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The Mississippi State Convention, on the twenty-third of January in eighteen sixty-one, adopted an ordinance to regulate the military system of the state. It was essentially a revision of the Law of 1860, but under the name "The Army of Mississippi," and it gave the generals their proper rank and powers. After that the generals and the governor constituted the Military Board.
GENERAL ORDERS |
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HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF MISSISSIPPI | Jackson, Mississippi, May 21, 1861 |
By orders of the commander-in-chief ...[fifty
companies]... are hereby ordered into active
service, and will proceed forthwith to Corinth,
Mississippi, to the camp of instruction there
established and report to Maj. Gen. Charles
Clark, commanding. They will take with them all
arms and military property in their possession.
All deficiencies in arms will be supplied at
Corinth.
The companies will provide themselves with cooked rations sufficient to subsist them to Corinth. The several railroads will furnish transportation, and the companies will proceed by the nearest route. An officer from each company will be sent forth with the report to these headquarters the condition and strength of their companies. The captains of the companies above mentioned are charged with the execution of this order.
W. H. Brown
Adjutant and Inspector-General
Shortly after those orders Daniel R. Russell and others organized regiments to serve the state in times of the impending problem. He organized the Twentieth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Regiment, among which included Adams' Rifles (which became Company E and was organized at Handsboro, Harrison County, on the twentieth of May) which was mustered into the service of the Confederate States of America during June of eighteen sixty-one. The brigade commanded was by Col. Russell and the company commanded by Capt. Fleming W. Adams. They were called into service of the Provisional Army under the provisions of the Act of Congress passed on February __, 1861 by ____________ for the duration of the war unless sooner discharged. The muster-in form was signed by Samuel E. Baker, Mustering Officer.
-----Regimental
Field Officers-----
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-----Company
E (Adams' Rifles)-----
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| Companies of the Twentieth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry: |
Company A- Captain William
N. Brown
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The company underwent a short period of training, probably near Corinth under the direction of Brig. Gen. Charles Clark, and then was stationed at Iuka. When enough companies to form a regiment had joined the camp, sometimes in July of eighteen sixty-one, the regiment was ordered to Virginia, arriving in Lynchburg on the twenty-seventh. They remained encamped at Camp Davis, near Lynchburg, from July twenty-seventh until the thirty-first of August.
On the seventeenth of September Col. Russell received orders from Richmond to report to Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd at Lewisburg. That order read in part, "It is important you should join General John Buchanan Floyd with the least possible delay. ... Avail of the transportation tomorrow, and if possible take subsistence as far as Lewisburg. " They arrived at Sewell Mountain in the Kenawha Valley on the twenty-sixth, where Gen. Floyd had been driven back before their arrival and Gen. Robert E. Lee had been assigned to command in the field on the twenty-first. Upon arrival the Twentieth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry regiment had the distinction of being the first Mississippi unit to serve under the command of that great general officer.
The Twentieth, under command of Gen. Lee, took position at Meadow Bluff, where Gen. Rosecrans had advanced to his front on the twenty-eighth of September and reconnoitered the positions of the Confederates before falling back.They then spent eleven days on a ridge near the summit of Big Sewell Mountain some sixteen miles from Meadow Bluff. The regiment then spent some time in camp at Cotton Hill near Gauley Bridge in October and early November while some artillery work was done. Under Gen. Floyd the regiment retreated, after skirmishing at Laurel Creek on the twelfth and at McCoy's Mill on the fourteenth of November.
Throughout the campaign in the west Virginia Mountains the men were exposed to inclement weather, were without adequate food or shelter, suffered much, and lost many from sickness and death. In his report of his march from Sewell to New River, Gen. Floyd referred to them as the flower of his command, "the fine regiment from Mississippi under Col. Russell." On November seven of eighteen sixty-one the brigade crossed New River. They marched to Fayette County and Raleigh County where they encamped with the right flank completely protected by the cliffs of New River and the gorges of Piney for the distance of some forty miles.
In a report on the inspection of Gen. Floyd's Brigade near Newbern, Virginia, dated at Richmond on the fourteenth of December in eighteen sixty-one, Assistant Inspector-General George Deas stated:
The aggregate strength of this command present and fit for duty is about 3500 and there are absent, sick in hospitals in various places, about 1500. More men are arriving daily to join their respective regiments. The troops have suffered a great deal of hardship and exposure during the active campaign in Western Virginia, and now feel the effects of the measles and its consequences; but they are evidently improving, and, with a little rest, they will soon be able to engage in any service which is required of them.
