Larry J. Mardis, PH.D. and
Jo Anne Ketchum Mardis, whose ancestors and
relatives were
in companies A, F
and K
of the Second
Mississippi Regiment.
Commanded by Colonel
William
C. Falkner to April 21, 1862
Commanded by Colonel
John Marshall
Stone after April 21, 1862
Colonel E.M. Law's Third
Brigade
Brig. General W.H.C.
Whiting's
Division
Major Thomas J.
Jackson's Corp
General Joseph Johnson
commanding
to May 31, 1862
General Robert E. Lee
commanding
after May 31, 1862
Donated for use here by
Tom Childers,
past president of the Tippah County Historical and Genealogical
Society.
Copyright (c) 1998 Tippah County Historical and Genealogical Society.
John
Buchannan was born
in York
District of South Carolina on August 4, 1819. In 1833, his family moved
to Madison County, Tennessee. After the death of his father, John and
his
brother, W.R. Buchanan, and two sisters Jane Salinas Buchanan and Sarah
Rocinda Buchanan moved to Tippah County, Mississippi, in 1838 or
1839. John was a blacksmith by trade. He married Elsemere Rogers, who
was
the daughter of General E. M. Rogers of Ripley. Elsemere, or as John
wrote
her name Elsie, and John had six chidren. According to the 1860 Census,
John was 40 years old, and Elsemere was 29 years old. There were three
children at home: Mary, Jim and May. In addition, his mother-in-law,
N.E.
Rogers, age 53, lived with them. A family by the last name Check lived
with John: a 30 year old female with the initial E for the first name,
a 12 year old male and two females ages 8 and 3. The 8 year old female
was named Elsemere, the same as John's wife. His personnel estate was
valued
at $9,000. with real estate valued at $2,000. After the war, he moved
to
Pontotoc and died on May 8, 1886. He was buried in the Blue Mountain
Cemetery.
John served in the Mexican War as a private in the Second Mississippi Volunteers. Before the beginning of the Civil War, John organized a volunteer company of soldiers in Ripley, Mississippi. This company, the O'Conner Rifles, would become Company B of the Second Mississippi Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. The Second Mississippi was part of the Third Brigade commanded by General Barnard Bee, who gave Thomas Jackson his more famous name of Stonewall. After the death of General Bee and during the time span of Buchanan's diary, the Third Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General W.H.C. Whiting. During the battle of Seven Pines, they were near Joe Johnson when he was wounded which resulted in the appointment of Robert E. Lee as commanding general. They were in the attack at Gaines' Farm that gave Robert E. Lee his first victory. While at Sharpsburg, the O'Conner Rifles fought in the bloody cornfield. They were with General Joseph Davis' Brigade when it fired the first shots at Gettysburg. The survivors of the Railroad Cut on the first day of Gettysburg were in Pickett's Charge on the third day of Gettysburg. At the battle of Falling Waters, the few that were left fired the last shots of the Gettysburg campaign. In the Wilderness in May 1864, Davis' Brigade held off the Union attack on the Orange Plank Road against overwhelming odds. The O'Conner Rifles survived Petersburg. Most surrended at Hatcher's Run. Few surrendered at Appomattox. Of the 111 men who marched out of Ripley on April 30, 1861, to join the Confederate Army, only four surrendered at Appomattox. One had been wounded nine times. Another had never been wounded or been in the hospital.
John Buchannan kept a diary for about a year from July 4, 1861, to July 9, 1862. The following is a transcription of that diary. Due to water damage, faded pencil marks, poor handwriting skills and poor grammar and spelling skills, an exact transcription may never be completed. Dashes (------) were used when it was impossible to read the diary; however, about 97% of the diary was readable. The diary was transcribed as accurately as possible. Spelling and grammatical errors were left unchanged.
Included in the transcription of the diary are notes of what was happening to the Confederate Army in Virginia and to the men of the Second Mississippi.
When Mississippi joined the Union in 1817, the northern third of Mississippi was controlled by the Chickasaws. The Treaty of Pontotoc Creek in 1832 ceded the northern part of Mississippi and opened the land to settlement. Out of the land ceded by the treaty, 12 counties were organized including Tippah County. In 1836 or 1837, Ripley was organized as the county seat. Ripley and Tippah County were organized less than 30 years prior to the beginning of the Civil War.
Most of the settlers in Tippah County were of English decent. Farming was the primary trade. By 1860, of the 22,517 residents of Tippah County, 6,311 were black or about one out of four. In 1860, Tippah County produced 20,327 bales of cotton, 814,625 bushels of corn and 58,049 bushels of wheat.
With concerns regarding succession, military units were established in 1858. W.C. Falkner was appointed a Brigadier General: however, due to stringent provisions of the law, only four companies qualified as military companies in the entire state. In December 1859, the legislature appropriated $150,000 for the purchase of arms and equipment. By May 1860, the Military Board had accepted enough companies to allow the organization of two brigades: one in the north part of the state and one in the south part of the state. The North Mississippi brigade was commanded by James H. Chalmers of Holly Springs. The first regiment of the brigade was commanded by Captain John H Buchanan. On January 23, 1861, after Mississippi succeeded from the Union, the legislature reorganized the Army of Mississippi and named Jefferson Davis as Major General. After Davis was elected as President of the Confederate States of American, Earl Van Dorn was appointed as commander-in-chief.
There were four companies in Tippah County in early 1861. Two were in Ripley, the O'Conner Rifles with Buchanan as Captain and the Magnolia Guard with W. C. Falkner as its Captain. The O'Conner Rifles was named for a New York lawyer, Charles O'Coner, who was a staunch and vocal States Rights Democrat. O'Coner defended slavery as a divinely ordained institution and maintained that the Federal Government had no right to coerce any State. After the war, O'Coner defended Jefferson Davis against the charge of treason. Charles O'Coner spelled his name with only one "n."
The other companies were based at Salem, the Joe Matthew Rifles and the Salem Dragoon. Salem no longer exists. It was located 5 miles north of Ashland west of Highway 5 in Benton County. Joe Matthew served as Governor of Mississippi in the early 1850's [1848-1850] and was from Salem.
Before Fort Sumter in April 1861, the O'Conner Rifles had approximately 50 men on its muster roll. When the O'Conner Rifles and the Magnolia Guard gathered on the Courthouse Square on April 30, 1861, to march to Saulsbury, the O'Conner Rifles had 111 men. Mrs. Green presented the O'Conner Rifles with a silk flag. Once at Saulsbury, Tennessee, the O'Conner Rifles boarded a train to Corinth. At Corinth on May 3rd, the O'Conner Rifles along with several other companies were organized into the Second Mississippi Volunteer Regiment with W.C. Falkner as it Colonel. Bentley B. Boone was elected as Lieutenant Colonel, and David Humphreys was elected Major. Dr. J.Y. Murry, who was a former sheriff of Tippah County, was appointed as surgeon. Lawson Hovis was Adjutant. The companies of the Second Mississippi were:
Company A, Tishomingo Riflemen, from Iuka commanded by Bentley Boone
Company B, O'Conner Rifles from Tippah County, commanded by John H. Buchanan
Company C, Town Creek Riflemen for Itawamba County, commanded by William C. Bromley
Company D, Joe Matthew Rifles from Tippah County, commanded by William D. Beck (who was an uncle of Nathan Bedford Forrest)
Company E, Calhoun Rifles from Saltillo, commanded by John. F. Boothe
Company F, Magnolia Guard from Tippah County, commanded by William C. Davis
Company G, Pontotoc Minute Men from Pontotoc County, commanded by Hugh R. Miller
Company H, Conewah Rifles from Pontotoc County, commanded by Samuel H. Taylor
Company I, Cherry Creek Rifles from Pontotoc County, commanded by John Herring
Company K, the Iuka Rifles from Tishomingo County, commanded by John M. Stone.
Company L, the Liberty Guards from Ripley, Commanded by Robert Storey was not organized until March 5, 1862, and did not join the Second Mississippi until April 6, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Virginia.
There was not a Company J.
From
Corinth, the
Regiment traveled
by train to Lynchburg, Virginia, where on Wednesday, May 10, 1861, the
companies drilled until noon. After lunch, they were mustered into the
services of the Confederate States of American by a Major Clay. The
enlistment
was for 12 months, and the men obtained a bounty of $50.00 for joining.
A total of 932 men, exclusive of officers, was sworn in as members of
the
Second Mississippi Regiment.
From Lynchburg, the Second
Mississippi
took the train to Strasbury via Charlottesville and Manassas. They
marched
the 18 miles between Strasbury and Winchester and boarded a train to
Harpers
Ferry.
