M. Nelson, fought on the Petersburg line April 2 until the remainder of Heth's division was withdrawn, when they were surrounded and compelled to sur- render, except a few who swam a pond to the rear. Twenty-one officers and 54 men were included in the surrender at Appomattox.
Humphreys' brigade, on April 2, at- dawn, marched through
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Richmond, as Drury's Bluff magazine was blown up and the hungry mob was sacking the city. They overtook the army at Amelia Courthouse, and were among the troops that made the famous stand against pursuit at Sailor's Creek, April 6. After a fierce and bloody fight they surrendered under the command of Capt. H. D. Cameron (13th) the only regimental commander not disabled. A few escaped, and 20 officers and 231 men, under Capt. Gwin R. Cherry, were surrendered at Appomattox. (Conf. Mil. Hist., C. E. Hooker, VII; "A Miss. Brigade," J. S. McNeilly, M. H. S. Publ. VII; Official Records, etc).
For the care of Mississipians in this grand army the legislature provided and maintained a hospital at Warrenton, Va., under the management of Rev. C. K. Marshall, of Vicksburg.
Army of Tennessee: After the evacuation of Corinth, General Bragg took the main part of his army to Middle Tennessee. With lıim was Chalmers' brigade, including the 5th regiment, Lt .- Col. W. L. Sykes; 7th, Col. W. H. Bishop; 9th, Capt. T. H. Lynam; 10th, Col. R. A. Smith ; 29th, Col. E. C. Walthall; 44th Col. James Moore; 9th battalion sharpshooters, Maj. W. C. Richards. Col. T. M. Jones commanded a brigade including the 27th, 30th and 37th. The 8th, 41st, 24th, (Col. Dowd), and 45th, were scattered in other brigades. Also the batteries of Stanford, Swett, Darden and Smith. On the advance into Kentucky Chalmers' brigade made a famous assault on the Federal works at Munfordville, Sep- tember 14, 1862, and lost 35 killed and 250 wounded. Colonels Smith and Moore, and Lt .- Col. J. G. Bullard (10th) were killed, and Richards badly wounded. The other Mississippians in the army took part in the battle of Perryville, where Col. M. P. Lowrey commanded a brigade. After the return to Kentucky the Army of Tennessee was organized at Murfreesboro. Following are the brigades as then constituted :
Chalmers' brigade: 7th, 9th, 10th, 41st, 44th, Ninth battalion. Walthall's brigade: 24th regiment, Lt .- Col. R. P. McKelvaine; 27th, Lt .- Col. A. J. Jones; 29th, Col. W. F. Brantley ; 30th, Lt .- Col. J. I. Scales, and Alabama regiments. These two brigades composed Withers' division of Polk's corps. The 5th, Col. Sykes; 8th, Col. J. C. Wilkinson, were in Jackson's brigade, Breckinridge's division; and the 45th, Col. R. Charlton, and the 15th battalion, (sharpshooters), in Capt. A. T. Hawkins, in Wood's brigade, Cleburne's division, Hardee's corps.
The next great battle was at Murfreesboro. Wood's brigade on the first day, fought for the famous cedar brake, and lost over 500 men. The 45th, out of 217 in battle, reported 71 killed and
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wounded and 41 missing. Hawkins lost 32 out of his two com- panies. In this part of the field Walthall's brigade, fought later, driving the enemy from the ground they had regained. Lt-Col. James L. Autry, commanding the 27th, was killed in the charge. The 30th lost 62 killed and 139 wounded. The brigade was ordered to take the batteries at any cost, and did so. Chalmers' brigade was sent in against that part of the Federal line that was immov- able, but it made a heroic attack, in which General Chalmers was severely wounded, and on the next day, commanded by Col. T. W. White, it held the Round Forest against the assaults of the enemy. The 5th and 8th fought near Chalmers on the first day. Sykes and Wilkinson were both severely wounded, and the two regiments lost 26 killed and 186 wounded, out of 450 engaged. The Missis- sippi batteries were no less distinguished.
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