The War for Southern Independence:
ARMY
OF 10,000
SIXTY-DAY
TROOPS, 1862-1863
(from Dunbar
Rowland’s "Military History of Mississippi,
1803-1898";
company
listing courtesy H. Grady Howell’s "For Dixie Land,
I’ll Take My Stand")
1ST REGIMENT MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (FORMERLY 5TH REGIMENT)
(ARMY OF 10,000) (PATTON’S)
Co. A, Natchez Light Infantry (Adams)
Co. B, Locke Huston Aids (Monroe)
Co. C, Reube Davis Rifles (Lowndes)
Co. E, Mississippi Confederates (Noxubee)
Co. F, Muckalusha Guards (Neshoba)
Co. G, Chickasaw Rough and Readies (Chickasaw)
Co. H, Reube Davis Rebels (Monroe)
Co. I, Kernper Blues (Kemper)
Co. K, Mississippi Boys (Clarke)
Capt. Halfacre's Co., Winston Brothers (Winston)
1ST REGIMENT MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (ARMY OF 10,000)
(PERCY’S)
Co. A, Copiah Invincibles (Copiah)
Co. B, Valley Defenders (Holmes)
Co. C
Co. D, Brownsville Terribles (Hinds)
Co. E
Co. F, Holmesville Grays (Pike)
Co. G
Co. H, Raymond Minute Men (Hinds)
Co. I, L. C. Pillow Guards (Attala)
Co. K, Fireside Defenders (Rankin)
2ND REGIMENT MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (ARMY OF 10,000)
(BARTLETT’S)
Co. A, Lafayette Sharpshooters (Lafayette)
Co. B, Middleton Rebels (Carroll)
Co. C, Capt. Armistead's Co.
Co. D
Co. E
Co. F, Attala Rebels (Attala)
Co. G, Ida Invmeibles (Calhoun)
Co. H, Carroll Minute Men (Carroll)
2ND REGIMENT MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (FORMERLY 4TH REGIMENT)
(ARMY OF 10,000) (DAVIDSON’S)
Co. A, Dixie Boys (Itawamba and Tishommgo)
Co. B, Corinth Minute Men (Tishomingo)
Co. C, Tippah Rebels (Tippah)
Co. D, Corona Guards (Itawamba and Tishomingo)
Co. E, Mary Davis Guards (Tishomingo)
Co. F, Saltillo Rangers (Itawamba)
Co. G, Lowrey Guards (Tishomingo)
Co. H, Reube Davis Guards, aka Reuben Davis Guards (Itawamba
and Pontotoe)
Co. I, Hatchie Rifles (Tippah)
Co. K, Tishomingo Reapers (Tishomingo)
3RD REGIMENT MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (ARMY OF 10,000) (ROZELL’S)
Co. A, Capt. Rogers' Co. (Yalobusha)
Co. B
Co. C
Co. D
Co. E (Also listed as C), Capt. Armistead's Co.
Co. F
Co. G, Mississippi Tigers (Copiah and Lawrence)
Co. H
Co. I
Co. K, Alcorn Rebels (Coahoma)
Smith Quitman Rifles (Hinds)
1ST BATTALION MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY (ARMY OF 10,000)
(BECKETT’S)
Co. A, Buttahatchie Riflemen (Monroe)
Co. B,
Co. C, Outlaw Guards (Oktibbeha and Tishommgo)
Co. D, Dixie Guards (Tishomingo)
Johnston Guards (Tishomingo)
Capt. Polk's Co. (Tishomingo)
Sipsey Rovers (Attala)
September 28, 1861, Governor Pettus called for 10,000
volunteers, to enlist for emergency service under the orders
of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston in Kentucky. They were to
rendezvous at Natchez, Vicksburg and Grenada, and bring such
guns as they could find. No troops were sent under this call,
but a remarkable collection of firearms was secured and put in
repair at the armories at Jackson and Aberdeen. November 20
the Governor received another urgent appeal from Columbus, Ky.
He sent General Pillow twenty kegs of powder and some
ammunition and asked the Legislature to take action.
Mississippi had already sent to the field and had organized in
the eight regiments of the Army of Mississippi about 25,000
men. The Legislature made an appropriation of $500,000 and
authorized the Governor to call for volunteers for sixty days'
service, not to exceed 10,000 in number, the men to furnish
their own clothing, blankets and cooking utensils, also their
own arms, such as double-barreled shotguns and hunting rifles.
The troops were ordered to rendezvous at Corinth under Gen.
Reuben Davis of the State troops, and at Grenada under Gem J.
L. Alcorn, State troops. Miles H. McGehee and William W. Bell
were appointed Quartermaster-Generals and John W. Ward and C.
C. Scott Commissaries. Before the companies could be filled,
the two brigades were ordered to Kentucky.
General Davis, with 2,000 infantry, two regiments and a
battalion, arrived at Bowling Green December 16, and was
assigned to command of the fortifications in and about the
town, his men being stationed as garrison in the various
works. One of General Hardee's Brigades was also put under
Davis' command, when Johnston prepared for the defense of the
line of Barren River. The strength of Davis' Brigade was
reported, December 31, as 145 officers and 1,617 enlisted men
in the infantry and 35 officers and 495 enlisted men in the
cavalry, aggregate present, 2,295, present and absent, 3,550.
Gen. Johnston reported, December 25, "The sixty-day
troops of Mississippi, recently arrived, under the command of
Gen. Reuben Davis, are stationed here (Bowling Green)."
General Alcorn collected at Grenada a force of 1,850
infantry and 56 cavalry, mostly armed with double-barrel guns,
and sent one regiment on to Union City, December 16. December
21 he reported the arrival of his command at Columbus, Ky.,
embracing three regiments, two other companies of infantry,
and enough expected to follow to make a fourth regiment. No
more than three were organized, however. He also had one
company of mounted men, Capt. C. McLaurin. Capt. R. W. T.
Daniel was Brigade Quartermaster, Maj. J. N. Davis
Adjutant-General, Major Compton Brigade Surgeon.
General Alcorn was assigned to command of Camp Beauregard,
where he prepared to meet an attack December 29, on report of
a Federal advance to Mayfield. He then had about 1,700
enlisted men, armed with shotguns. General Polk's force was so
much depleted by sending troops to Bowling Green, that he
ordered Alcorn to Union City, Tenn., January 1. Alcorn wrote:
"I regret that I am to leave here and regret to go to
Union City and most respectfully beg to have my command
disbanded." They continued on duty, however.
The men of both brigades, during the service in Kentucky,
had no opportunity for hostilities, but suffered intensely
from the very severe winter. Snow lay on the ground for weeks
and the men were unaccustomed and unprepared for such
exposure. Most of them came down with measles and many died
from this serious camp disease and pneumonia. The regiments
were disbanded at the expiration of the term of enlistment,
but many of the men re-enlisted at once in other commands. The
regiments were back at their organization camps in February,
1862.
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