While at Harpers Ferry, the company went about learning how to be soldiers. A typical schedule was:
5
A.M. Reveille
5:30 Squad Drill
6 Surgeon's Call
6 Breakfast
7 1st Guard Mounting
7:30 Guard Mounting
8 Squad Drill
10:30 Camp Drill
1 P.M. Dinner
3 Camp Drill
6 Dress Parade
By May 31st, many were sick with 13 cases of measles reported. Only 34 men of the O'Conner drilled. An Inspector General's report stated the Second Mississippi were badly clothed and "very careless in its appointments. The officers are entirely without military knowledge of any description, and the men have a slovenly and unsoldier-like appearance."
By June 14th, 69 of the 105 men of the O'Conner Rifles were fit for duty. The rest were sick. Around June 19th, the Second Mississippi was placed in the Third Brigade commanded by General Barnard Bee. The Third Brigade consisted of the:
2nd
Mississippi
11th Mississippi
4th Alabama
1st Tennessee Infantry
Imboden's Battery
Harpers Ferry was abandoned. It could not be successfully defended. By July 4th, the Third Brigade was in Darksville, Virginia, waiting on an attack by General Patterson of the Union Army. The attack never came.
July 4th is the starting date of John Buchanan's Diary.
Spent the 4 of July at Darksville 5 miles from Martinsburg heard the Federals firing a salute of 33 guns returned to camp near Winchester on the 7th.
7 o'clock July 10th ordered to cook and strick tents destination not known
July 16h General Paterson 3 mile this side Bunker Hill advancing 4 o clock all the forces ordered out the 2 Regt thrown out on the left flank lay on our arms all night rained some.
July 17th on the field awaiting the aproach of the Enemny sent one man from each mess to get breakfast. Returned to camp at 4 o clock the enemny reported in 5 miles advancing
Note: The O'Conner Rifles did not have a mess hall similar to the ones found in today's army. Small groups of men, generally 5 to 8 men, were considered a mess and were responsible for cooking their meals.July 18th 12 o clock tents all struck except 2 for the sick everything in confusion- all layng about loaff waiting for orders to march cleaned the campt, etc. 3 O gone in the Direction of Manassas Junction
July 19th ------------------- got breakfast forded the river at 11 o clock on our way to Manassas Junction Marched last night until 1 1/2 O lay down on the rocks and slept till about day arrived at piedmont on the RR at 9 O c day down without super or Blankets hard rain at 11 O got about the cars at 2 a.m. got to Manassas 9 1/2 O no breakfast left for Bull run 11 O on July 20th
July
21 cannonading by
the Enemny
conmenced at 7 1/2 O we march to the center of action immediately
Note: General Bee marched the Brigade to the sound of the battle without orders. The Brigade, including he Second Mississippi, marched to the fierce fighting at Buck Hill on the left flank of the Confederate Army. After holding off a superior force, they retreated behind Thomas Jackson's men who were on Henry Hill. The Third Brigade was rallied by Generals Joseph Johnson and P.T.G. Beauregard. By 2 P.M. Falkner had the Second Mississippi in line left of Thomas Jackson's troop arriving just in time to keep the 49th Virginia Regiment's left flank from being turned. About this time on Jackson's right, General Bee was giving Jackson his new name of Stonewall while leading the 4th Alabama and some Mississippians. The only Mississippians on that part of the battle field were members of the Second and Eleventh Mississippi. The fighting did not end until late in the day when the Union troops were routed. The following is a partial list of the wounded from Company BJohn T. Torn[Thorn]- mortally
Lieutenant John. N. Scally- severely
Allen Talbert- severely
Henry T. Webb- severely
Rose Byrn- severely
Alex D. Wolf- slightly
Mathew Knox- severely
Allen W. Livingston- slightly
Benj F. Thompson- slightly
Robert E. Davis- slightly
Sergeant John C. Lauderdale- slightly
Thomas Peters Seargeant
John GraceAbout 1 out of every 10 members of Company B was a casualty.
July 22nd rained all day
terrible
times Dead bodys all round us
July 23 moved out to the batte ground
July 24th W.C. Rogers leaves for home today 9 1/4 I am now on the spot where Thomas Peters Seargeant & John Grace were shot 11 1/2 o clock at Sudleys Church 35 miles from Washinton 250 of the wounded enemny saw an arm cut of Price Williams Co Several of the boys came up from Winchester
July 25th still on the Batteground 3 o clock moved to Bull Run and encamped in the woods
July 26th wrote home today heard from my wounded boys all doing well
27th Lt. Hovis and Col Daniels leaves for home today Hovis cannot get of
28th Sunday nothing of of importance up to 9 o clock
29 nothing of notice today
July
30th Rev JJ-----
left camp
for home this morning my company ordered erect a stone on the spot
where
Genl Bee fell fired 3 rounds Gen Whiting commanding
Note: General W.H.C. Whiting was a native Mississippi and a graduate of West Point. He had the highest grade point average of any West Pointer until Douglas MacAuthur.
31 Dr Cox arrived here last
night nothing of note occured to day
Aug
1st Dr Cox left for
home this
morning C F Dry with him rained tremendious today drew pay
Note: John Buchanan was paid $130.00 per month as a Captain. Lieutenants were paid $90.00 per month.
Aug 2nd nothing of note to
day
Aug 3rd Revile at 3 1/2 O clock orders to get brakfast and pack up to move took up line of march at 7 O clock for Broad Run near Bristo on or near Rail Road arrived at Camp at 11 O
Sunday Aug 4th a beautiful morning only 29 men report for Duty this is my Birth day 42 years old had apple tarts for Dinner
August 5th General policing in camp to day I am officer
August 6th finished policing camp this morning nothing of note this morning
Aug 7th all calm in camp to day I am field officer of the day nothing of importance got a leter from my dear wife this morning
8th Just came of --- the weather very warm no Excitment in camp tremendrous rain
9th nothing of notice to day fruit arrived last night
August 10th no Excitment no drill the boys washing
Aug 11th Sunday weather very warm and cloudy rained a litte
12th cloudy damp day no Excitment
13th nothing of notice to day rained rapid
14th 9 o clock heavy cannonading in the Direction of Bull Run orders for no man to Leave Camp
Aug 15th 9 o clock heavy cannonading in the Direction of Leesbury the weather fine & pleasent
16 Every thing still to day no new from the cannonading yester I am field officer of the day
17th wet clouday day no news Every thing quiet in camp
18th Dark cloudy & rainy no Excitment -- Alsbrook discharged at yesterday paper at H Q to send after today
Aug 19th Still cloudy & raining no Excitment in camp
20th Alsbrook left for home this morning no Exitment in camp got letter from home
21 all quiet in camp weather fine our uniforms came to day
22 J L Woods Discharged leaves for home to day must write a leter by him
August 23rd J L Grace and M H Sanders discharged to day Every thing quiet in camp
24 No excitment A Brown left for home this morning L B H J W H I G B & S N Talbott gone to the Batte field
25th Sunday I went out to the the country to day J L Grace and M H Sanders left for home Dischaged to day no Excitment in camp
August 26 nothing of note to day W Seargent will start home on furlongh tomorrow got a leter from home to day
27 nothing of note to day cannonading in the direction of fairfax
28 No Excitment in camp
29 Raining all day reported fight yesterday below fairfax
30th the camp in a stir orders to cook 3 days rations & be ready to march at a monment notice orders countermandered before 12 o clock Brigade Drill in the Evening
31th no Excitment to day making out Musters Rolls
Sept 6th noting occured up to date
7th nothing
8 "
9 "
10 "
11 "
12 a little fight on or near the Potomac our forces --- Capt Davis arrived from home
13th I field officer of the day orders to cook 2 days rations an be ready to march at a moments warning cooked untill midnight
14 Morning still at Camp Jones cannonading on the Potomac
15 nothing
16 Heavy cannonading East at 9 o cock 2 o clock orders to cook one days rations immediatly all cooking now orders march at 4 1/2 AM next day
Sept
17 O Davis in camp
leave for
home on the morning of the 18th took home 1507 dollars and fifty cts
the
Regt left Camp Jones for the Potomac at 4 1/2 AM struck camp 3 miles NE
of Dumpheries at 1 1/2 p.m. 64 men & officers
Note: O Davis was Orlando Davis who was a judge in Ripley and was on the committee that drew up the Mississippi Articles of Succession. Orlando Davis also kept a diary during the Civil War. The diary was reported to have been burned in a house fire.19th Camp Hill cannonading at 7 1/2 O clock this morning Heavy Cannonading in the direction of fair fax & Halls Hill firing at Sundown
20
heavy fierce
cannonading in direction
of Hall Hill John G C--- up to day Scalley gone home on furlough 45
days
from 16th Sept
Note: Lieutenant Scalley had been severely wounded at Manassas in the arm and side by a piece of shell. He has three ribs broken and was discharged from the hospital on August 4th. He was re-admitted to the hospital on September 9th for jaundice. In April 1862. he was discharged at the time of re-organization.
