The 46th Mississippi Infantry, CSA

-List of Civil War Battles <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_Civil_War_battles>
-Mississippi Units in the Civil War: <http://mississippiscv.org/MS_Units/mississippi_history.htm>
-Battle of Vicksburg, Confederate Order of Battle: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicksburg_Confederate_order_of_battle>

My Confederate Ancestors

History:

Histories are generally written by the winners. Thus, we can easily learn the disposition of the Federal forces who were engaged in the many battles of the Civil War. While compiling theses vignettes of the many Confederate Regiments, the task is to put together the dispositions of the enemy forces--our veterans-- who were engaged, creating a historical narrative.

The facts contained in the following narrative were gleaned from multiple sources, chief of which was "46th Mississippi Infantry," Military History of Mississippi (1803-1898), 1908. <http://mississippiscv.org/MS_Units> 18 May 2015.

Louisiana and the Trans-Mississippi Campaign

The future 46th Miss Infantry was organized on 10/17/1861 at Waynesboro MS as the 6th Miss Infantry, a regular Infantry Regiment of the Confederate States Army. The soldiers initially enlisted for one year. And, Company A "Gaines Invincibles" created their own flag which was adopted as the Regimental Flag.

The 6th Miss Infantry initially deployed to the coastal fortifications in Louisiana as part of the Trans-Mississippi Department. And, Grandpa John Campbell purchased his family Bible in New Orleans during this deployment. After the loss of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, the Regiment assembled at Meridian MS in April 1862. Although no specific history explains their absence, it appears that the Regiment redeployed back to southern Mississippi, and the soldiers were furloughed until the date they were ordered to muster.

