5th
Mississippi Cavalry Regiment
Company
C - Curtis' Company
This data was generated from the National Park Service,
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System and can be found online
at the following address: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/
If your ancestor is found here, visit the National Park
Service website for additional information.
Contributed by
John
J. Hansen
Regiment History:
TEXT (taken from
"Military Annals of Carroll County")
"Mr. Cole of Black Hawk
was killed at Collierville, J. H. Stanford was killed at
Harrisburg, and Alex. McCune. Captain Crippen, William
Morehead, John Shumake, Mike O'Keefe, P. H. Cain, Geo. W.
Purcell, A. L. Heggie, I. A. S. Bryan and A. S. Bryan are
among the survivors. "
From "Military Annals of Carroll County", which
documents the service of the citizens of Carroll County,
Mississippi. This small printed booklet may be found at
Carroll County or Leflore County Public libraries.
Excerpts of
text, pages 48-50.
COMPANY
C, FIFTH MISSISSIPPI CAVALRY
The main part of this company served a year as
Captain W. Berry Prince's company, and spent the time in the
Delta counties, guarding the citizens of that portion of the
State against raids of Yankees made for the purpose of
plunder. The company had one severe fight in Coahoma
county, near the home of General James L. Alcorn, and a number
of the men were wounded and several captured. Messrs. J. F.
Bole and Charles Chadwick were so severely wounded that they
never recovered from it. Although Mr. Bole lived to a
good old age, yet his sufferings were great. The others
who were wounded I have forgotten.
After serving their State a year, the company
organized for service in the Confederate army. W. H.
Curtis was chosen captain, E. Crippan first lieutenant.
Lieutenant Crippen was succeeded by C. J. Liddell, James
Flowers second lieutenant and J. C. Ferguson third lieutenant,
and John B. Garrett first sergeant. In a few months
Captain Curtis resigned and Lieutenant Crippen became captain.
Col. George organized the regiment at Grenada, and this
company became Company C, and very soon this regiment became a
part of the army commanded by General Forrest.
North Mississippi, West Tennessee and North
Alabama were the principal parts of the field in which he
operated with his command. The Federal army in his front
lived in constant dread, for well they knew that the mighty
wizard would play them a trick when they least expected.
On all marches and raids made by General Forrest the boys of
Company C were along to yell when necessary and charge upon
every line. At Collierville, Fort Pillow, Memphis,
Brice's Cross Roads, Harrisburg, New Albany, and in North
Alabama, the Fifth could be seen moving in unbroken columns
upon the enemy and dealing death to the enemy who dared stand
in their front.
At Collierville Colonel J. Z. George, obeying the orders to
charge through the town and take certain lines of its
entrenchments, found himself opposed by superior numbers, and
had advanced so far that he could not retreat. After the
capture of Colonel George the regiment had several commanding
officers, but none of them served long. Lieutenant
Colonel J. A. Barksdale, who properly was the second officer
of the Third Mississippi Cavalry, commanded the regiment very
gallantly and acceptably until he was killed. Major
Peery commanded it awhile later.
The officers of Company C remained with their company closely
and were present to lead them whenever the call to arms was
sounded. A list of the killed and wounded has not been
obtained as yet. Mr. Cole[1] of Black Hawk was killed at
Collierville, J. H. Stanford was killed at Harrisburg, and
Alex. McCune. When the number and the severity of the
battles that the company took part in are considered it is a
matter of surprise that so few of the men were killed in
battle. Captain Crippen, William Morehead, John Shumake,
Mike O'Keefe, P. H. Cain, Geo. W. Purcell, A. L. Heggie, I. A.
S. Bryan and A. S. Bryan are among the survivors.
NOTES:
A. This
list may not be complete. Since the book only provided
names of soldiers who resided in Carroll County, other
soldiers may have joined this unit and their names are not
included.
B.
The largest battle in Shelby Country, TN, was at Collierville
on October 11, 1863. General Chalmer's attack included
the 7th TN, 18th MS, 2nd Missouri, 2nd Arkansas, and 3rd MS
and attempted to attack the fortification held by 66th Indiana
Infantry Regiment. During the battle a train pulled into town
carrying General Sherman. The Confederates were repulsed
but succeeded in capturing Sherman's horse, Dotty. In
this text, the Battle of Collierville refers to an action on
November 3, 1863; Chalmer's second attempt.
C.
The original Captain of company C was W. Berry Prince.
Don't confuse him with Major Wm. Perry, who took command of
the regiment after Col. Reid was killed at Fort Pillow.
[1] Records from
National Archive indicate a Pvt. Richard W. Cole[#14] served
in 5th Miss Cavalry, Co C. and was killed at Fort Pillow on
April 12, 1864. The text correctly states Richard Cole
was from Black Hawk, Carroll County. But it is incorrect
in saying he was killed at Collierville.
[2] Private
Green Jenkins[#45] appears on a list of slightly wounded at
Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864.
[3] A descendant
of John Keel identified this person as his ancestor. A
son of John Keel[#50] married a daughter of Richard Cole[#14].
NOTES:
[1] Records from National Archive indicate Pvt. Richard W.
Cole served in 5th Miss Cavalry, Company C. and was killed at
Fort
Pillow and NOT at Collierville as stated in this
document.
[2] Private Green Jenkins
appears on a list of slightly wounded at Fort Pillow, April
12, 1864.