To judge of these men by what is said of them by their officers, they are certainly brave and reliable. To the eye of the critical inspector they present the appearance of raw, undisciplined levis. Their instructions in the most simple evolutions is entirely wanting. Indeed, they have had no opportunity to receive any instructions, having been constantly engaged in the most active of operations since the month of August past. Yet these raw countrymen have certainly gone through a campaign which would be credit to any force however perfect in might have been in its composition, and, I am told, that all their hardships have been borne without a murmur.
I am not aware of what disposition it is intended to make of the command of general Floyd, but I certainly would recommend that he be ordered to establish a winter camp of instruction not far from where he now is. Dublin Depot is not a good place, but the general has such a perfect acquaintance with the region of country in which he is now stationed, that he could at once select a suitable place.
I would recommend that the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, Phillip's Legion, and the Twentieth Mississippi Regiment be ordered into a milder climate. The severe winters of Western Virginia will be fatal to these southern men. The arms of the command are in good order, but in some of the regiments there is a mixture of rifles, flint locks, and percussion guns. This can be remedied when the time comes for filling requisitions which have already been made. The clothing in some instances is bad, but supplies are arriving daily, both from the public stores and from private contributions. Medical supplies are deficient, but this has been the complaint through the campaign.
The larger portion of the men have not been paid for six months. A paymaster should be sent there at once. Many of the men have families who are really suffering for want of support. The discipline of the command seems to be good. The general impression made upon me by this inspection is, that the men having just come from a most fatiguing campaign, and having suffered considerably from camp diseases, they are just at present in a somewhat enfeebled condition, but it is evident that they will improve by repose and the improvement in their daily rations, and in a comparatively short period of time they will recover their usually healthy condition.
With food and instructions they could soon be made more apt in their evolutions. Without such minute instructions reliance must be placed, as heretofore, upon their steady aim and good pluck.
| SPECIAL
ORDERS Number 268 |
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ADJT. AND INSP GENERAL'S OFFICE | Richmond, Virginia, December 17, 1861 |
XXX. The Twentieth Regiment, Mississippi
Volunteers, under Col. Daniel R. Russell, will
proceed at once to Coosawhatchie, South Carolina,
and report for duty to Gen. Robert E. Lee,
commanding.
By command of the Secretary of War:
Jno. Withers,
Assistant Adjutant-General
On the seventeenth of December the War Department detached the regiment and two other units from General Floyd's command and transferred it to South Carolina, where Gen. Lee had been transferred after the retreat of Gen. Rosecrans in late September. The detachment order said that for the protection of Greenbrier County and Monroe County a regiment of troops accustomed to the rigors of the winter climate in Western Virginia should be stationed at or near Lewisburg. The Mississippians took the train and traveled one entire day to their destination, and, upon arrival, were notified that the order had been countermanded and that they were to rejoin Gen. Floyd whose brigade had been sent to Kentucky to reinforce Gen. A. S. Johnston. The regiment arrived at Chattanooga, Tennessee, on the first day of eighteen sixty-two and was hurried along to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where a great battle was expected.
Instead the troops were called upon to meet Gen. Grant's advance up the Cumberland River, which had made it necessary for the Confederate forces to abandon their position at Bowling Green. Gen. Floyd's troops were sent to Russellville and then to Clarksville, and as soon as Fort Henry fell, they were hurried to Fort Donelson. The Twentieth Regiment arrived at Fort Donelson at daylight on the morning of February thirteenth and on that day one man was killed and three or four wounded by cannonading while the regiment was stationed in reserve. On the thirteenth Gen. Floyd assumed command from Gen. Gideon J. Pillow at Fort Donelson.
At midnight they were put in the trenches, which they had to clear of water and snow, in relief of Col. John Gregg's Seventh Texas Infantry Regiment. At the time of entrenchment a brisk firing was going on , induced by the Federal sharpshooters. The remainder of the night was spent in strengthening the trenches. At one o'clock in the afternoon on the fourteenth the regiment, under the command of Maj. William N. Brown and attached to Col. William E. Baldwin's Fourteenth Mississippi Infantry Brigade, made an advance against the Federals.
On the fifteenth they again fought under Col. Baldwin and with Drake's Fourth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Brigade, and were the last troops to be recalled after the attack. In Col. Baldwin's report, which he filed from Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, on March twelfth of eighteen sixty-two, covering the events at Fort Donelson, he wrote that Major Brown and the Twentieth Mississippi were entitled to honorable mention, his left wing thrown in the early part of the day into an extremely exposed position by an ill-advised order, held its ground until recalled, and afterwards the whole regiment was among the foremost in every advance. Gen. Pillow's ill-advised order caused them to take position in a field on the left, where they were openly exposed to a destructive fire, which they were not able to return with effect. They were soon recalled, but not before they suffered heavy loss on the left.