Co A, 46th Miss Infantry, "Gaines Invincibles" March 18, 1900 Dear Friend, I am sending you here with the names of all the soldiers that served with me. There is Eighty Eight (88) to the Best of my rememberence. Missing is about 10 men of my company,  with the very best wishes so long as life shall last. Date Voluntered...in 1861 Co. A 46th Miss. Capt. A. Taylor 1st Leu. W. C. McQistion 2nd. Leu. Henry Atmore 3rd. Leut. Thomas S. Falconer Privates:
Buccatana James Hagins Mcelwain Tom Hinton P.M. Steiner Guss Watts Jeff Crawford John Nickles Jim Taylor Mack Langley Bill Martin Mr. Watkins Towner Boutwell Pompy Philops James Garrett John P. Stricklin John Gordon Bill Sanderson G. W. Cheeseborough John Watley Dr. Taylor Mr. Gilbert Gus S. Hinton Isac Watley James Davis John Dunn Tom Dunn Jim Nickels Jake Myrick James Martin S. F. Bradshaw Thomas Ousley Alfred Boutwell Frank Philops Frank Garrett John Cooley Jerry Parker John Powell J. J. Cheeseborough Mike Watley Mr. White *McFearson Bill Hinton Jonathan Watley Thomas Davis Moses Gardner Pink Nickels Jim Durham John White Joe Martin *Mr. Lewis Dan Boutwell J. H. Cley [Jonathan Hartwell Clegg] Nathan Bazor Sam Stricklin Charley Stevenson D. Parker John McMillin William Falconer	Waynesboro Patrick Bogan John Campbell [enlisted as a Corporal] W. J. Trigg James Lampley W. R. Cochran Sim Brewer James Douglass Sandy Knickelson Cebren Overstreet Earth Blare Johnnie Shaw Tom Knickels-Nichols Allen Trigg John Thompson William Heartley Mike Shoemake Washington Douglass W. J. Overstreet Nick Pace John Ward Sam Knickels Clinch Hays Drew Upshaw Howell Brewe Samp Shoemake Lige Knickelson W. M. Overstreet John Blare W. S. Davis Neil McRae Love Simpson Ben Ennon Dick Everet Jess Burbey Bill Shoemaker Rufe Camble John Williamson Thos. Brown Jack Blakeley Frank Everett Harry Gray John Showers Ish Whitehead Wils Camble Hue McCrane Bess Simpson Bob Blakeley Hugh Everett John Holden Ths. Shoemaker Frank Martin John Brown Axom Roberts * The 46th was a regular CSA Regiment which was enrolled for the duration. Anybody named Lewis, McPhearson, Taylor, Overstreet or McRae  from Enterprise is a cousin. Need further research.
...years ago that the sight of two full regiments gave the Federal Troops a scare and these were the 13th Mississippi and the 8th Louisiana. It was not long before we were in the battle of Leesburg. So we soon learned that the Chance was given to see War in the true light, which we did but very few of the fine looking and brave young men ever returned to their loved ones at home. I desire to correct a saying that I have heard which I know is wholly false to wit: That it was a rich man's War and a poor man's fight! In this company we had young men of the wealthiest of the country and those of the poorest and they all fared alike and fought alike and there was no difference. They were like brothers in everything. It is hard to imagine the close and fine feelings that soon take possession of a company of soldiers when they are out battling with the enemy and sometimes with bad weather and short rations. The GAINES INVINCIBLES was organized at Waynesboro on 17 October 1861, Angus Taylor, Capt. and other officers as shown before in this book. The company went to New Orleans and was later a part of a Mississippi Battalion and still later consolidated with us the Co. A, 46th Mississippi Regiment. The Capt. Angus Taylor was Sheriff of Wayne County at the time. This regiment was commanded by Col. Sears and it was in S. D. Lee's brigade and was  in the battle along the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers under Brigade General W. E. Baldwin. This regiment was in the siege of Vicksburg and suffered severely from the battle, and want of supplies. After the surrender of  Vicksburg which was July 4, 1863, on the 11th day of said month it was said the Regimental Colors which was the original flag of Gaines Invincibles  were brought out from Vicksburg by Capt. Sublet wrapped around his body under his shirt. The men were all furloughed for 60 days to report at Enterprise and on the 24th day of October 1863 they were all reported exchanged. At that time they were ordered to support Gen. Bragg at Missionary Ridge. This regiment was from that time until the surrender in the Army of  Tennessee and Georgia and participated in most of the great battles of the War. In one of the battles in which the Commander at that time T. D. Magee was killed special mention of three of this company is mentioned for bravery to wit: Capt. Nicholas Pace, Pvt. C. L. Nichols, Isaac Whatley. See Mississippi Official Register page 752. I have been unable to get up anything like a full roster of the Company. I don't know of any but one man that could give me any information. That is W. J. Overstreet. I know many of the Company and I know they were of the best men of the county. Yours truly, W. J. Overstreet, Waynesboro, Miss. Route 7 Box 3.     "The 46th Mississippi Infantry, "Golden West Marketing <https://www.gwest.org/Co_A_list.htm> 18 May 2015.

After the loss of Confederate fortifications on the Cumberland and the Tennessee and the capture of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, major elements of the Confederate States Army withdrew to Mississippi where these disparate units formed a new army, the Army of Vicksburg.

ORGANIZATION OF CONFEDERATE FORCES ARMY OF VICKSBURG Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton

SMITH'S DIVISION Maj. Gen. Martin Luther Smith

Baldwin's Brigade Northwest corner at Fort Hill Brig. Gen. William E. Baldwin 17th Louisiana: Col Robert Richardson 31st Louisiana: Ltc James W. Draughon 4th Mississippi: Cpt Thomas P. Nelson 46th Mississippi: Col C. W. Sears Tennessee Battery: Cpt Thomas F. Tobin

[Vicksburg Campaign]

 The 6th Miss Infantry, with the augmentation of several new companies, deployed by rail to Vicksburg in May of 1862. At Vicksburg, the unit constructed fortifications at Fort Hill to the north of the town. There, they awaited MG Grant and the Army of the Tennessee. But, they didn't just sit and wait but continued to improve their positions which became a bastion of the northern salient. In December of 1862, the Regiment was re-designated the 46th Miss Infantry. And, Confederate President Jefferson Davis reviewed the troops.

In December of 1862, MG Grant moved south with the main body of the Army of the Tennessee from the railhead at Grand Junction TN and sent MG Sherman's Corps by boat down the Mississippi to affect a coordinated attack from the river. But, Confederate MG Van Dorn blunted Grant's advance and BG Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry cut Grant's supply lines back to Tennessee which compelled Grant to withdraw back to Memphis.

