The 7 Confederate Veterans
from Whom I Descend

-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>

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 these 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.

Selected Campaigns of the Western Theater

1.  5Simeon Thomas Lewis, [KIA] 4Willis Bonaparte Lewis, 3Bernis Bonaparte Lewis, 2Arnold D. Lewis, 1Charles E. Lewis

PVT Simeon Thomas Lewis (aged 42) served in Co B, 5th Mississippi Infantry (State Troops). This unit was envisioned as a Civil War version of the Revolutionary War Minute Men for the State of Mississippi. During MG Grant's Siege of Vicksburg, this unit was stationed on the north side of the Vicksburg salient in reserve for Smith's Division. And, two of Grandpa Simeon Thomas' teenaged sons, Walden and Jacob, served with him. In son Jacob's obituary, we learn that "his father [Simeon Thomas] was killed by his [Jacob's] side." Simeon Thomas was killed 6/6/1863 at Vicksburg and is buried in an unmarked grave under the road leading to the Union Army Cemetery.
<http://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/soldiersrest.htm>
<http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~taleese/soldiers_rest_vicksburg/>

2.  5William Wesley McPhearson, 4Mary Jane McPhearson, 3Bernis Bonaparte Lewis , 2Arnold D. Lewis, 1Charles E. Lewis

CPL William Wesley McPhearson (aged 34) served in Co G "Tolson Guards," 8th Mississippi Infantry, CSA. This unit served in Florida and Mississippi, then was assigned to General J. K. Jackson's, Gist's, and Lowry's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. They fought in the Army's campaigns from Kentucky to Murfreesboro to Chickamauga to Atlanta, were with Hood in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina where Grandpa William Wesley was paroled at the end of hostilities.

3.  5John Campbell, 4Columbus Campbell, 3Tommie Lenora Campbell, 2Arnold D. Lewis, 1Charles E. Lewis

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, the unit was assigned to General Baldwin's, Tucker's, and Sears' Brigade. They 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.

4.  5Robeson Lee, 4Mary Susannah "Minnie" Lee, 3Tommie Lenora Campbell, 2Arnold D. Lewis, 1Charles E. Lewis

PVT Robeson Lee (aged 44) served in Co H, 5th Mississippi Infantry (State Troops). This unit was envisioned as a Civil War version of the Revolutionary War Minute Men for the State of Mississippi. During MG Grant's Siege of Vicksburg, this unit was stationed on the north side of the Vicksburg salient in reserve for Smith's Division. Grandpa Rob was paroled after the surrender of Vicksburg. Some veterans re-enlisted in Regular Confederate units, but most returned home after being paroled. Grandpa Rob returned home and reportedly fought rear-area Union troops as a Confederate Partisan.

5.  5Joseph Brannoc Wilkinson, 4Charles Brannoc Wilkinson, 3Dolly Cornelia Wilkinson, 2June Elizabeth Weaver, 1Charles E. Lewis

PVT J. B. Wilkinson (aged 24) enlisted 6/1846 in the 1st Regiment, Missouri Mounted Volunteers and served in the Mexican-American War. The unit returned to New Orleans where J. B. was discharged 6/1847.

PVT J. B. Wilkinson (aged 38) served in Co A "Franklin Rifles," 7th Mississippi Infantry, CSA. This unit served on the Mississippi coast, fought at Shiloh TN, saw action in Kentucky, then was assigned to Generals J.P. Anderson's, Tucker's, and Sharp's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 7th participated in many conflicts with the army from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, marched with Hood to Tennessee, and fought in North Carolina. Grandpa J. B., a veteran of the Mexican-American War, served for about a year and a half and was discharged 12/6/1862 after the Kentucky Campaign. According to NARA records, J.B. Wilkinson was discharged because he was over 40 years-old. J.B., who was born 11/16/1822, had just turned 40 by his date of discharge.

6.  6William M. Case, 5Perry J. Case, 4Elizabeth Vivian Case, 3Dolly Cornelia Wilkinson, 2June Elizabeth Weaver, 1Charles E. Lewis

First Enlistment

[CPL] William Case (aged 37) enlisted 7/14/1862 as the Senior Corporal in Co E, Quinn's 2nd Miss Infantry (State Troops). This was in response to new Confederate legislation for organization of State Reserves. In Mississippi, persons 17 to 18 and 35 to 45 were assigned to regiments known as State Troops. Grandpa William attended the many musters with Co E, but never deployed with the Quinn's 2nd Miss Infantry (State Troops) [MST] to combat. And, the last known roster for Co E, 2nd MST was on 9/4/1862.

