Sirs:
The following is about all I have on first-hand accounts of the exchange at Vicksburg of Company A, 8th Kentucky Infantry who were also captured at Fort Donelson. This account was written by Lt. Thomas B. Jones of Company A, 8th Ky. who had been held at Johnson Island, Ohio, since 16 April 1862.
The following paragraph is exactly as he wrote it in his journal.
"I left with all the rest of my fellow prisoners Johnson Island on 1st Sept. 1862 and reached Cairo on the 3rd of Sept. and there we laid on Steam boats anchored out in Ohio River until the 8th of Sept. We then left for Vicksburg, Miss. We reached there the 15th of Sept. and was exchanged the 16th of Sept. We staid at Vicksburg till the 17th when we left for Jackson, Miss. We was then sent to our respective Commanders. Col Lyon's Regiment which I am a member of staid about Jackson, Miss. till the 8th of Octb. We then left for Holly Springs, Miss. We then staid in the vicinity of Holly Springs, Miss. When then left for Hatchy River and there we remained until the 17th. We then left for Tippah Creek, Miss. about 25 miles Southeast of Holly Springs. We remained there until the..."
There in mid-sentence the narrative ends. Lt. Jones lost his journal in the retreat of Confederate forces from the Holly Springs area. His journal was found by some unknown person on the banks of the Tallahatchie River on 3 December 1862.
Lt. Jones devotes a long paragraph to how the men of the newly released 8th Kentucky companies were assigned to different commanders, but there is no mention of how the Mississippi regiments and companies were assigned. He probably had no knowledge of that.
We of the Jefferson Davis Birthplace Camp found a typewritten copy of his Journal in the Princeton, Kentucky, regional library a few years ago.
We don't know who found his journal. We don't know who transcribed it. We don’t know how it ended up in the Princeton library and we don't know where the original is. All we have is a typewritten copy.
Lt. Jones does mention some men from Mississippi Regiments who were with him as prisoners of war at Johnson Island. They were from the 1st, 3rd (23rd) and 4th Mississippi Volunteers. They all were surrendered at Fort Donelson.
These men stated emphatically they did not surrender at Fort Donelson. They state they were surrendered at Fort Donelson.
Officers of the 1st, 3rd (23rd), and 4th Mississippi at Johnson Island, Ohio
Notes in Red are Larry's research, blue are my own.
“Capt. J.M. Peeles, Company I, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862.
Address: Tupelo, Mississippi”
The above officer was Capt. Jasper M. Peeler of Company I.
“2nd Lt. Jaseph Newton Davis, Company C, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862.
Address: Chesterville, Mississippi”
The above officer was 2nd Lt. Jasper Newton Davis of Company C.
“2nd Lt. O.F. Eddins, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862.
Address: Byhalia, Mississippi”
The above officer was 2nd Lt. Oliver F. Eddins of Company A.
Later 1st Lt.
“Adjutant G.F. Simonton, Field & Staff, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Col. John M. Simonton's Staff.
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862”
The above officer was Adj. G.F. Simonton, Jr., Field & Staff
“Lt. L.L. Jones, Company D, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862.
Residence: Hernando County, Mississippi”
Later Captain
“1st Lt. Jasper G. Wilbourn, Company E, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862
Residence: Pleasant Mount, Ronola County, Mississippi”
This was probably Panola County, Mississippi
“Capt. George M. Moseley, Company A, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862
Residence: Oak Grove, Marshall County, Mississippi”
“Col. John M. Simonton, Field & Staff, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862
Residence: Shannon, Stewambu County, Mississippi”
I can't find a present county name in Mississippi that remotely resembles
"Stewambu". Could it have been Itawamba County?
“1st Lt. J.C. Culbertson, Company D, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862
Residence: P.O. Cockrum, Mississippi”
James C. Culbertson is listed as a private in Mississippi State Rosters. He must have been promoted.
“2nd Lt. M.D. Wilson, Company G, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Captured at Fort Donelson
Address: Spring Dale, Mississippi”
Promoted 1st Lt.
“3rd Lt. W.H. Nanny Company K, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Captured at Fort Donelson
Address: Guntown, Mississippi”
Wiley H. Nanney later 1st Lt
“2nd Lt. I.H. Garman, Company I, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Captured at Fort Donelson
Address: Shannon Depot, Mississippi”
The above officer was 2nd Lt. John H. Garmon of Company I.
“Capt. O.D. Hughes, Company K, 1st Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on Sunday morning, February 16th 1862
Residence: "Sunny Side", P.O. Saltillo, Itawamba County, Mississippi”
The above officer was Capt. Owen D. Hughes of Company K.
“Lt. W.C. Swindoll, Company I, 3rd Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16th 1862
Address: "New Albany", Pontotoc City, Mississippi”
This officer was William C. Swindoll of Company I.
This must have been Pontotoc County. He is on the
list of the 23rd as Capt. William C. Swindoll Jr.