MG Grant's withdrawal gave the Confederates time to rush additional units, including the 3rd and 5th Miss Infantry (State Troops) by rail to Vicksburg. The 46th and 5th Miss were pushed forward just in time to Chickasaw Bayou where on 12/27/1862 they and other units repelled MG Sherman's attempt to gain a position from the Mississippi north of Vicksburg. Sherman reported the action writing, "I reached Vicksburg at the time appointed, landed, assaulted and failed."

On 5/1/1863, MG Grant and the bulk of the Army of the Tennessee attacked Grand Gulf MS and crossed the Mississippi south of Vicksburg. On 5/5/1863, the 46th Miss Infantry marched in defense of Port Gibson, then marched north to block Grant's advance on Big Black River. On 5/16/1862, the 46th Miss was with BG Baldwin's Brigade which held the bridge so that the Confederate Army could withdraw to Vicksburg, bringing up the rear of the retreat. Interestingly, Co E was detached for scout duty on the wrong side of the bridge and spent the remainder of the campaign with LTG Joseph E. Johnson and the Army of Tennessee.

Back inside the fortified perimeter at Vicksburg, the 46th returned to the northern salient where they withstood two frontal assaults from Sherman's Corps on May 19 and May 22. Finding the fortified City of Vicksburg impregnable, MG Grant settled for a siege stating, "Let them starve."

The siege was punctuated by sporadic bombardment from the Federal Army on land and the Brown-water Navy in the Mississippi River. And, the Regiment settled down to a routine:

Of the surrender General Baldwin wrote: "My command marched over the trenches and stacked their arms with the greatest reluctance, conscious of their ability to hold the position assigned them for an indefinite period of time. During the whole siege the entire command had exhibited the highest degree of patience, fortitude and courage, bearing deprivations of sufficient food, constant duty in the trenches under a broiling sun by day and heavy fatigue and picket duty at night, without a murmur, willing to bear any hardships, confident in sustaining the brunt of any assault, in the hope of anticipated relief and ultimate triumph. The command was daily aroused and under arms at 3:30 A.M., to guard against surprise, and nightly our pickets were in advance of our defenses and nearly contiguous to the sentinels of the enemy. The loss in killed and wounded was severe."

    46th Mississippi Infantry, Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans <http://mississippiscv.org/MS_Units/46th_MS_INF.htm> 19 May 2015.

Through May, then June, and into July, the soldiers of the Army of Vicksburg and the citizens of the town did starve. The civilians dug caves into the levee. The soldiers dug trenches where they slept below ground to survive the bombardments. And, many times, the soldiers were effectively digging their own graves.

With no options left, Gen. Pemberton surrendered the Army on 7/4/1863. And, the Army of Vicksburg was paroled, able to reenroll after about 60 days.

With the fall of Vicksburg on 7/4/1863, the Regiment was paroled. The Army of Mississippi marched out of Vicksburg and stacked arms and furled colors. As part of the surrender, all units were supposed to surrender their flags. There is a story that one of the Regiment's officers smuggled the original Regimental Flag out of Vicksburg under his shirt.

By late 1863, the Confederate Army in the West was completely outnumbered and on the defensive, reacting to the many advances and feints from three separate Union armies: the Army of the Tennessee, the Army of the Cumberland, and the Army of the Ohio. And, the Confederate Army of Tennessee, the only operational Confederate army in the West, was stretched from Mississippi to Mobile to Chattanooga to Atlanta.

The 46th Miss Infantry was re-enrolled on 11/20/1863 at Meridian MS with Baldwin's Brigade and assigned to LTG Leonidas Polk's nominal Army of Mississippi (III Corps, Army of Tennessee) which operated in eastern Mississippi and Alabama. And in response to the many movements of the Union armies, the Regiment did a lot of traveling: to Dalton GA, to Mobile, attached to Gen. S.D. Lee 2/1864 in front of Meridian MS against Gen. Sherman, to Mobile, to Pollard AL, to Selma AL, to Anniston AL, and then finally in May 1864 to Adairsville GA where the Mississippi Brigade joined the main body of the Army of Tennessee under LTG Joseph E. Johnston.