Individual companies of the 2nd MST periodically mustered and deployed in support of the Confederate war effort, only to be released to their homes with weapons in hand, literally to defend the home-front as the Union Army of the Tennessee swept back and forth across the state during the battle for and siege of Vicksburg. Along with the other soldiers over 40 and under 18, Grandpa William was discharged in 6/1864; as he had just turned 40. And, Grandpa William's second enlistment was in 8/1864 with Co E, 24th Battalion Miss Cavalry, CSA.

Second Enlistment

[SGT] In February of 1864, the Seven Stars Artillery was reorganized as Moorman's Battalion (Mississippi Cavalry), later to be designated as the 24th Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry with LTC George Moorman as commander and Major Calvitt Roberts as adjutant. In August of 1864, Grandpa William Case chose to enlist as a Sergeant and serve with his friends and neighbors in Co E, 24th Battalion, Miss Cavalry, CSA.

The 24th BN, Miss Cavalry served with Col. Wood's Cavalry Brigade, BG Wirt Adams' Cavalry Division, under MG Franklin Gardner, District of Mississippi and East Louisiana and then with LTG Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry Corps until the end of the war. With the surrender of LTG Johnston's Army of Tennessee, the disparate commands of the Department of Mississippi were the last remaining Confederate forces in the field. On 5/9/1865, LTG Forrest surrendered his entire Corps at Gainesville AL. The last military record for Grandpa William was on 5/12/1865 when he was paroled.  <http://www.gainesville-vols.org/activitiesevents.html>

7.  6Thomas W. Burke, [KIA] 5Margaret Burke, 4Elizabeth Vivian Case, 3Dolly Cornelia Wilkinson, 2June Elizabeth Weaver, 1Charles E. Lewis

PVT Thomas Burke (aged 38) served in Co E "Franklin Beauregards," 7th Mississippi Infantry, CSA. This unit served on the Mississippi coast, fought at Shiloh TN, saw action in Kentucky, then was assigned to Generals J.P. Anderson's, Tucker's, and Sharp's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 7th participated in many conflicts with the army from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, marched with Hood to Tennessee, and fought in North Carolina. Grandpa Thomas died in October of 1862 during the Kentucky Campaign. According to NARA records, Grandpa Thomas was "captured and died in the hands of the enemy in Kentucky." Let us be generous and presume that he died of wounds suffered in battle. Grandpa Thomas is buried at Bardstown Cemetery, Nelson Co KY. And, his tombstone shows date of death as 10/31/1862. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Perryville#Confederate>

 

Confederate Laws Governing Conscription and Military Service

Request by Pres. Jefferson Davis dtd 3/28/1862

The Chair presented a message from the President; which was read and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and is as follows: Executive Department, March 28, 1862.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Confederate States: The operation of the various laws now in force for raising armies has exhibited the necessity for reform. The frequent changes and amendments which have been made have rendered the system so complicated as to make it often quite difficult to determine what the law really is, and to what extent prior enactments are modified by more recent legislation.
There is also embarrassment from conflict between State and Confederate legislation. I am happy to assure you of the entire harmony of purpose and cordiality of feeling which have continued to exist between myself and the executives of the several States; and it is to this cause that our success in keeping adequate forces in the field is to be attributed.
These reasons would suffice for inviting your earnest attention to the necessity of some simple and general system for exercising the power of raising armies which is vested in the Congress by the Constitution But there is another and more important consideration. The vast preparations made by the enemy for a combined assault at numerous points on our frontier and seacoast have produced the result that might have been expected. They have animated the people with a spirit of resistance so general, so resolute, and so self-sacrificing that it requires rather to be regulated than to be stimulated.
The right of the State to demand, and the duty of each citizen to render, military service need only to be stated to be admitted. It is not, however, wise or judicious policy to place in active service that portion of the force of a people which experience has shown to be necessary as a reserve. Youths under the age of 18 years require further instruction--men of matured experience are needed for maintaining order and good government at home, and in supervising preparations for rendering efficient the armies in the field. These two classes constitute the proper reserve for home defense, ready to be called out in case of emergency, and to be kept in the field only while the emergency exists. But, in order to maintain this reserve intact, it is necessary that, in a great war like that in which we are now engaged, all persons of intermediate age not legally exempt for good cause should pay their debt of military service to the country, that the burthens should not fall exclusively on the most ardent and patriotic.
I, therefore, recommend the passage of a law declaring that all persons residing within the Confederate States, between the ages of 18 and 35 years, and rightfully subject to military duty, shall be held to be in the military service of the Confederate States, and that some plain and simple method be adopted for their prompt enrollment and organization, repealing all of the legislation heretofore enacted which would conflict with the system proposed.