21 all quiet to day Except
a
litte cannonadning towards Halls Hill
22 Sunday all quiet to day as yesterday
23 heavy cannonading towards H Hill saw the Patomac to day twice field officer of day Riding around late orders to cook one days Rations and be Ready to fight in the morning
24th no Excitment to day all still in camp
25 Courtmarshial 14 cases before the court cannonading at the River no word from the cannonading
Sept 26th all quiet this morning Court Martial to day I president 14 cases before the court not one from my company
27 Cloudy & rainy all quiet Cole Moody gone to see Jim Cox at Warrenton
28 Fine clear day all quiet
29 Sunday fine clear moning J J Guyton left for Ripley sent 200.00 on to Elsie by him Every thing quiet in camp
30th nothing of notice to day
Oct 1st the weather is fine and Every thing quiet weather fine all quiet untill night March at 9 o clock 2 miles toward the Potomac with one blanket apeace bivoiuce in an old field at 12 o clock
2 nd returned to camp at 8 o clock I field officer of the day
3rd weather fine very warm all quiet in camp
Oct 4th --- --- then clear and warm no Excitment 12 o clock the camp in ------ orders to be ready to march at a moment notice 2 o clock took up march out 1 mile ---- in an old field remained there till after sundown and marched back to camp
5 nothing of importance to day ---- Capt Davis ---- --- 50.00 on ---- ---- --- Recpt
6th Sunday all quiet --- in the ---- --- --- ---
Oct 7th all quiet this morning
8th heavy storm last night recieved our things yesterday evening cloudy and cool to day all quiet in camp Heard cannon firing this morning towards Manassas
9 Cannonading served this morning on Courthmartial fine weather cold and cloudy
10 weather cool cloudyon Genl C M ------
11 still on Courtmartial weather fine & clear --- ---- to day
Oct 12 Saturday the day clear and fine heard but 2 guns to day Still on CM Col F starts o meet his wife to morrow
13 Sunday Preaching twice to day all quiet Col F. gone to meet his wife weather fine
14 the morning beautifull all quiet 3 o clock cannonading toward fair fax still on Genal Court Martial Members of the Court
Col
Pender 6 N.C. Regt
Lt Col Holdman
1 Tenn Vols Maj Butler 11 Miss Vols Maj Humphries 2 Miss Maj Canon H
Legean
Capt King 4th Ala Capt Buchanan 2 Miss Vol Cap Miller Capt Kirkland 6
N.C.
This court conviended on
the 9
inst
Oct 15th Morning fine clear pleasant 10 o clock the cannonading commenenced and continues heavy and brisk all day all round us
16 the cannon at the River around us this morning by day light Brisk firing no Execution have on either side that I have heard of yet
17 Cannon firing all throught the night the morning cloudy firing all day still on C.M.
Oct 18th 1861 C.M. still going on cannonading occasionally the weather warm and pleasant
19 Brisk cannonading at the River all the morning from 10 to 11 very fierce 2 Schooners captured
20 morning clear & cool Boxing up Extra baggage to send of to Fredericksburg
21
cannonading nothing
heard from
moved from Camp Fisher to Camp Palmer to day
Note: Camp Fisher and Camp Palmer were near present day Dumfries, Virginia.
Oct 22nd rained all day
nothing
of interest occurred to day
23rd nothng of interest to day still on CM
24 the weather fine froze this morning went down near the river this Evening Capt Miller & King with me visisted the house where Col Williams Washington was married in Saw a grave stone 1695 Liet Harris a Britian still on CM my Co on picket to morrow
Oct 25th Camp Smith Broke up camp at Camp Plamer moved to the or near the 6 NC - - & picked tents for the night
26 Nothing of interest to day
27 M
N Coltharps & A
W Fringston [probably
Livingston] left for home this morning.
Sunday
the weather clear and pleasant by order the camp is called Camp Fisher
R E Delancy started home last night at 9 o clock Sent a leter by him
Note: There was a process started to get unfit men out of service. For example, Matthew N. Coltharp was discharged "...unfit for service due to stomach problems." His discharge papers were signed by Buchanan, Falkner and Major General Smith. Robert E. Delancy, who was 32 years old six foot in height with light complexion, light hair and blue eyes, was declared unfit of service on October 25th due to Bright Disease of the kidney and infection of the bladder. He has also been slightly wounded at Manassas by a piece of a shell. Many of the previously listed men, who Buchanan stated was going home, were discharged due to health reasons. Joseph A. Norton was discharged on October 26th. His discharge papers state, "... has not done a days services since enlistment and is wholy (sic) unfit for duty because of physical inability." This physical inability was bronchitis. His discharge was signed by Buchanan and Falkner.
Oct 28th the weather clear
and
fine a little cook heavy cannonading up to 12 o c continued all day
29 weather clear & fine cannonading all day
30 beautiful morning all quiet up to 8 o c I field officer of the day
31st beautiful morning it being the last day of the month the company muster and drew pay for July & August
Nov 1 1861 Moved back to old camp Fisher the weather fine cannonading at the River Co D gone on Picket at River
2nd storm all night & up to 12 o c wind blowing hard & raining ---- fly of my tent torn in to we about go on picket to day
3rd cloudy issued 41 blankets drew 10 axes and 6 spades
4 weather clear and cool CM reassembled this morning no Excitment M H Norton started home sent 4.00 to home
Nov
5th weather cool
& cloudy
no Excitment the Confederate flag prsented to the Ret on Regt Parade
the
Chaplain was called on and offered up a fervent prayer for our flag
arms
& the J C
Note: During the Manassas battle, P.T.G. Beauregard had difficulty distinguishing units because of the many different types of flags and uniforms. He decided to have one battle flag. The flag presented to the Second Mississippi had Manassas across the top. By the time that the flag was captured at the Railroad Cut at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Gaines Farm, Seven Pines and Malvern Hill had been added to the flag. The flag was captured by Corporal Frank Wallar of the famous Iron Brigade (6th Wisconsin). Corporal Wallar was awarded the Medal Of Honor for capturing the Second Mississippi Battle Flag from Private W. A. Murphy of Company A. That flag is in the Archives in Jackson, Mississippi.
6 Cloudy Early in the
moring
fair at 10 now at CM
7th
Weather clear &
fine no
Excitment still on CM
Note: Several soldiers were court marshalled for desertion. One soldier, a William Joslin from Company K, was fined and returned to duty. Private Joslin was later captured and died as a prisoner of war on Christmas Day 1862.
8 Went down to Invernse
Port
Bivouached for the night & Returned to campt next morning took the
dimentions of the English gun 8 feet long 7 1/2 in in diameter of ----
Saw 9 Steamers 8 above and 1 below ----
9th 9 1/2 O I now in Dumphries one of the oldest towns in VA W R Cole died this morning rained this evenings
10 Sunday heavy frost the day fine all quiet
11 all hands making chimmeny Brisk Cannonading at the River
12 1 1/2 O I took up line of march to meet the Enemny at the Occuquian Stopped back of NC Camp staid until after night and marched back to camp
13 Morning clear and fine Brisk canonading all round orders to cook up all Rations all quiet up to 11 O c nothing of importance
14 Morning cloudy Brisk firing about F---ton point Schooner Caipler rained all Evening no movement of importance
15th Morning cloudy May H and I out on a reconort ---- Expedition 1 OC now at Lieut R--- awaiting Dinner
16 the weather cloudy and disagreable no move of any importance Brisk canonading in the Direction of Occuquian Mr Holcomb & T.C. Spright arrived in camp this Evening
17 no Excitment to day clear and cold
Monday 18 morning clear & find no Excitment to day
19 Morning clear and fair went to Dumphries with Mr Holcomb all quiet in camp
20 heavy cannonading at the River looking to make trouble any moment
21st morning clear and fine no Excitment
22 the morning beautiful and pleasaent H H Livingston started home this morning no Excitment to 12 O
23rd Rainy in the morning clearing of at 11 O a beautiful after noon no Excitment
24 Morning Cloudy & cold Clearer of about 11 O day pleasant but windy Report says fighting this week on this line
25 Snowed last night commienced building winter qtrs today no Excitment none than cannon
26 Building huts marched at 2 1/2 to the Stafland farm Skimmished a little & march to camp
27 one company going out to cut a Blackade the county about Rankier cloudy soon in the morning snowed & rained in the Evening Cos A & B marched at 6 o clock Bivouacednear Daefs Hale farm
28 Now at Daefs Hale Farm loading 3 waggons with Irish Potatoes 10 o clock I now sit in full view of the Potomac a splender farm and magnificent view breakfastes on roasted potatoes at 11 o clock marched back to camp
29 worked on winter qtrs no Excitment
30th weather cold in the morning cleared of quite pleasant
Dec 1st weather cool & cloudy heavy cannonading at the River this morning
2nd cold and cloudy Capt Davis starts home this morning snowed this Evening Rapid
3rd Clearn & Cold Snow on the ground working on qutrs
Dec 4th morning clear & cold no Excitment
5th clear & pleasant work on qtrs strong talk of a fight soon
6 the weather fine Built my chimmey to day no Excitment
7, 8 & 9 the weather remarkable fine & pleasant but little Excitment
10 Warm and pleasant sharp firing at the Rive got a letter from Elsie T J Polloack starts home in the morning
Dec 11th weather fine moved into winter quarters to day every thing quiet
12 ground froze hard this morning but the day pleasant no Excitment
13 weather fine no Excitment
14
Day fine &
pleasant W W Coombs
died this morning 9 O clock no Excitment
Note: W. W. Coombs died of Corebritis.