At one o'clock on the morning of February sixteen Gen. Floyd informed Maj. Brown that the fort was to be surrendered, but that Floyd, himself, would not surrender but would escape before the surrender. Maj. Brown was ordered to place a strong guard around the steamboat landing at Dover, Tennessee, where Gen. Floyd planned to make his escape. The boats being detained until nearly daylight caused many to flock to the landing as word of the surrender spread among the troops. During all the panic and confusion the Twentieth Mississippi stood like a stone wall in a semicircle around the landing in order to protect Gen. Floyd and his Virginia regiments while embarking.
According to Maj. Brown's report, when the last hope of getting aboard had vanished, and "we realized the sad fate that we had been surrendered, the regiment stacked arms in perfect order, without the least intimidation, but full of regret." Maj. Brown was unable to state why Gen. Floyd had left on the boat with four Virginia regiments, while leaving behind the Mississippi regiment which had stood guard for him and had remained faithful to the last.
The command was unconditionally surrendered at three o'clock on the morning of the sixteenth by Brig. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, who shared the fate of his command. After surrendering the force was taken on transports with the rank and file separated from the officers. Most of the men were taken to Cairo, Illinois, and from there to Chicago. Most of the officers were confined at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, and later to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. The officers were exchanged on an individual basis (Maj. Brown was exchanged for Dr. E. H. R. Revere of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment on the tenth of April), and the men were exchanged on the eighteenth of September at Vicksburg, Mississippi, after spending some six months at Camp Douglas in Chicago.
In Maj. Brown's Recapitulation he showed an aggregate engaged of five hundred troops, with twenty being killed, fifty-eight wounded, and four hundred fifty-four surrendered.
| SPECIAL
FIELD ORDERS Number 10 |
| HDQTRS.
DISTRICT OF CAIRO | Fort Donelson, Tennessee: February 16, 1862 |
By order of Brigadier General U. S. Grant:
JNO A. RAWLINS,
Assistant Adjutant-General
Editor's Note
According to family history, Pvt. Adam Blumer of Handsboro, Mississippi, and Pvt. John Popp of New Orleans, Louisiana, were captured by the Federals at Fort Donelson and held in prison camp in Chicago. They escaped from that camp on Easter night by tunneling out. They made it back to Confederate lines with the assistance of Southern Sympathizers, and rejoined the Confederate Army and remained therein until the end of the war.
After the surrender at Fort Donelson, the transport to Cairo, Illinois, and the confinement in Camp Douglas near Chicago, the Twentieth Mississippi was exchanged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the eighteenth of September in eighteen sixty-two. After the exchange the regiment was reassembled under Col. Russell and assigned to Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman's Brigade of Maj. Gen. William Wing Loring's Division of Lt. Gen John C. Pemberton's Army of Mississippi and East Louisiana, with which it was listed in the returns of January of eighteen sixty-three.
It was then moved to Clinton, Mississippi, where it remained encamped until early October. On the ninth of October the first companies left Clinton and traveled to Jackson by railroad. On the tenth of October, at five o'clock in the evening, another group of companies left camp at Clinton by railroad. They arrived in Jackson on the same evening after traveling some ten miles. The remainder of the companies, under the command of Capt. C. K. Massey of Company D left Clinton on the eleventh. While stopped at Jackson the men took the time to draw arms, knapsacks, and accoutrements.
That evening the troops left on the cars headed to Holly Springs, Mississippi, some one hundred seventy-five miles to the north. They left Jackson empty-handed but stopped at Vernon to book rations. Capt. Walter A. Rorer of Company B wrote in his report that the discipline of the troops would be promoted by a more regular issue of rations. They stopped at Winona to prepare the rations and then moved on to Holly Springs. It took most of the troops some forty-two hours to make the trip. The first men of the Twentieth arrived at Holly Springs at about noon on the thirteenth, and the last men arrived on the fifteenth. There they camped for several days.
On the twenty-third of October the regiment left Holly Springs and marched to Coldwater. Capt. J. B. Avant, commanding Company E, reported that since last muster his company had traveled from Clinton to Holly Springs by rail, marched thence to Coldwater, some six miles north of Holly Springs. It was then stationed at Coldwater, Marshall Co., Mississippi, through the remainder of October and the first week of November. A portion of Co. E was under the command of Capt. Avant. The other portion was detached as part of Capt. W. A. Rorer's Company, who had signed this roll for the entire company.
Capt. Avant then reported that his company was last mustered at Coldwater, Mississippi on the thirty-first of October. Since the last muster this company has marched from Coldwater to Holly Springs, Mississippi, a distance of six miles. From Holly Springs the company marched to Tippah Ford on the south bank of the Tallahatchie River. On November eleventh they arrived at Tippah Ford, after marching a distance of twenty-five miles. There they remained for the balance of the month.