“1st Lt. L.C. Hallam, Company A, 4th Mississippi Infantry
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16th 1862
Residence: Bankston, Choctaw County, Mississippi”
Samuel C. Hallam?
“Capt. J.H. Kennedy, Company E, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered Donelson
Residence: Lebanon, Tippah County, Mississippi”
“2nd Lt. A.B. Sadler, Company E, 3rd Regt. Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered Donelson
Address: P.O. Tippah County, Mississippi”
I believe this officer was Anderson D. Sadler 12/04/36-9/19/02
buried in Baldwyn City Cemetery.
“1st Lt. J.C. Hancock, Company F, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Address: Black Land, Tishamingo Co., Mississippi”
This officer was 1st Lt. John C. Hancock of Company F.
Blackland, Tishomingo Co., Mississippi
“1st Lt. C.N. Simpson, Company F, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Address: Tardyville, Pontotoc County, Mississippi”
This officer was 1st Lt. Charles N. Simpson of Company F.
“3rd Lt. J.B. Punnell, Company B, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered at Donelson February 16th 1862
Address: Orizaba, Tippah County, Mississippi”
This officer was 3rd Lt. Joseph B. Purnell of Company B.
He was a doctor later. Born 9 Sept 1830, died 9 May 1913 buried Beulah Cemetery, Benton Co., Mississippi.
“2nd Lt. N.B. Dickson, Company B, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862
Residence: Orizaba, Mississippi”
This officer was 2nd Lt. Van B. Dickson of Company B.
I believe that was Capt. Van D. Dickson, 1834-1885 buried New Albany Cemetery, Union County, Mississippi.
“3rd Lt. W.G. Young, Company I, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16th 1862
Address: New Albany, Pontotoc County, Mississippi”
This officer was 3rd Lt. William G. Young of Company I.
“Capt. Robert I. Hill, Company B, 3rd Mississippi Regiment
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson on February 16th 1862
Address: Orizaba, Tippah County, Mississippi”
This officer was Captain Robert J. Hill of Company B.
I have alternated Capt. Hill's Middle initial at least a half
a dozen times between a "J." and an "I.". A descendant
says "I." is correct.
“Capt. J.B.B. Flint, Company F, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Address: Booneville, Tishamingo County, Mississippi”
This officer was Capt. John B.B. Flint of Company F.
“2nd Lt. W.S. Bowdry, Company F, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered at Fort Donelson, February 16th 1862
Address: Black Land, Mississippi”
This officer was 2nd Lt. William S. Bowdry of Company F.
9/4/1834-10/17/1899 buried Baldwyn Cemetery, Baldwyn, MS
“2nd Lt. J.W. Day, Company A, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Was surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16th 1862
Address: Salem, Tippah County, Mississippi”
James W. Day
“E.R. Enochs, Company F, 4th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered at Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 16th 1862
Address: Pittsboro, Mississippi”
I don’t know Mr. Enochs’ rank as I don’t have a roster of the 4th Mississippi Infantry.
Capt. E.B Enochs, Co. F 4th Miss. Infantry?
“J.F. Peelen, Company B, 4th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16th 1862
Address: Kosciusko, Mississippi”
I don’t know Mr. Peelen’s rank as I don’t have a roster of the 4th Mississippi Infantry.
2nd Lt. James F. Peeler?
“1st Lt. H.W. Waldrop, Company B, 1st Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Captured at Fort Donelson February 16th 1862
Address: Tupelo, Mississippi”
This officer was 1st Lt. Harrison W. Waldrop of Company B. His middle initial may have been “M.”.
“2nd Lt. B.H. Estes, Company D, 3rd Mississippi Regiment Volunteers
Captured at Donelson
Address: Kossuth, Mississippi”
“3rd Lt. W.S. Ragan, Company F, 3rd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Surrendered at Donelson
Age 29 years”
This officer was 3rd Lt. Wingfield S. Ragan of Company F.
“Capt. W.B. Hale, Company A, 4th Regiment Mississippi Volunteers
Resident: Bankston, Mississippi”
These are the Mississippians that Lt. Thomas B. Jones lists in his journal.
Men who list themselves in his journal as being from the 3rd Mississippi were officially in the 23rd Mississippi Infantry.
Whether in Hopkinsville, in Clarksville, at Fort Donelson or in prison camp at Johnson Island, these men always list themselves as being in the 3rd Mississippi. In fact we of the Jefferson Davis Birthplace Camp did not know these men were officially listed as the 23rd Mississippi until we ordered a roster of the 3rd Mississippi from the State Archives.
Imagine our surprise when not one name from the official 3rd Mississippi roster from the Mississippi State Archives fit the names of the men we had always known as the 3rd Mississippi. Once we received a roster of the 23rd Mississippi, then things began to work out.
Yours,
Larry Walston
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