15 Sunday morning beautiful
----- at 10 o clock all quiet in camp
Dec 16 Day fine and pleasant no Excitment heavy cannonading in direction of Centreville
17 The weather fine Brisk Cannonading in the direction of Mannassas no Excitment just red's a letter announcing the death of L G Gosset on the 15th at Warrenton Hospital
18 weather fine field officer of the day to day there cirtionly was a fight across the Occaquan to day tremdious firing in that direction
Dec 19 Morning fine & pleasant no Excitment
20 Cloudy but pleasant no Excitment
21
clear & Cold drew
money to
day C A Ford died to day no Excitment
Note: Charles A. Ford was listed as sick in a private house near Winchester on May 10th. His death was due to "disease of the heart." His personal items were listed as:1 carpet sack 1 revolver 1 cap
4 pr. drawers 1 tin cup 1 knife
1 pipe 1 song book 1 comb
1 roundabout 2 flannel shirts 2 cotton drs.
1 pair boots 1 overcoat 1 quilt
1 blanketThese personal items were being sent home by the way of Manassas, but were probably burned when Manassas was burned in December 1861.
22 Sunday the weather cold
not
excitment heavy cannonading at the River
23 Rained and snowed to day no Excitment
24 Clear & Cold no excitment ---- ---- ---- morrow
Dec 25th on out post on the ----- 12 miles from fairfax & 6 miles from Ocaquain
26th came Duty Post to day the weather pleasant no Excitment
27 cold as scissors JB Hovis started home to day on 50 furlough no Excitment
28 clear & cold al quiet to day is Saturday
29 weather clear & pleasant
30 th 31 Weather moderate ---- cloudy mustered day 95 men out
Jan 1st 1862 the morning most beautiful warm and pleasant no Excitment Kimbell and Webb starts home to morrow
2nd clear & cold finished our kitching to day had order to be ready to march at a moments notice
3rd
weather cold &
cloudy sleeting
at night no Excitment finished our itchen to day G W Whitington & G
W Scalley Discharged first Jan will start home in few days
Note: George W. Whittington was discharged on January 4, 1862, due to chronic diarrhea. He re-enlisted on February 17, 1863, at Hickory Flat. He was again sent to the hospital on May 24, 1864, and was in the hospital on February 19, 1864. As a prisoner of war, he was discharged at Holly Springs on May 31, 1865.
4th snowing to day &
cold
as scissors got p wood to day Whitington to start home tomorrow wrote a
letter to my Elsie to night
5 Sunday weather cold ground covered with Ice Snowed at night No Excitment
6 Monday Cold & Cloudy no Excitment G Whitington started home this morning
7 Tuesday morning clear and cold all quiet
8 Cold but clear in the morning rained at night all quiet
9 Cloudy Raining a little in the morning clear of in the Evening
10 Warm and cloudy all quiet in camp
11 warm and cloudy no Excitment
12 Sunday quite warm cannon firing at the River Mrs Falkner to start home tomorrow all quiet in Camp
13 Cold & Cloudy Mrs. Falkner started home this morning Bot 20 lbs of Butter at 60 cents all quiet in camp
14 officer of the Day Snowed 3 inched deep last night very cold all quiet in camp
15 Raining & freezing the trees bent down with Ice No Excitment in Camp
16 the day clear and pleasent all quiet in camp the Snow melting Rapidly the Ice all off the trees
17 weather cold clear in the morning cloudy all day
18 cloudy & raining no Excitment
19 Rained all day went to Dumphries to see John Hall found him Deranged
20 Cloudy & terrible muddy in command of Regt Col Stone. Made FO of the day nothing -----
21 still cloudy & raining colder this morning snowed at night
22 cold & cloudy a little snow on the ground officer of the day no Excitment
23
still cold and cloudy
Cole Moody
left for home to day no Excitment
Note: William C. Moody asked for an appointment to the hospital on May 24, 1861, and was listed in apothecary. He was elected as Second Lieutenant during the re-organization on April 21, 1862. On July 3, 1863, he was wounded and captured during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. On August 2, 1863, he was in Baltimore as a prisoner of war and was transferred to Point Lookout on March 14, 1865. He had complaints of a right leg problem.
24 cloudy in the morning
snowing
3 OC PM stedly at night brisk firing at cookpit at sundown report that
----- bought out of his enlistment
25 snow on the ground weather cold quite cold the camp on picket at outpost yesterday I ---- --- this in mail day I shal look for a letter from my Elsie
26 Sunday the dayquite pleasant no Excitment got al letter from Elsie last night
27 Cloudy but pleasant no news --- --- --- --- --- on -------
28 --- -- --- cleared of in the evening G W Scally --- Evening field officer of the day
29th
morning cloudy
cleared of at
noon very pleasant G W Lee died last night of Pneumonia
Note: G.W. Lee was a 21 year old farmer when he enlisted. On June 30, 1861, he was listed as sick. He died of pneumonia.
30 Drisling Rain all day
Jim
Hovis stars home in the morning got a letter from my Elsie to night no
Excitment in camp
31st
Cold and Cloudy J M
Hovis left
for Mississippi this morning with the remains of Gwo W Scalley & G
W Lee Cleared of at 11 o clock no Excitment in camp
Feb 1st 1862 snowed last night the ground covered with Ice & Snow this morning still cloudy an looks like snow or Rain
2nd Sunday cool & Cloudy nothing on interest going on
3 Snowed last night and all day to day Snow 6 in deep E P Bratton arrived last Evening I am field officer of the day had a rough ride
4 Clear Snow melting fast Building centry Boxes no Excitment
Feb 5th Clear and Cold ground froze hard thawed a litte on top all quiet in camp
6th Clouding & Cold raining is freezing some Rapid firing at Cockpits --
7 Morning clear and find snow still on the ground no Excitment
8
Cloudy & Raining
some camp
in a stir on the Reenlisting question
Note: The Confederate Legislature had taken action to strengthen the Confederate Army. Most of the men enlisted for 12 months, and these enlistments would end in the near future. The bounty and furlough act gave every soldier who re-enlisted for 3 years or the duration of the war a $50.00 bounty and a 60 day furlough. In addition, a re-enlisted soldier could chose the arm of service desired. If he was displeased with his company, he was allowed to joined another company. On the re-enlistment of the army, the men could elect a their own officers, probably rewarding those who curried favor by laxity, and punishing those who had enforced discipline.
9 Clear and Cold ground
froze
hard at night fixing up to start home
10
Clear and Cold 29 men
furloughed
and started home left camp at 3 1/2 o clock started at Brentsville
Note: John Buchanan probably re-enlisted and got a 60 day furlough. Accompanying Buchanan to Ripley were Colonel W.C. Falkner and Sergeant Augustus L.P. Vairin.
11 Got to Brenlotsville at
10
o clock arrived at Bristoe at 6 - O left Bristoe 10 1/2 arrived at
Orang
CH 7 stopped at the Exchaing Hotell 9 1/2 O night Pianno playing over
my
head had a good super the Boys all gone on
12 9 O clock now at the Exchange at Orange aim to leave at 11 for Richmond arrived at Richmond 5 O C 9 1/2 O clock telegraphed at O Davis we wanted be at Saulsbury Sunday Morning 10 Now at Mrs. Haswoon the gals playing the pianno the Boys singing
13 left Richmond at 5 1/2 O this morning the weather very pleasant missed the connexion lying over at Lynchburg stopped with Mrs. Dixon Hotelele all full slept in the parlour very kindly treated
14 Left Lynchbury at 8 1/2 in a special train of Box Cars very much crowded the weather cool & cloudy arrived at Bristol at 4 o clock
15 left Bristol at 5 o snowed all day fell 6 inches deep cars ran of the track at 3 oclock 6 miles from Knoxville Detained till night. now at Lamarr House
16 Sunday morning at the Lamar House wont leave till one 1/2 O arrived at Chatanooga 10 O lay over all night report our forces ---- near Nashvill
17 now in chatanooga great Excitment Info posted the federals have Nashville the citizens of N arriving on Every train thought that my train will leave for Memphis to day the nost miserable day I ever spent late Reports more favorable left chatta 8 1/2 O train ran off traveled only 40 miles all night
18 10 o clock at Huntsville the Road covered at every depot got to Sausbury 10 O at night
19
left Saulsbury early
got home
at 4 O found all well
Note: Saulsbury, Tennessee, was the closest train station to Ripley. Saulsbury was on the Memphis to Charleston Railroad and is located about 20 north of Ripley.