Capt. Avant reported that on the first of December they moved toward Oxford, Mississippi, and then commenced falling back towards Grenada, Mississippi. The weather was very bad and the roads were badly cut up. Company E arrived at the Grenada on the sixth of December, after marching a distance of sixty miles and encamped one mile to the east of the town and remained there overnight. On the morning of December seven they marched some five miles to the eastward on Groveport Road and encamped at Camp Lovell.
First Lieutenent F. W. Keyes of Company C wrote in his report of December seven: We arrived the evening of December seventh and encamped some six miles east of Grenada. The company is poorly supplied with camp and garrison equipage. It has no picks, no shovels, no spades, and but two axes and two tents and a very limited supply of cooking utensils. The ration of meat is one and one-quarter pounds of the poorest kind of beef. The company has not received from the quartermaster department, since its return from prison, any of the books or blanks necessary in the conduct and the government of the company.
The regiment was in active service along the Central Mississippi Railroad during Gen. Grant's advance southward from Memphis in December of eighteen sixty-two and fell back to Grenada on the sixth and seventh when the pressure was relieved by Gen. Van Dorn's raid on Holly Springs. They remained encamped at Camp Lovell through the remainder of eighteen sixty-two and the first month of eighteen sixty-three.
Near the first of February in eighteen sixty-three the regiment was ordered to report to Port Hudson, Louisiana. They proceeded as far south as Osyka, Mississippi, where they camped for a few days. There the order was countermanded, and they were sent back to Grenada and then to Greenwood, Mississippi, where they served under the command of Gen. Loring in the defense of Fort Pemberton against the Federal naval and infantry expedition on Yazoo Pass. In his report the commander of Company G stated that the company and the regiment traveled down the Tallahatchie River from Greneda to Greenwood on board the steamer Sharp. The Twentieth Mississippi Regiment arrived on the twenty-eighth of February and was the second command to arrive at Fort Pemberton. There they were under artillery fire for several weeks.
In his report of March twenty-second Maj. Gen. Loring stated that he had left Jackson on the seventeenth of February with the view of finding some suitable place on the Yazoo River to erect works and place obstructions to the expected passage of the Federal troops down the Yazoo River on the way to Vicksburg. He also said that, though the weather was inclement during most of the campaign, he was able to throw up a line of works composed of cotton bales covered with earth extending from the Yazoo River to the Tallahatchie River.
The fort was under attack on the eleventh of March by the iron-clad turret-boat Chillicothe in the morning and the iron-clad DeKalb in the evening. Both attacks, which included a total of nine gunboats and twenty-four transports, were repelled, the afternoon group with great injury. On the thirteenth the fort endured more than four hours of continuous fire during the afternoon from both gunboats and land guns and then endured even more fire that evening. On the fourteenth the land batteries opened on the fort again, and on the fifteenth a grand assault was expected. On the sixteenth the iron-clads opened on the fort shortly after noon, and the land batteries kept up their fire until sunset.
On the twentieth of March the Federals commenced a precipitate up the Tallahatchie River shortly before noon. Some Confederate regiments were sent in pursuit. On the twenty-third the Federals were back in force in their gunboats in the afternoon. On the first of April the Federals were observed erecting a land battery which consisted of three thirty-two pounders, and on the third another large re-enforcement was observed. After re-enforcements arrived in early April the attack was renewed, and a Federal infantry and artillery force was landed. There were skirmishes until the fourth of April, when Gen. Loring's expedition withdrew.
In his report of the operations of March at Fort Pemberton Gen. Loring commended Col. Brown, commanding, and Capt. Cantey and the Twentieth Mississippi for important aid in collecting material for a large raft while in readiness to defend our works. (The raft was used as an obstruction in the river.) He also thanked Col. Russell for the aid rendered during the last engagement.
On the fourteenth of April the regiment left Fort Pemberton by steamer and was transported to down the Yazoo River to Yazoo City, Mississippi, where they arrived on the fifteenth. In the reports of Company G and Company I, the commanders stated that they, and the regiment, traveled on the Prince of Wales. Upon arriving at Yazoo City the regiment marched and encamped some four miles from town on Plank Road. On the sixteenth the regiment left Yazoo City and marched twenty-five miles to the east to Vaughan's Station, which was located on the Mississippi Central Railroad. They arrived at Vaughan's near noon and early afternoon on the seventeenth, and a short time later they took the cars to Jackson, arriving at eleven o'clock that night to one o'clock the next morning.