    JEFFERSON DAVIS. Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861 v. 2, p. 106 <https://books.google.com/books> 3 June 2015.

Military and Naval Laws of the Confederate States

II. Provisional Army
IX. CONSCRIPTION [dtd 4/16/1862]
In view of the exigencies of the country, and the absolute necessity of keeping in the service our gallant army, and of placing in the field a large additional force to meet the advancing columns of the enemy now invading our soil:
Therefore The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact,
That the President be and he is hereby authorized to call out and place in the military service of the Confederate States, for three years, unless the war shall have been sooner ended, all white men who are residents of the Confederate States, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years, at the time the call or calls may be made, who are not legally exempted from military service. All of the persons aforesaid who are now in the armies of the Confederacy, and whose term of service will expire before the end of the war, shall be continued in the service for three years from the date of their original enlistment, unless the war shall have been sooner ended: 
Provided, however, That all such companies, squadrons, battalions, and regiments whose term of original enlistment was for twelve months, shall have the right, within forty days, on a day to be fixed by the commander of the brigade, to reorganize said companies, battalions, and regiments, by electing all their officers which they had a right heretofore to elect, who shall be commissioned by the President.
Provided, further, That furloughs not exceeding sixty days, with transportation home and back, shall be granted to all those retained in the service by the provisions of this act beyond the period of their original enlistment, and who have not heretofore received furloughs under the provisions of an act entitled "An act providing for the granting of bounty and furloughs to privates and non-commissioned officers in the Provisional Army," approved eleventh December, eighteen hundred and sixty-one said furloughs to be granted at such times and in such numbers as the Secretary of War may deem most compatible with the public interest:
And provided, further, That in lieu of a furlough, the commutation value in money of the transportation herein above granted shall be paid to each private, musician, or non-commissioned officer who may elect to receive it, at such time as the furlough would otherwise be granted:
Provided, further, That all persons under the age of eighteen years or over the age of thirty-five years [original age limit dtd 4/16/1862] who are now enrolled in the military service of the Confederate States in the regiments, squadrons, battalions, and companies hereafter to be reorganized, shall be required to remain in their respective companies, squadrons, battalions, and regiments for ninety days, unless their places can be sooner supplied by other recruits not now in the service, who are between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years; and all laws and parts of laws providing for the re-enlistment of volunteers and the organization thereof into companies, squadrons, battalions, or regiments, shall be and the same are hereby repealed.
That the President be and he is hereby authorized to call out and place in the military service of the Confederate States for three years, unless the war should have been sooner ended, all white men who are residents of the Confederate States, between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five years, at the time the call or calls may be made, and who are not, at such time or times, legally exempted from military service, or such part thereof as, in his judgment, may be necessary to the public defence--such call or calls to be made under the provisions and according to the terms of the act to which this is an amendment and such authority shall exist in the President during the present war as to all persons who now are or may hereafter become eighteen years of age, and when once enrolled, all persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five shall serve their full time:
Provided, That if the President, in calling out troops into the service of the Confederate States, shall first call for only a part of the persons between the ages hereinbefore stated, he shall call for those between the ages of thirty-five and any other age less than forty-five.
 Provided, That nothing herein contained shall he understood as repealing or modifying any part of the act to which this is amendatory, except as herein expressly stated:
And provided, further, That those called out under this act, and the act to which this is an amendment, shall be first and immediately ordered to fill to their maximum number the companies, battalions, squadrons, and regiments from the respective states at the time the act to further provide for the public defence, approved sixteenth April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, was passed, and the surplus, if any, shall be assigned to organizations formed from each state since the passage of that act, or placed in new organizations to be officered by the state having such residue, according to the laws thereof, or disposed of as now provided by law:
Provided, That the President is authorized to suspend the execution of this act, or the act to which this is an amendment, in any locality where he may find it impracticable to execute the same, and that in such locality, and during said suspension, the President is authorized to receive troops into the Confederate service under any of the acts passed by the Confederate Congress prior to the passage of the act to provide further for the public defence, approved sixteenth April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two. - [Amendment dtd 9/27/1862].
That all persons subject to enrolment for military service may be enrolled under instructions from the War department, and reported by the enrolling officer wherever found, whether within the state or county of their residence or not; and when so enrolled shall be subject to the provisions of law as fully as if enrolled within the county and state of which they may be residents:
Provided, That this act shall not extend to any member of a military organization under any state law while he remains in actual service within the limits of his state:
And provided, further, That the President is authorized to suspend the execution of this act as regards the residents of any locality where he may find it impracticable to execute the act entitled "An act to further provide for the public defence," approved April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and the act to amend the last mentioned act, approved September twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and sixty-two [144]. - dtd 10/8/1862.