Atlanta Campaign

In May of 1864, LTG Grant assumed command of the entire Federal Army and MG Sherman replaced him as Commander of the Federal Division of the Mississippi, consisting of the Army of the Tennessee, the Army of the Cumberland, and one corps from the Army of the Ohio. Sherman continued Grant's plan to drive on Atlanta and destroy the economy of the South. And, LTG Johnston replaced Gen. Bragg as Commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Also in May of 1864, LTG Polk's Corps deployed by rail to Dalton GA where the Army of Tennessee had been in Winter Quarters. And, the 46th and the rest of Sears Brigade joined up with the main body of the Army of Tennessee during the Battle of Resaca. Assigned to French's Division of Polk's Corps, the 46th Miss Infantry and Sears Brigade were in continual combat for about four months.

During the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, the Federal Army under MG Sherman maneuvered in a southeasterly direction. As Sherman's intent was to separate the Confederate Army from it's supply lines along the railroad, Sherman continually pushed his forces south around the Confederate left, causing LTG Johnston to  redeploy further and further south. Thus, the 46th Miss Infantry fought in the delaying actions following the railroad south from Chattanooga and before Atlanta, finally constructing a deliberate defense on Kennesaw Mountain from 6/27 to 7/2/1864. And, the 46th Miss was entrenched on Little Kennesaw Mountain on the far left of (then) Loring's Corps.

According to historians, MG Sherman, having continually flanked to his right around the Confederate left, decided to break the predictable pattern and ordered a deliberate attack on the Confederate center at Kennesaw Mountain. MG Sherman had at his disposal three Union armies consisting of 100,000 men against the Confederate Army of Tennessee with 50,000 men. The Army of the Tennessee maneuvered against the Confederate right flank north of Kennesaw. The single corps from the Army of the Ohio maneuvered against the Confederate left flank southwest of Kennesaw. And the Army of the Cumberland attacked the Confederate center at Cheatham Hill. With the exception of the Cavalry advance around the Confederate far left at Powder Springs Road, all was for naught.

After suffering a tactical defeat at Kennesaw Mountain, MG Sherman simply took a couple of his many Corps and again by-passed the Confederate Army's left flank and headed to Atlanta. And again, this flanking maneuver forced the Army of Tennessee to fight a delaying action while the main body of the army moved across the Chattahoochee River, to and through Atlanta, stopping in a blocking position west of the city.

Research Note: Confederate Gen. Bragg was replaced by LTG Joseph E. Johnston after the the defeat in the Chattanooga Campaign (good idea). But, LTG Johnston was replaced by LTG Hood after the army evacuated Kennesaw Mountain (very, very bad idea).

On 7/20/1864 at Peachtree Creek (vic. Vinings GA), Hood attacked the Federal Army just after it crossed the Chattahoochee. And, the 46th Miss Infantry was with French's Division on the far left of the Army near Mt. Zion Church but not decisively engaged.

The most disastrous battle of the campaign was on 7/22/1864, east of Atlanta. The 5th and 8th Miss Infantry were with Gen. Lowrey's Mississippi Brigade, which lost about half its numbers that day. The men had been without sleep or rest for two days and nights, the heat was excessive, and many were completely exhausted. Nevertheless they made a gallant charge against the Federal rifle pits. On 7/28/1864 the 46th Miss Infantry and Sears Brigade marched from their prepared defensive positions west with Stewart's Corps to Ezra Church and attacked west into the Federal line; to no avail.

A major criticism of Hood by officers and soldiers alike, which has come down to us in the histories, was the detachment of Confederate Cavalry during the Battle of Atlanta. On 8/18/1864 Sherman sent a 4,500 man Division of Federal Cavalry under BG Kilpatrick south to attack Confederate supply lines along the railroad to Macon. Hood's only available response was to force march his infantry south where Cleburne's Division was "heavily engaged" on 8/20 at Lovejoy Station. This battle proved Hood's Achilles Heel was his lifeline along the railroad to Macon.