On the nineteenth, after spending a stormy night in Jackson, the regiment marched some ten miles west to Clinton on a truly awful road. Then on the twenty-fifth they marched back to Jackson. Soon after arriving in Jackson, an order was issued by Lt. Gen. Pemberton that the Twentieth Mississippi was to be mounted. A raid into Mississippi by the Union Cavalry under Col. B. H. Grierson caused Lt. Gen. Pemberton to write to Lt. Col. W. N. Brown authorizing him to mount part of his brigade and send a detachment in search of Col. Grierson.
In Jackson on the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth of April, Companies C, D, and G were mounted, placed under the command of Maj. Walter A. Rorer and Col. Robert V. Richardson (of Tennessee), and ordered in pursuit of Col. Grierson's Federal Cavalry. They pursued the Federals as far as Greensburg, Louisiana, and, failing to overtake them, returned to Jackson on the twelfth of May. They were then ordered to Edwards Depot, where they arrived on the thirteenth. In his report of May fifth, Col. Richardson said that "the soldierly qualities of Maj. Rorer, his officers and men, never complaining, always ready for duty and anxious to meet and punish the foe, won my admiration."
After arriving at Edwards Depot the three companies joined with Col. Wirt Adams' Cavalry Regiment. They were a part of the advance guard of Gen. Pemberton's Army that evening where they skirmished with Federal troops at Chapel Hill Church. After the skirmish they retired to another road some two and one-half miles south of the church and bivouacked for the night. On the fourteenth they moved out in the direction of Raymond, Mississippi. They were dismounted and, along with three other companies ( including Company K) of the regiment, engaged in a skirmish at Dillon's Bridge over Four-Mile Creek. The six companies held in check at that point a column of Federals some eighteen thousand strong from near sunrise to two o'clock that afternoon. When forced to retire they were ordered to Bottom's Depot.
On the sixteenth companies C and G, along with most of the regiment, were actively engaged in the Battle of Champion Hill (Baker's Creek) near Edwards Depot. On that morning Company C was deployed on foot as skirmishers and engaged the Federals for a while before retiring upon the main Army. During the day they were ordered to the extreme left of Gen. Pemberton's Army, dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, remaining there until dark. The company sustained no losses during the day, and each man behaved himself well when under the fire of the Federal muskets and cannons. They were ordered to report to Vicksburg with the regiment on the nineteenth, and they reached Gen. Stevenson's headquarters in the evening. There they received orders to report to Maj. Gen. W. W. Loring in Jackson and await his orders.
After the skirmish at Champion Hill, Company G was detached with Maj. Rorer and marched west of the Big Black River Bridge where they were actively engaged several times. They remained there with Maj. Rorer until June thirteenth when the regiment was dismounted.
Company E was mounted on the twenty-ninth of April and was ordered, under the command of Col. Brown, to report to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, some sixty miles to the west southwest. They arrived at Grand Gulf on the first of May and reported to Gen. John W. Bowen. The company was immediately detailed as couriers and guards for Federal prisoners. They were actively engaged in the retreat from Grand Gulf to the Big Black River Bridge, having lost one man as a prisoner during the retreat. On the fifth of May the company was ordered to the extreme front to picket and to scout at and around Hawkins Ferry in Warren County, Mississippi. Then when the Army fell back from Edwards Depot and the Big Black River Bridge, the company went into Vicksburg on the nineteenth.
On April thirtieth Company F was mounted and received marching orders to report to Grand Gulf. They began their march on May first and arrived there on May second. They left Grand Gulf that night and retreated north with the Army, crossing the Big Black at Hankinson's Ferry. Then they marched to Bovina. On the fifth they were ordered to report to Gen.Carter L. Stevenson and were ordered by the general to do picket duty at Baldwin's Ferry and Hall's Ferry on the Big Black. They remained there for two weeks, and moved into Vicksburg with the regiment on the nineteenth.
On the second of May Company A was mounted and proceeded west to Edwards Depot where it was engaged in picketing and scouting duties. They were engaged in a skirmish on the fifth, another skirmish at Fourteen-Mile Creek on the twelfth, and at the Battle of Champion's Hill (Baker's Creek) on the sixteenth. At Baker's Creek Capt. Henry Cantey was killed. On the seventeenth they crossed the Big Black Bridge and picketed Baldwin's and Hall's Ferry Road until twelve o'clock on the nineteenth. Then they were ordered into Vicksburg with the regiment.
Company K was also mounted on the second of May and ordered to Edwards Depot, some thirty miles away. After they arrived that evening they were ordered to join Company A in picketing and scouting the roads leading to the south and to the west. About the eighth of May a detachment of twenty men from companies A and K were sent out under the command of Lt. Hale of Company A. By an unforseen move of the Federals five of the men from Company K were captured.