20 Morning cloudy some
Excitment
about the Fort Donalson
21 Morning clear and cold dull day in Ripley
22 Rained all the fore noon conciderable crowed in town but no Bobby for the war
23 Sunday a beautiful morning
24 clear and beautiful recruiting slow
25 clear & cool everything dull
26 Now in the CH Election of the officers in Capt A C Ruckey Co JWP Holaday 1 St R C Delaney 2nd ST H Manning 3st named Tippah Rifles Capt J Murry W G Pegrants 1 St J W Morrow 2nd ST G W Wright 3 rd ST Name Tippah Rangers
27 Morning clear and fine all quiet no news enlisted 3 men to day
28 clear and pleasant
March 1st clear and warm mustered in 5 Recruits to day
2nd cloudy Rained hard now at C W Humphreys had a good dinner
3rd cold and cloudy snowed some got 2 recruits
4th cold & cloudy dull place in Riply Rained in the evening took supper at M Young ----
5th clear and cold J W Hovis left for camp this morning enlisted one man to day
6th Cold & cloudy snowed last night
7 Clear and pleasant Enlisted 4 men to day
21 left Ripley yesterday at 10 Oclock got to Saulsbury at night now waiting for train left Saulsbury about 10 oclcok reached Cornith all safe
22nd now at corrinth cant tell when we will leave left Corrinth
23 Left Corrinth at 12 O night Run up to Burnsvill & staid till morning
24 Left Burnsvill 8 O got to Steveson 11 night
25 at Stevenson tore down a grocerry had a general Row no one hurt got to Chatanooga at night
26 3 O Clock stile at Chatanooga Ramained all night
27 Left Chatanooga at 7 OC the Col gone on I in command got to Knoxville at 7 30
28 Stayed at Knoxville all day
29 Left Knoxville at 7 O staid all night at Limestone
30 got to Bristol at 12 M & left immediately walk to Abington and staid till night Runs off the track at or near Glade Spring Station
31 9 oclock trying to get the Engene on Engine tender & 4 cars run of left G Springs at 7 o cl
April 1st 1862 got to Lynschbury at 5 o Evening
2nd left Lynchburg at 10 O'C - got to Danville at night lay over tile 12 O Run --- --- standed
3nd standed 15 miles from Richmond had to --- the train into got to Richmon 1 1/2 O left Richmond at 4 arrived at Fredricksburg at 8 1/2 stayed all night
4 got into camp at 8 O C all Right
March 5 All quiet in camp Raining all morning
Sunday 6th Morning Clear and fine a good many going to Church at Fredricksbury I will stary & write to my Elsie
7
morning cloudy snowed
rapid in
the Evening Dr E H Hunt arrived in camp this Evening
Note: It appeared that civilians could travel to the front lines by train. It also suggested that travel between Ripley and the O'Conner Rifles was perhaps a frequent event. Dr. Hunt lived in Ripley and, after the War, asked for diaries to complete a regimental history of the Second Mississippi. For some reason, his plans were not completed. His wife donated Augusta Vairin's diary to the Mississippi Archives in Jackson in the early 1900's.
8 ordered the Cols Qtrs at
one
this morning Revelle at 3 OC Struck tents at 7 marched at 8 marched 9
miles
& bivioued
April 9 Marched to ---- Station and took the cars for Ashland Rained all both days & all night arrived at Ashland at Sundown took qtrs at the Race ground
10 Cloudy in the morning cleared of at 12 O heard this Evening that Bourgard was Driven back to Corrinth
11 Clear & cold new that our arms was victorius at Corrinth
12 clear & cold still at Ashland move out into camp on the Race ground this Evening
Sunday
13th Cold &
cloudy had
preaching at the Race ground
Note: General McClellan had spent the winter organizing the Union Army. His plan was to capture Richmond by landing troops on the peninsula east of Richmond. He had more troops and was better supplied than the Confederates. The only problem with the plan was that McClellan was afraid to fight. The O'Conner Rifles and the Second Mississippi participated in the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines Farm, and Malvern Hill. They were also sent to help General Jackson during his Valley Campaign but stayed about 2 days before returning to the peninsula campaign.
14 Struck tents at 12 O
cleared
the camp at 1 1/2 marched 10 mile and Bivouaced 1 1/2 mile from Hanover
CH
15 Marched at 6 1/2 made 19 miles camped in New Kent Co
16 Left camp at 6 1/2 marching due south Riched camp at 6 1/2
17 Left camp at 5 O C crossed the Co Line at 8 in to Charles City Co
Friday 18 left camp at 6 1/2 Marched 21 miles yesterday marched throught Williamsburg & Rested 40 minutes piched camp near Yorktown 6 1/2 OC cannon firing --- at Sundown
19
camped near Yorktown
cannon firing
constant reported SKimmish yesterday
Note: This was the same Yorktown where the American Revolution ended.
20 Sundy cold wet day
noting
of interest
21
Rained all day
reogranizing the
Regt for Col 1st Ballot Stone 329 Falkner 302 Miller 124 2nd Ballot
Stone
445 Falkner 410
Note: This was actually the second election of officers. The first was held on April 11th but was thrown out. John Buchanan was elected Captain in both elections. Evidently, he was well thought of by his men.Colonel W.C. Falkner was bitter over his defeat, which he attributed with some reason to his strict ideas of discipline. He resigned from the Confederate Army and returned to Ripley. In July and August 1862, he recruited a regiment of cavalry known as the First Mississippi Partisan Rangers. He commanded the regiment until October 3, 1863, when he resigned citing ill health. This Partisan Ranger Regiment was needed because, after the Battle of Shiloh, Ripley and the surrounding area were constantly being fought over. Neither side controlled Northeast Mississippi. Orlando Davis' diary reported that Yankees visited Ripley 61 times during the Civil War. Ripley was burned by Union soldiers.
John Marshall Stone was the Captain of Company K, Iuka Rifles. Colonel Stone would lead the Second Mississippi through out the rest of the War. He was wounded at Sharpburg and Gettysburg. He was known as a hard-headed, hard-fighting commander. He was acting commander of Joe Davis' Brigade during the Wilderness Campaign in May 1864. The Davis Brigade, which included the Second Mississippi, stood against the Union force on morning of May 6th giving Longstreet's Corp time to reach the battlefield. This stand against tremendous odds was Davis' Brigade and the Second Mississippi's finest hour. After the War, Stone returned to Iuka and became a 3 term governor. The 1890 Mississippi Constitution was written while he was governor. He, also, served as President of Mississippi State University.
Hugh R. Miller was a lawyer from Pontotoc prior to the Civil War. He was the Captain of Company G. His discharged papers listed "Superceded" by election as the reason for the discharge and was signed by Governor Pettus. Miller returned to Mississippi and raised a regiment. Miller and his 42nd Mississippi Volunteer Regiment joined Davis' Brigade.
22 Cloudy in the morning
---
--- --- Humphries elected Lt Col Blair Capt the Regt in great confusion
23 --- clear and fine evening thing in confusion transfetted 10 men to Co L the old officiers fixing to start home
24 clear and cold Hovis, Scalley & ---- fixing to get of home heaving firing along the line
25 Cloudy Hovis Scalley and Counsielle left for home this morning no new of -------
26 cloudy & Raining & cold got a letter from home ------------------
27 Sunday cold ---------------------------Yorktown -----------
28 Cold & Cloudy saw the Yankees ---- ----- ----- ---- gone to ------ ------- C A ----- courthmartial today
29 Clear in the morning Cloudy in the evening got a letter from my Elise to day no Excitment in Camp
30 cloudy and raining this day 12 mos ago left home had a muster to day 100 men out fixing Parr Burnett & Wolffs paper for discharged cannon firing rapidly along the Lines
May 1st Cloudy & Cold heavy firing all along the lines reported fight at Dam No 2 orders to be ready to move at a moments warnings late in the Evening still in camp
2nd
now have all packed
up and the
baggages all gone Revelee at 3 O C this morning dont know where we are
going left camp at Sundown marched 1 mile out the Williamsburg Road
stacked
arms & lay all night
Note: The Second Mississippi remained in the Third Brigade with the Fourth Alabama, Eleventh Mississippi, and Sixth North Carolina. The Brigade was commanded by Colonel E.M. Law. Brigadier General W.H.C. Whiting commanded the Division. Whiting's Division was a part of Major General Thomas J. Jackson's Corp.