After the effective failure by the Cavalry, MG Sherman again bypassed the Confederate's prepared positions, going west of Atlanta and deployed the majority of the Federal armies to cut Hood's re-supply line south of Atlanta. Confederate MG Hardee took two Corps, Hardee & SD Lee, out of the Atlanta defense and marched south through Jonesboro to Lovejoy Station GA.

On 8/31/1864, both corps under Hardee went into full assault against Sherman's armies at Jonesboro, attacking with "great gallantry and perseverance" twice, both times ending in failure. Surprise! Hardee and the 2 Confederate Corps just attacked 6+ Federal Corps. Having merely halted the Federal maneuver on the Confederate life-line at Jonesboro, SD Lee's Corps, including Sharp's Brigade, was ordered back to the prepared defenses in Atlanta.

A large Federal force moved toward the town of Jonesboro, about 18 miles south of Atlanta. . .In response, Hood sent two corps under Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee to attack Sherman’s force and defend the vital Macon & Western and Atlanta & West Point Railroads. Confederate attacks on the afternoon of Aug. 31, 1864, were repulsed by stiff resistance from Union forces who had crossed the Flint River and were entrenched within rifle shot of Jonesboro. The Southern troops suffered heavy losses and had little to show for it. That evening, Hood ordered Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee’s corps, comprising half of the Confederate force at Jonesboro, to return to Atlanta. Hardee, who was already outnumbered, was in a desperate situation.

    "Battle of Jonesboro," The Civil War in Georgia <http://www.gacivilwar.org/story/battle-of-jonesboro> 28 March 2016.

Editor's notes:
-Hood had no knowledge that the main body of the Federal armies had by-passed Atlanta around the Confederate left and was marching southeast on Jonesboro.
-Jonesboro is a short march north from Lovejoy Station. Hardee and his 2 Corps attacked Federal units of unknown strength, marching west and northwest into the main Federal line.

Hood abandoned Atlanta on the night of 9/1/1864. BG Sears' Brigade was posted to the south of the city where they wound up in a blocking position on the railroad at Jonesboro. There the 46th Miss Infantry held the door open for the Confederate Army of Tennessee to escape to the west and into Alabama. Again, the 46th was the trail Regiment covering the withdrawal of the entire Army.

Hood's Tennessee Campaign

Having retreated from Atlanta and continual pressure from MG Sherman and the Army of the Tennessee [Army #1], the Confederate Army of Tennessee under LTG Hood marched north along the Atlanta-Chattanooga Railroad, destroying Union war materials and assaulting Union garrisons.

Finding MG Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland [Army #2] at Chattanooga, Hood took his army south and west to Gadsden AL. On 11/20/1864, the Army crossed the Tennessee River in Alabama and marched through the snow towards the Federal Garrison at Columbia TN. On 11/29/1864, BG Sears' Mississippi Brigade moved with LTG Stewart's Cops to Spring Hill TN before the "memorable assault upon the fortified line" at Franklin.

The story goes that Hood's Army pulled up in front of a hasty defense at Spring Hill, TN. That night his army slept on the left and right of the road, awaiting distant brigades to join in the next day's attack. And, BG Sears' Mississippi Brigade was one of those units.

The previous day, Sears' Mississippi Brigade had followed Federal units running in front of them on the Columbia Pike towards Franklin. That night, those same Federal regiments quietly marched straight up the Columbia Pike between the Confederate campfires, gathered up the Union forces at Spring Hill, and escaped to the defensive parapets at Franklin. LTG Hood had missed his chance to destroy two Union divisions, effectively a Union Army Corps, who had been within his grasp.

On 11/30/1864, Hood attacked in a frontal assault with 20,000 troops in multiple waves against the Army of the Cumberland which was behind defensive parapets. Stewart's Corps was on the right of the Confederate line. And, Sears' Mississippi Brigade and the 46th Miss Infantry were on the left of the Corps, squeezed in next to Claiborne's Division on their left.