On May fourteenth the company was actively engaged, along with five other companies, in a hot skirmish at Dillon's bridge. Company K sustained no losses. That morning they reported to Gen. Gregg and retreated from Raymond. On the fifteenth the company was involved in quite a skirmish at Chapel Hill Church in Hinds County. On the morning of the sixteenth they joined several other companies of the regiment at the Battle of Champion Hill. Company K began skirmishing early in the morning on the upper Raymond Road. After an hour's engagement they were ordered to report to Gen. Stevenson. The company was dismounted and ordered to assist in supporting a section of artillery who contested the position for some two and one-half hours. They were compelled to retire before overwhelming numbers, leaving many brave soldiers dead and wounded on the field.
In the engagement at Champion Hill, Maj. Rorer commanded the companies of the Twentieth Mississippi. He was seen continually going up and down the line encouraging and directing the men as though no death messengers were nigh, exhibiting that noble daring and eminent tact which has through the campaigns rendered him so dear to every man in the regiment. After the engagement the companies retired a short distance and took a position which prevented the Federals from capturing our train which was passing down the Vicksburg Road. It was reported that six companies of the Twentieth Mississippi guarded the wagon train on the retreat from Edwards to the Big Black River. They held their position until dark.
At four o'clock on the morning of the seventeenth Company K was ordered to relieve Company B on the lines. A few minutes afterward the Federal pickets began approaching, and the company began to skirmish with them while gradually falling back to the Big Black River Bridge by order of Gen. Vaughn. The company was then sent to picket Baldwin's Ferry Road. On the nineteenth the company was ordered to report to Gen. Stevenson in Vicksburg. They arrived about noon and left about three o'clock that evening in search of Gen. Loring's, supposed to be lost, command.
On the tenth of May Company H was mustered in Jackson. On the sixteenth they left Jackson with the Army of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston where they arrived at Calhoun Station on the seventeenth. They then left Calhoun Station under the command of Brig. Gen. Adams in the direction of Livingston where they camped that night. A few days afterward they left for Yazoo City, crossing the Big Black River at Cox's Ferry, and marching on to Mechanicsburg. They were involved in two skirmishes while at Mechanicsburg and a third skirmish in early June while on scout on Boon Creek Road in the direction of Vicksburg. A short report from Company I stated that they were involved in the same two skirmishes in May, and they reported no loss while in action on the fourth of June.
Company B left no report of its activities of late April and early May.
Capt. Avant of Company E reported that his men swam the Big Black River on the morning of the twentieth, and on the twenty-first came to the Terry Depot on the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad without meeting any of the Federal troops. On the twenty-fourth of May they, along with five other companies of the twentieth, the Eighth Kentucky Regiment, captured the town of Raymond, taking about five hundred prisoners, many arms and much ammunition, and some horses, which were properly returned over to the Quartermaster Department and accounted for. That evening Company E escorted one hundred sixty-eight prisoners into Jackson, and on the twenty-fifth they rejoined the command at Parson Ford's Plantation some three miles from Clinton. They remained there for almost three weeks while they picketed and scouted all the roads in Hinds County leading to and from Big Black River. Then they received orders to report to Vernon to be dismounted. They arrived at Vernon on the evening of June thirteenth, were dismounted the morning of the fourteenth, and marched five miles toward Canton before they stopped and encamped. Then on the twentieth of June they rejoined the brigade.
On the twenty-third of May Company F was ordered to move from Terry Station in the direction of Raymond and Edwards Depot. They remained on duty in that vicinity until they received orders on the thirteenth of June to move to Vernon and be dismounted.
On the twenty-fourth of May Companies C, D, E, and K reported as being part of the force that captured Raymond. Companies A and B were also engaged there. Companies F, G, H, and I reported being involved with activities elsewhere.
Companies C, F, and G all reported receiving orders to report to Vernon, where they were dismounted rejoined their former infantry command and took their place in the First Brigade of the First Division of the Army of Mississippi and East Louisiana
Brig. Gen. John Adams reported from Mechanicsburg that a Federal expedition moved against him on the fourth of June, and they were met with four companies of the Twentieth under Maj. Rorer, who skirmished at Bear Creek bridge at daylight, ambushed them seven times, and greatly delayed their advance. Maj. Rorer's troops also skirmished with the same troops near Bridgeport on the ninth. All of the companies and most of the men were involved in many skirmishes and daring adventures during this period.