3 moved at daylight into
the
woods & had Breakfast Petailee field officer of the day still in
the
woods drew one days Rations of flower & Bacon cooked it without any
C untensills
4 Called into Line at 12 O last night ordered back in the woods 1/1/2 called out at 4 again & marched toward Williamsburg at to WB at 11 Marched at one Bevouacked orders at Sundown to be ready to move at a moment
5
camped near
Williamsburg had a
litte skimishd with fed Forces at the fortification 2 miles from town 2
of our side reported killed Revellie at 1 O left Camp at 2 Rained from
the time we started till 12 O marched 13 miles a stopped and made fires
dried ourselves moved on 6 mi Bivouac Rained all day & night
Note: General Joseph Johnson had the Confederate Army in retreat towards Richmond. The fight at Williamsburg by the Confederate Army was a delaying action.
6 Morning clear & fine
still
at Camp 3 miles west of West point fight at Williamsburg yesterday
Repulsed
the Enemy we had killed & wounded 100 took 12 peaces of artillery 2
O ordered into lin to meet the Enemy 4 O now in line of Battl awaiting
orders report say the Enemny are landing forces at West points Reported
Skimish with the pickets. moved back 1 1/2 mile Bivouacked for the
night
got no rations to day
7 10 O clock now on the intended battefield hear scatering shots 11 OC a fight going on Rapidly beteen us and the River Several killed & wounded numbers not known
8 left camp on Picket at 2 o marched 14 miles camped near the Ramon Key River weather fine nightly cold now baking corn bread without sifting Eat nothing but parched corn since yesterday morning.
9 slept all night last night weather fine still at Camp at 11 1/2 O C guns stacked & Ready to fall in and move at a moments notice moved of at one O marched 21 miles a litte Skirmish between our rears & the advance of the E
10 weather warm 3 O called into line in the woods to meet the Enemy Said to be advancing our Right to be depolyed as Skismishers. took up line of march at 6 1/2 O marched 3 miles & Bivouaced for the night
11 Sunday clear and beautiful the Enemy reported within 3 miles of our rear J A Seargeant been missing 3 days
12 Clear & fine drilled the Recruits in the 1st lesson of SKirmish Drill field officer of day at Sundown to night 2 OClock orders to pac up ready to move in a moment moved 1/2 mile north & camped
Note: James A. Seargeant was found. He was listed as wounded on August 31, 1862, at South Mountain. The wound was to his hand, and he was returned to duty on November 12, 1862. In May 1863, he was in hospital with pneumonia and stayed until, at least, the last of August. He was listed as absent without leave on October 31, 1863. On June 2, 1864, he was again wounded and sent to the hospital. A seven day furlough was given on December 30, 1864. He was captured at Petersburg on April 2, 1865.
13 in bivouac the Enemny said to be in a few miles of us lay still all day
14 still at the old camp heard the Enemy Drums this morning 8 1/2 oC ordered in to line and marched out 200 yards stacked arms remained unto 9 1/2 left guns stacked and marched back to Bivonac with orders to remain Ready to form in a moment stayed all day & night
15 Rained all night slowly raining this morning heard firing all night by the Picketts no new took up line of march at 10 O crossed the Chickahomony & bivouaced for the night Rained all day and all night stopped at 11 O
16 in bivouaced on the chickahomeny still Raining orders to move at 10 this morning left camp at 10 1/2 clearing of warm at 11 marched 5 miles & Bivouaced at 5 1/5 O
17 Morning clear & fine no orders to move cleared the camp at one took up camp at 3 O in the worst thicket out in sight of Richmond
18 Sunday all quiet in camp weather warm
19 field officer of the day no new had a good time running out the guard line Rained in the morning all quiett in camp
20 clear all day Rained at night making out pay Rolls
21st cloudy in the morning cleared of at 10 company on guard finished Rolls
22 morning clear & pleasant all quiet in camp quite a squall in the Evening
23 morning clear & pleasant fierce cannonading in the Direction of the Chick a homeny at quarters to 2 O clock
24
Raining Brisk
Cannonading this
morning Early with ---- Heavy Cannonading yesterday in the same
direction
Balloon seen firing continues all day
Note: A Private Hankins of Company E in the Confederate Veterans reported that he watched a balloon shot out of the air by a Confederate cannon. He remarked that it was the second greatest cannon shot that he witnessed during the war. He never wrote what the best cannon shot was.25 Sunday clear & pleasant all quiet in camp Burnett & Parr left for home at 3 o clock to day sent $100 by Parr
26 clear and find all quiet in Camp this morning 3 O clock orders to cook 2 days rations Ready to move any monment called out at 10 clock to night Raining rapid before the Co was formed orders to go to bed & march at Sun up in the morning
27 Still in Camp Rained all night & sill Raining cleared of at 12 orders to move 4 o Clock 4/12/ under arms Ready to move any moment stayed all night at Camp
28 Clear & fine Camp in a stir after morning drill loaded the waggons at 5 o clock Regt marched at 7 marched about 10 miles bivouacked 6 miles north of Richmond after marching till 3 o clock
29 8 1/2 o clock in bivouac Expecting to move any moment Remained all day & night
30 to up line of mach in the Direction of Richmond at 7 1/2 stpped 2 miles north of Richmond in a beautiful grove near some fortification Genal McCelland said to Relacating Genl Jackson Reported to be crossing the Patotmac into Maryland at Williamsport Tremendious thunder and Rain Storm continued nearly all night
31
Cloudy & looks
like rain
---- 1 day ham bread & Bacon to be Kept in Haversack for a march
left
campt at 8 O clock for the Chickahomney 1 1/2 O Clock cannonading about
a mile in advance The Genls stiring Briskey got into the fight 4 O
clock
fought till after dark Several of my men wounded & missing numbers
not Known
Note: This was the first day of the Battle of Seven Pines. On the part of the battle line occupied by the Second Mississippi, the fight was mostly an artillery engagement. The Second Mississippi had 5 men killed and about 30 wounded. The O'Conner Rifles was near General Joseph Johnson when he was wounded by a rifle ball and a shell fragment. Robert E. Lee was appointed to replace Johnson.
June 1st terriffic fire
going
on at 8 1/2 O clock the 2nd Miss to support the Tenn Briggade firing
continued
until 10 1/2
2 called up at 3 O clock but got to bed in a few minutes again and slept until daylight Eat a sanck and left camp in direction of Richmond marched to within sight of the city and turned back went to our camp of night before turned and went back toward Richmond & stopped stayed all night Rained during the night
3 left camp at daylight and marched down in front fo the Enemy's lines stopped in a woods the Enemny threw some shell at us soon as we stpped 20 minutes after 9 O Clock a Balloon up viewing our forces looks to be a mile of
4 lay all day in wood Rained all day nother occurred of any importence
5 thing as yesterday firing commended Rapid at 9 1/2 oc clock on both sides until 10 1/2
6 a large force of the Enemny crossed the Chichahominy last night Cloudy & Drisling Rain this morning My Co Deployed as SKS in front of the Regt within 300 yds of Enemny Sks left our positions at dark and marched back on the Richmond Road
7 3 miles from Richmond prospects good to rest a day or two
8 Early this morning a brisk firing commenced in the Direction of the Chick we went soon on the march for the place went two & half miles & Returned to camp I being very sick in the Evening I went back to old camp north of Richmond
9 Rested well last night & feel much better this morning
10 Still at old camp Rained all night last night and to day
11 Rec orders to pack up ready to move at once Early in the mornig 5 O now at the Danville Depot 2 Rets of the Brig gone we will leave for Lynchbury by sundown 8 o Clock on the cars left at 9 1/2
12 arrived at Farmvill at 10 o clock got to Lynchburg at Dark
13 Sundown lay here all day now called into line to take the cars ordered to Rest in place
14 Left Lynchburg at 12 O last night got to Charlotsville at 8 stopped at the univeristy stayed all day & night
15 Left Charlotsville at 4 O ran through a tunell 7/8 mile 20 minutes in the tunnell got to Staunston at 10 1/2 marched out 2 1/2 miles and cammped
16 all still all day the weather cool
17 still in camp near staunton all quiet
15 left at 7 O in the dirction of Charlotsville lay at the foot of the Blue Ridge
19
crossed the B Ridge
marched to
within 10 miles of Charlotsville Cooked 3 days ratins
Note: General Whiting had advised General Lee about sending his brigade to help out General Jackson in his Valley Campaign. When Whiting's Brigade arrived, Jackson told Whiting to return to Richmond. When Whiting returned to Richmond, he complained that Jackson was crazy and was unfit to lead an army. Whiting was probably upset at be terse way Jackson addressed him and ordered him to return to Richmond without an explanation. Jackson's troops returned to Richmond almost a quickly as Whiting's troops.