Research Note: Hood attacked the fortifications at Franklin with 7 Infantry Divisions consisting of 20 Infantry Brigades totaling 20,000 soldiers from over 100 individual Regiments. Sound military doctrine dictates a 3:1 ratio for a deliberate attack against a fortified enemy position. Even though LTG Hood massed about 80% of his army in the attack, the ratio of attackers vs. defenders was only 3:2. And, I will let other historians discuss Gen. Hood's character and motivations.

Their attack started at 4:00 PM. By sheer numbers, the attack carried the first parapet where so many died.

The first line was carried, but to reach the second line of works, Sears' Brigade was exposed to a destructive crossfire of artillery. Maj. T. D. Magee, commanding the Forty-sixth, was among the wounded before the works were reached. Some were able to reach the ditch in front of the works, where they remained until next morning, when the Federal troops were withdrawn. Among these "foremost of the forlorn hope," were the following of the Forty-sixth. Company A -- Capt. Nicholas Pace. . .There were only five men of Company C left at the time of this battle, under Sergeant Blakeman. Corporal William Chew was killed and the Sergeant and James Cattle and William Hagan were wounded, leaving John Bowen [a single solder] for duty.

As not all brigades of the Army of Tennessee participated in the frontal attack, Lee's Corps and a few additional brigades could still fight. LTG Hood ordered the remainder of his army, including the survivors of the Battle of Franklin north to attack Nashville. But, the same Union Army of the Cumberland which had just soundly defeated Hood at Franklin was now backed up inside the defenses at Nashville.

At Nashville, Hood elected to dig in and await attack by the superior Union forces. But, Hood mistakenly reduced his forces by sending MG Forrest's Cavalry and several brigades of Infantry off in a feint against Murfreesboro.

On 12/15/1864, MG Schofield and the Army of the Ohio [Army #3] came out from behind their defenses and attacked, crushing the Confederate left flank. Hood's Army withdrew into a tighter defense. And, the next day, Schofield crushed the Confederate left again, nearly encircling the entire Confederate Army. That night, what remained of Hood's Army withdrew to the south.

As in the Battle of Franklin, Lee's Corps faired best and some brigades moved off in good order to support MG Nathan Bedford Forrest at Murfreesboro only to fall back into the mountains of North Carolina. And, LTG Hood led the destroyed and ineffective remains of his army on a disorganized withdrawal to northeast Mississippi.

The 46th Miss Infantry and the Mississippi Brigade, without Col. Sears' who was left wounded with the Federals, marched hundreds of miles on bare feet in the sleet and snow back to Tupelo MS along with the remnants of the Army of Tennessee. LTG Hood resigned and the Regiments of the Mississippi Brigade were folded into the nominal Confederate Army of Mississippi.

Research Note: Some of the Mississippi Regiments who survived Hood's Tennessee Campaign were furloughed until February 1865. Perhaps, the 46th was also.

The Mobile Campaign

In the histories, this action was called the Mobile Campaign. But, there wasn't a whole lot of campaigning for the Confederates. The decisive battle was on 4/9/1865 at Ft. Blakely AL on Mobile Bay where about 4,000 Confederates, including the remaining 200 men of the 46th,  faced 45,000 Federals. With the fall of Ft. Blakely, half of the soldiers of the 46th and their Regimental Flag were captured. And by 5/1865, the remaining members of the Army of Mississippi surrendered.

Was Great Grandfather John Campbell captured at Ft. Blakely? Or, did he surrender a couple of weeks later? We don't know. But, we do know that he survived to the end of hostilities when he was paroled.

Key Campaigns:

My Veteran:

3.  1SG John Campbell (aged 27) served in Co A "Gaines Invincibles," 46th Mississippi Infantry, CSA. This unit served in S.D. Lee's and Baldwin's Brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The unit participated in the long Siege of Vicksburg and was captured on July 4, 1863. After the exchange it was assigned to General Baldwin's, Tucker's, and Sears' Brigade. It fought in the Atlanta Campaign, endured Hood's winter operations in Tennessee, and had many disabled at Franklin TN. The 46th withdrew with the remnant of the Confederate Army of Tennessee to Tupelo MS where they were furloughed until February 1865. Only a remnant surrendered near Mobile AL in May of 1865, including Grandpa John Campbell.