The regiment was dismounted on the fourteenth of June by order of Gen. Joseph Eggleston Johnston. After being dismounted the regiment encamped a short time near Beattie's Bluff and then was ensconced in the bush near Vernon. They had resumed their former station in Adams' Brigade of Loring's Division of the troops Lt. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston for the relief of Vicksburg. Upon the surrender of Vicksburg on the fourth of July, Gen. Johnston's Army fell back to Jackson.
On the surrender of Vicksburg on the fourth of July in eighteen sixty-three Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army fell back to Jackson, where the Twentieth Mississippi served in the fortified lines from the ninth to the sixteenth of July.
On the twentieth of June we rejoined our brigade near Vernon. On the thirtieth of June we commenced our advance on Vicksburg, and after marching some nine miles, encamped one mile east of Vernon in Madison County. On the first of July, a Wednesday, the column moved at daylight and after a march of nine miles, bivouacked on Bogue Chitto Creek. On Thursday, the second, we again took up our line of march and after going eight miles, bivouacked at Birdsong Pond and remained there for three days. On Sunday evening, the fifth, we moved camp some three-fourths of a mile that we might be more convenient to water. On Monday morning at two o'clock in the morning the army commenced a retrograde movement. That day we marched thirteen miles and came to a halt for the night within five miles of Clinton.
On Tuesday the seventh at eight o'clock in the morning we took up our line of march for Jackson, where we arrived, after a march of some fifteen miles, and bivouacked within the east limits of the city. On Wednesday we remained in camp resting. There was nothing doing. On Thursday the ninth the Federal's advance guard having made their appearance, we were ordered into the trenches on the right, where we remained.
On the twelfth of July, a Sunday, at three o'clock in the morning this company, with Companies A and K were ordered out as skirmishers and pickets in front of our position. we remained there under constant fire through most of the day and night. We had one man wounded. That Monday at four o'clock in the morning we were relieved by Capt. Graham and Co. F. Thus, we were held in reserve the remainder of that day.
On Tuesday the thirteenth the Federals kept up a constant fire the whole day. That afternoon at three o'clock we were again ordered into the trenches, where we had another man wounded. On Wednesday the fifteenth we skirmished the whole day, and we were occasionally shelled. That day we seemed to be threatened by a general assault. That Thursday, the sixteenth, we were still in the trenches. That day we were again threatened with a general attack, with the enemy's pickets having advanced to within 150 yards of our works. At that point they were dislodged by the Confederate Artillery Battalion, which, with the assistance of our battery, completely routed them.
At ten o'clock that night we silently withdrew and commenced evacuating the place. We marched all night and camped three and one-half miles east of Brandon, Mississippi. On Friday, the seventeenth of July, at three o'clock in the afternoon, having marched a distance of fifteen and one-half miles, we rested.
After the engagement at Jackson Gen. Johnston fell back to Morton, where the army remained with short movements from Morton to Meridian from late July to the end of September, when they returned to Brandon. From there they were ordered to Canton, and on to Grenada, on the fifteenth of October. However, before they reached Canton on the seventeenth, the orders were countermanded and they were ordered to the support of Brig. Gen. William H. Jackson, whose cavalry division was engaged with Federal troops near Livingston and Brownsville.
Gen. Adams' troops left Canton on the eighteenth of October and marched by way of Moore's Ferry and Calhoun Station towards Brownsville, where they joined Gen. Jackson's force and pursued the Federal troops south to Clinton with Gen. Jackson's cavalry troops in the center, Col. John L. Logan's cavalry command on the left flank, and Gen. Adams' Brigade on the right flank. The Federal troops returned to Vicksburg, and Gen. Adams' brigade returned to Canton and went into their winter quarters.
On Saturday morning, the eighteenth of July, we marched east from Brandon some eighteen miles and encamped on Line Creek, where we remained for three days. On Thursday the twenty-first we marched eighteen miles and bivouacked on Strong River, some three miles east of Morton, on the Enterprise Road, and remained there for two days. On the twenty-third we moved four miles further to Spring Camp and remained there for six days. On Wednesday the twenty-ninth we marched ten miles and camped three miles east of Forest. There we remained for nearly two weeks.
On Tuesday, the eleventh of August, we started again on the march and after traveling a distance of ten miles, bivouacked near Lake Station, where we remained overnight. On the twelfth we marched eleven miles and bivouacked for the night. On the thirteenth we moved our camp some three-fourths of a mile nearer Newton Station (and within one and one-half miles of that place) where we remained encamped for some three and one-half weeks.
The regiment moved at daylight on the morning of the seventh of September. We marched some fifteen miles and bivouacked near Chunky Station on the Southern Railroad. We moved again at daylight on the eighth in the direction of Meridian. After marching about seventeen miles we bivouacked for the night within six miles of Meridian. On the morning of the ninth we marched to a camp situated four miles west of Meridian, where we remained until the end of September.