20 took the cars this
morning
for Charlottsville Kept this car to ------- Hall 16 miles from Louisa
C.H.
My Co on Picket 3 1/2 miles on the Richmond Road
21 on pickets the weather fine & pleasant
22 Sunday lay still all day near Fredrick Hall
23 Marched at daylight in the directin of Hanvover CH
24 Near Beavercane Station Rained all night marched 14 miles yesterday camped 7 miles from Ashland cooked all night
25 ordered to move at sunup & countermander marched at 7 got to Ashland at 2 O and stopped to rest the Enemy Reported within a mile of us
26 Marched at day light in Direction of Hanover CH crossed the Cen RR & turned in the directin of Richmond
27
Near the Chickahomany
Rapid firing
at daylight ceased at 7 O 3 O clock rapid cannonading now toward Chck 5
O clock preparing on the seane of action got into the fight at 6 had 9
men wounded
Note: This was the battle of Gaines Mill. A.P. Hill's men were hanging on in a difficult battle. Whiting was ordered to march his men to the edge of the woods where Hill's men were engaged. General John Bell Hood's and Col. Evander Law's Brigades entered the battle. General Whiting wrote that when his brigades arrived, "Troops were skulking from the front in a shameful manner, the woods were full of troops in a safe cover from which they never stirred." "With a yell ... Spite of terrible obstacles over ditches and breast works, hill, batteries, and infantry, the division swept routing the enemy from their stronghold... So closed the battle of Gaines Mill, the troops sleeping on their arm in the position so hardly won." Near the end of the battle, Whiting detached the Second Mississippi to the extreme right to open fire on the retreading enemy. He later reported that the Second Mississippi, Colonel J.M. Stone, was skillfully handled by its commander and sustained severe losses. In General Lee's report, he speaks of these troops as, "A veteran brigade, distinguished for good service from the beginning of the war in Virginia." Gaines Mill was Robert E. Lee's first victory. The Second Mississippi had 21 men killed and 79 wounded.
28 stay on the battefield
all
night moved at 3 O in the morning Returned to our old position after
Sunup
Moved slowley forward down the Chick in direction of RR.
29 Sunday morning cloudy drew nothing but cracker last night nothing of much interest to day bring in prisoners all the time
30 left Bivoucae Before day time moved down the Chick 1 mile & crossed on the Road made by the Enemny turned down the River & marched to 14 mile post on the Williamsburg Road turned on the Right Keeping on the West side of the Chick. we are now under the Range of the Enemny cannon. Since 3 1/2 O clock near sundown stopped 7 miles from James River stayed all night
July
1st Started Early
this morning
in pursuit of the Enemny past camps & all Kinds of governments
stores
went on until about 12 O when we came up with Enemny and had a shapr
Engagemnt
which lasted untill 5 O clock 5 1/4 but Little firing now 6 o firing
Rapid
& Continious till after dark
Note: This was the Battle of Malvern Hill. The Confederate had approximately 5000 casualties. The Union position was on a hill and had several batteries of artillery plus artillery from Union boats. This artillery fire was deadly to the Confederates. The Second Mississippi was shelled for several hours. The Second Mississippi was spread over a wheat field and some were under the bank of a small creek that offered protection from the shelling. One man was killed and ten wounded from the Second Mississippi during the Battle of Malvern Hill.
2 withdrew into woods a
mile
back and drew rations Rained very hard up to 10 oclock lay here all day
& night
3 moved out into the field learned that the Enemny had crossed James River turned & marched back in the woods & stacked armes moves on in Direction of James City
4 marched in the Direction of James City at day light about 12 --- ---- the Enemy Hear some firing in advance stopped within 1 mile of thes lines lay all night
5 moved back a cross the field & stacked arms stayed till dark moved forward to the front Co F & E thrown out as Skirmish pickets wrote aletter home this evening
6 Sunday morning weather fine nothing happened last night
7 still on the line no move of any imprtance the hotest day I ever felt
8 moved Back 11 miles toward Richmond hot
9 14 miles from Richmond cooked one day Rations marched toward Richhmond stopped for the night 6 miles from Richmond stayed till morning
10
Reached our old camp
North of
Richmond at 11 o clock
July 9 moved 6 miles north
of Richmond
on the 7th 8 O clock we have orders to cook 2 days rations a move
antisipated
At this point, Buchanan stopped writing in his diary except for entries on August 29th, September 14th, September 17th and November 7th.August 29 2nd Batte of Manassas fought on the 29th and 30th J - Ranker G W Rookout [William G. Bookout] WC davis Killed on the 29th L Bell J B H Coltharp & JJ Crum mortally wounded A G Smith S L Cooker & M R Boshwich [Bostwick] Killed on the 30th C Whtton wounded on the 29 & Died
Sept 14 Battl of South Mountain fought V A Grace S C --- & J M Aryes taken Pris
Sept 17th Batte of Sharpsburg foght H H John Killed W M Talbot & J R Roberts missing
Nov
7 2nd and 11 Miss
Rets ordered
to report at Richmond left Culpeper onthe 8th lay at ---- station till
the 9th took Cars got to Richmond that night camp on Brookrun & put
in Genl Joe Davis Brigd
The next several pages of the Diary did not give day to day details of the movement or weather. Evidently Buchannan used it to keep track of some of the wounded and the killed. He must have also kept a bank for his men.
L G Gossett Effects
5 shirts
over Coat & ------
2 prs pants
4 pr drawers
1 vest & 1 prs sock
3 blankets
Due M N Coltharp on sail of clothing 12.35 sent to him by Hovis
M L Jackson paid 20.00 to J C Jackson paid
J W
Gossett paid 20.00
----------- 70.00
A Talbott Pd 40.00
G R
Sims to Carr 2.00
J W Hovis to amt on
Settlement
6.82
JJ Buchannan pd 17.00
C B ash $15.00
Allen Talbott pd 10.00
J A Norton pd 5.00
J M Jovis pd 20.00
Feb
10 J N Scaller pd
postage stamps 14.60
JM Buchannan pd 17.70
Mondy Deposited
to
Suggs X 10.00
J H Parker
amt paid for hauling offds
from
------- 22.50
Do to Springer amt given me at his Death 10.00
Money paid Back
B S
Meadow Sent to
Richmond returned
5.00
" " paid to J W Hovis 5.00
A Richie 20.00
" " 10.00
R E Delany
Cash sent home by Guyton
76.00
" " to -------- 50.00
B S Meador to Cotran 10.00
" " Talbot 5.00
J H Parker to 20.00
" " 10.00
Nov 22 J N Whithead paid
cash loaned
5.00
J H Bynun Paid
to Cash Loaned 5.00
H L Webb to cash 20.00
Money
Deposited May 1863
by A Richie
In Confedeate notes 12.00
in gold 27.50
Money
Deposited
J N Whitehead paid 30.00
J R Seargeant loaned 10.00
J C Rowel
Beef 4.20
cattle 15.00
W G
Rutlege 20.00
J J Whitton 10.00
L D Holcombe 10.00
End of Diary
According to the roster of the Second Mississippi, John Buchanan was wounded and captured on the July 3, 1863, as part of Picketts Charge at Gettysburg. On July 5th, he was a prisoner at Greencastle, Pennsylvania. On September 29th, he was transferred to Baltimore. He was exchanged on March 3, 1864, and was present for the March/April 1864 Second Mississippi roll call. When he returned to the O'Conner Rifles, he was listed as a Major with the promotion date of July 3, 1863. He was shot in the left hand in August and was the hospital from August 23 to August 29, 1864. His little finger on his left hand was amputated at the 3rd metacarpal bone. On August 24, he received a 30 day furlough. For the roll call on December 27, 1864, he was listed absent without leave in Tippah County, Mississippi. He resigned from the Confederate Army on January 14, 1865.
Roster of the O'Conner Rifles as mustered into the Army of Mississippi on March 4, 1861
Captain
John H. Buchanan
First Lieutenant Lawson B.
Hovis
Second Lieutenant Davis
Humphries
Sergeants-
Augustus L.P.
Vairin
Henry T. Counseille
Thomas J. Duncan
John C. Lauderdale
David A. Burnett
Corporals-
John W. Scally
James W. Hovis
John W. Parr
William M. Tate
Privates-
John L.