    Lester, Capt. W.W., "A Digest of the Military and Naval Laws of the Confederate States," Confederate Quartermaster-General's Office, pp. 57-60, Richmond, 1864 <http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/digest/digest.html> 3 June 2015.

Statutes at Large of the Confederate States of America, 
Passed at the Fourth Session of the First Congress; 1863-4

CHAP. LXV.

--An Act to organize forces to serve during the war. [dtd 2/17/1864] The Congress of the Confederate Sates of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, all white men, residents of the Confederate States, between the ages of seventeen and fifty, shall be in the military service of the Confederate States for the war.

SEC. 2. That all the persons aforesaid, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, now in service, shall be retained, during the present war with the United States, in the same regiments, battalions and companies to which they belong at the passage of this act, with the same organization and officers, unless regularly transferred or discharged, in accordance with the laws and regulations for the government of the army:
Provided, That companies from one State, organized against their consent, expressed at the time, with regiments or battalions from another State, shall have the privilege of being transferred to organizations of troops in the same arm of the service from the States in which said companies were raised, and the soldiers from one State in companies from another State shall be allowed; if they desire it, a transfer to organizations from their own State in the same arm of the service.

SEC. 3. That, at the expiration of six months from the first day of April next, a bounty of one hundred dollars, in a six per cent. Government bond, which the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to issue, shall be paid to every non-commissioned officer, musician and private who shall then be in the service, or, in the event of his death previous to the period of such payment, then to the person or persons who would be entitled by law to receive the arrearages of his pay; but no one shall be entitled to the bounty herein provided who shall, at any time during the period of six months next after the said first day of April, be absent from his command without leave.

SEC. 4. That no person shall be relieved from the operation of this act by reason of having been heretofore discharged from the army, where no disability now exists, nor shall those who have furnished substitutes be any longer exempted by reason thereof:
Provided, That no person heretofore exempted on account of religious opinions, and who has paid the tax levied to relieve him from service, shall be required to render military service under this act.

SEC. 5. That all white male residents of the Confederate States between the ages of seventeen and eighteen and forty-five and fifty years shall enroll themselves, at such times and places, and under such regulations as the President may prescribe, the time allowed not being less than thirty days for those east, and sixty days for those west of the Mississippi river; and any person who shall fail so to enroll himself, without a reasonable excuse therefore, to be judged of by the President, shall be placed in service in the field for the war, in the same manner as though he were between the ages of eighteen and forty-five:
Provided,That the persons mentioned in this section shall constitute a reserve for State defence and detail duty, and shall not be required to perform service out of the State in which they reside.

SEC. 6. That all persons required by the fifth section of this act to enroll themselves may, within thirty days after the passage hereof, east of the Mississippi river, and within sixty days if west of said river, form themselves into voluntary organizations of companies, battalions or regiments, and elect their own officers--said organizations to conform to the existing law; and having so organized, to tender their services as volunteers during the war, to the President; and if such organization shall furnish proper muster rolls, as now required, and deposit a copy thereof with the enrolling officer of their district (which shall be equivalent to enrollment,) they may be accepted as minute men for service in such State; but in no event to be taken out of it. Those who do not so volunteer and organize shall enroll themselves as before provided, and may, by the President, be required to assemble at places of rendezvous, and be formed into companies, battalions and regiments, under regulations to be prescribed by him, and shall have the right to elect their company and regimental officers; and all troops organized under this act for State defence shall be entitled, while in actual service, to the same pay and allowances as troops now in the field. . . .

    Matthews, James L., "Statutes at Large of the Confederate States of America, Passed at the Fourth Session of the First Congress; 1863-4," p. 211, Richmond, 1864 <http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/23conf/23conf.html#p172> 3 June 2015.

 

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This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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