On the first of October we took the cars for Brandon, where we remained for more than two weeks. On the morning of the sixteenth we received orders to march to Canton, and from there we were to proceed to Grenada. We started our march that same morning and marched about ten miles before bivouacking on Tallahatchie Creek. At eleven o'clock that same evening we left our camp and marched on towards Canton. We arrived at Canton about noon on the seventeenth and bivouacked on Bear Creek about one and one-half miles northwest of town. We left Canton on the morning of the eighteenth and marched to Brownsville to join Gen. Jackson's cavalry in an action against the Federals. We followed them south to Clinton, from whence they returned to Vicksburg and we returned to our camp near Canton.
On the twenty-sixth of October we moved our camp about three-fourths of a mile and went to work to erect a house to make ourselves comfortable for the winter, or as long as we remained there. We were now comfortably fixed up for any kind of weather, and we remained encamped near Canton in good, comfortable quarters for the winter.
On the sixteenth of December Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was assigned to command the Army of Tennessee, relieving Gen. Braxton Bragg. Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk assumed command of the Army of Mississippi and East Louisiana on the twenty-third of December in eighteen sixty-three.
On the first of February of eighteen sixty-four Maj. Gen. Loring's headquarters were still at Canton.
On the eighth of February Gen. Loring was stationed at Morton. He put his command in motion at daylight of that day for Brandon. At two o'clock that afternoon he reported his command was skirmishing with the Federals near Morton. Later he reported that he was moving towards Newton by way of Hillsborough. At seven o'clock and again at nine o'clock that evening he reported that he was compelled to fall back to Newton due to the overwhelming force of the Federals moving against him.
A report from Gen. Polk at Hillsborough on the ninth of February stated that his command consisted of Maj. Gen. Loring's Division of approximately six thousand men, Maj. Gen. French's Division of about one thousand two hundred fifty men, and approximately seventeen hundred exchanged prisoners which had not yet been reorganized, giving him a total command of near nine thousand.
Before daylight on the fourteenth of February Gen. Loring's Division left Meridian. Gen. Sherman's Army occupied Meridian later that day. On the seventeenth Gen. Polk reported that his small force was headquartered in Demopolis, Alabama. In the retreat from Meridian to Demopolis Maj. William M. Chatfield was accidentally killed. Gen. Polk remained headquartered in Demopolis until he was ordered by Gen. Johnston to report to Rome, Georgia in early May .
In the organization of February twenty in eighteen sixty-four, Col. William N. Brown commanded the Twentieth Mississippi Volunteer Regiment, which was part of Brig. Gen. John Adams' Brigade in Maj. Gen. William W. Loring's Division of the Army of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
On the twentieth of March in eighteen sixty-four the Twentieth Regiment, along with the Sixth Regiment under the command of Col. Robert Lowry, was engaged in restoring order in Jones County, Mississippi, and along the lower Pearl River. Col. Lowry was ordered to take charge of the expedition against deserters and disloyal men between the Pearl River and the Tombigbee River, south of the Southern Railroad. He was ordered to proceed without delay from Demopolis by cars to Meridian with the command organized for that purpose and execute with vigor the orders received from Richmond and the verbal instructions received from his commanding officer.
In late April they were ordered to rejoin the brigade, as the Army of Mississippi was ordered to go to Georgia to re-enforce the Army of Tennessee.
On the fourth of May Gen. Johnston sent a message to Lt. Gen. Polk, stationed at Demopolis, ordering Maj. Gen. Loring's division to be sent to Rome, Georgia, saying that Loring's assistance may be of vital importance. That same day, Gen. Polk's adjutant sent a message to Gen. Loring, then stationed at Montevallo, Alabama, commanding that Loring's Division move to Rome via Blue Mountain. The orders included a forced march from Blue Mountain to Rome, if necessary, without waiting for wagons or baggage. On the fifth Gen. Johnston's Chief of Staff, hurrying the troops even more, ordered the troops to be sent on from the terminus of the railroad as they arrived, without waiting to assemble the division. On the sixth Gen. Polk telegraphed to Gen. Johnston that Loring's Division was moving up to Blue Mountain that day. More messages were sent on the seventh urging the movement to proceed with all possible dispatch.
On the ninth Gen. Polk reported to Richmond that the head of his column would be in Rome the next day and that he was traveling with Loring's Division. That day cars were sent from Atlanta to Rome to transport the first troops on to Resaca, Georgia. Brig. Gen. John Adams' brigade arrived at Resaca on the afternoon of the eleventh. Maj. Gen. Loring and his staff arrived with Gen. Adams.
Edited by W. T. Dixon, III
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