Boyd
William T. Mallory
William R.
Buchanan
John W. McDaniel
James M.
Cox
Ben S. Meador
B.H.
Coltharp
John T. Norton
William W.
Coombs
Henry H. Powers
Cyrus
Davis
James C. Rowell
Robert E.
Delaney
Albert Richey
Pascal C.
Eddings
Walton G. Rutledge
John L.
Grace
Allen G. Smith
Virgil A.
Grace
William B. Spight
John W.
Gossett
Wilburn Sergeant
Levi S.
Holcombe
Henry W. Smith
David T.
Hill
John T. Suggs
John E.
Hovis
John T. Thom[Thorn]
William L.
Jackson
James M. Whitten
Gilbert B.
Kimball
Henry T. Webb
Jesse H.
Lewellen
Robert M. Young
John N. Leatherwood
Henry Livingston
Roster of the Company B Second Mississippi as mustered into the Confederate Army in Lynchburg, Virginia, on May 10, 1861
Captain
John H. Buchanan
First Lieutenant Lawson B.
Hovis
Second Lieutenant John N.
Scally
Second Lieutenant Henry T.
Counseille
Sergeants
Augustus L. P.
Vairin
James W. Hovis
Thomas J. Duncan
John C. Lauderdale
Corporals
Bardley H.
Coltharp
John W. Parr
Levi S. Holcombe
William Tate
Privates
Samuel C.
Adams
Gilbert B. Kimball
Joseph
Alsbrook
Matthew Knox
James
Asbury
John W. Leatherwood
James T.
Barnett
George W. Lee
W. James
Bennett
Jesse H. Lewellen
Michael A.P.
Blackwell Henry
H. Livingston
Joseph S.
Boyd
William C. Mallory
Miles J.
Braddock
John W. McDaniel
Perry G.
Braddock
Green McCarley
Joseph M.
Bratten
Lewis McDonald
Joseph
Brown
Trussie B. McKay
John T.
Buchanan
Benjamin Meador
Daniel A.
Burnett
John D. Milet
Hugh L.
Byrn
William C. Moody
Lucas H.
Byrn
John A. Moore
Rose
Byrn
Thomas H. Nance
William M.
Cochran
Alexander Neely
W. M.
Cochran
Daniel Noonan
Matthew N.
Coltharp
William D. Nonner
William D.
Coombs
Joseph A. Norton
James M.
Cooper
Miles A. Norton
Robert T.
Cooper
Joseph B. Parker
John H.
Cotton
Amos J. Pegram
Wlliam N.
Davis
Henry H. Powers
Robert E.
Delaney
Thomas A. Prince
Charles F.
Dry
John H. C. Ray
Pascal C.
Eddings
Albert Richey
Grandison
Fewel
Luther A. Richey
Andrew F.
Fleming
James C. Rowell
Isaac
Fryar
Walter Rutledge
John W.
Fryar
Wilburn Sergeant
Joseph J.
Glenn
M. H. Saunders
John W.
Gossett
James J. Simpson
John S.
Grace
George R. Sims
Virgil A.
Grace
Allen G. Smith
Isaac N.
Gray
Byrd B. Smith
James F.
Guyton
Harvey W. Smith
Joseph J.
Guyton
William B. Spight
Peter
Hammerschmidt
Joseph Suggs
Terrel S.
Harris
Allen Talbot
David J.
Hill
John F. Thom [John T. Thorn]
Joseph E.
Hovis
Benjamin F. Thompson
Martin C.
Hovis
John E. Van Hook
E. Newton
Hunt
Henry T. Webb
William L.
Jackson
Vincent A. Whitchey
Ranson
Jenkins
William C. Whitten
William D.
Jones
Alexander D. Wolf
John C.
Kelly
John S. Woods
Robert M. Young
From the recruiting trip to Ripley in February 1862, the following were enlisted in Company B.
C.
Heddon
G. P. Holcomb
W. M.
Norton
R. L. Short
J. N.
Sergeant
W. H. Cowan
R. Y.
Bennett
J. C. Lancaster
L. M.
Gray
S. Lancaster
W. R.
Carter
W. C. McGowan
J. W.
Carver
J. O. Nance
L.
Bell
G. B. Kimball
W. A.
Thomas
R. L. Miller
L.
Smith
J. C. Green
W. C.
Munday
W. G. Booker [Bookout]
E.
Smith
T. J. Yancey
J. C.
Coltharp
L. C. Guyton
J. A.
Allen
T. J. Culp
L.
Lett
J. A. Riley
R. A.
Nelms
L. Wells
J. M.
Ayres
J. Murphy
W. C.
Norton
C.H. Ory
J.
Winborn
Laz Pearce
J. M.
Robertson
W. H. Talbot
J.
Springer
J. H. Glidewell
William
Gray
D. D. Dacy
M. K.
Saunders
B. L. Crum
H. H.
John
M. P. Boyd
M. K. Bostwick
William R. Box
Other who enlisted in Company B after May 10, 1861, but were not in the listment from Ripley in February 1862
W. G.
Blackwell
W. R. Cole
S. L.
Cooper
E. L. Crum
J. G.
Crum
T. Goldsmith
Littleton J.
Gossett
William R. Gossett
W. C.
Graham
William Gray
J. W.
Hamilton
M. C. Harris
C.
Heddon
C. W. Humphries
W. C.
Lee
J. T. Martin
W. D. T.
Miller
W. C. Norton
Will
Osborne
P. G. Pegram
W. M.
Richey
G. Roberts
T. J.
Saunders
G. W. Spight
M.
Sweeney
John P. Ticer
Zeneth E.
Vernor
J. N. Whitehead
J. J.
Whitten
George W. Whittington
Of the men who were enlisted in Company B during the Civil War, the following list died either killed in action or died of wounds or disease.
Lawson B
Hovis
Thomas J. Duncan
John C.
Lauderdale
Bradley H. Coltharp
William
Tate
James Asbury
Michael A.P.
Blackwell Joseph
S. Boyd
Joseph
Brown
William D. Coombs
John R.
Cotton
William N. Davis
John W.
Gossett
Terrel S. Harris
Ranson
Jenkins
George W. Lee
John W.
McDaniel
Trussie B. McKay
Thomas H.
Nance
Joseph B. Parker
Amos J.
Pegram
Thomas A. Prince
Allen G.
Smith
John F. Thom
L.
Bell
W. G. Blackwell
W. G.
Booker
M. K. Bostwick
William P.
Boyd
W. R. Cole
S. L.
Cooper
J. G. Crum
Littleton J.
Gossett
William Gray
L. C.
Guyton
H. H. Johns
W. D. T.
Miller
W. M. Norton
L. S.
Pearce
J. M. Robinson
T. J.
Saunders
R. L. Shorts
J.
Springer
M. Sweeney
J. J.
Whitten
J. Winborn
Out of 184 members of the Company B, 50 died either killed in action, died of wounds or died from illness.
The Roll of Honor was the Confederate's way of recognizing bravery. One person from each company was to be recognized after each signal battle.
The following men from the Second Mississippi were placed on the Roll of Honor for the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines Farm and Malvern Hill:
Seven Pines-
Private
John H. Cotton,*
Company
B
Sergeant R.A. Roberts,
Company
C (He was killed at Gettysburg.)
Private J.H. Walker,
Company D
Sergeant James McCully,
Company
E (He was killed at Sharpsburg.)
Private J.B. Smith,*
Company F
Private W.E. Manahan,
Company G
Private Franklin S.
McKinney,*
Company H
Private William Joseph
Sims,* Company
I
Private Thomas D. Hampton,
Company
K
Private J.A. McAlister,
Company
L
Gaines Farm-
Private
W.J. Key,
Company A
Private A.J. Pegram,*
Company B
Private William Bell,*
Company
C
Private J.P. Lewis,*
Company D
Private Joseph Compton,*
Company
E
Private R.L. Northrop,*
Company
F
Sergeant Richard Drake,
Company
G
Private A.C. Mars,* Company
H
Private J.M. Scott, Company
I
Private Thomas D. Hampton,*
Company
K
Private W.H. Bryan, Company
L (He
was later killed at Sharpsburg.)
Malvern Hill-
Private
W.J. Key,
Company A
Private J.H. Parker,*
Company B
Private J.A. Atkins,
Company C
(He as killed at Suffolk, April 25, 1863.)
Private J.L. Ralph, Company
F.
(He was killed at Sharpsburg.)
Corporal T.J.S. Cooper,
Company
G
Private A.K. Roberts,
Compang H
Private Hillery Andrews,
Company
I (He was killed on August 29, 1862.)
Private J.M. Moore, Company
K
Corporal J.M. Ward,*
Company L
