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Dated:  June 16, 2012

Sketch of the
BLACK HAWK RIFLES
22ND MISSISSIPPI, COMPANY G
by Colonel H. J. Reid

(Obtained from Greenwood Leflore Public Library)
{transcribed by Steve Cole - related to Pvt. Robert E. Cole}
{See Roster of Company G (below) for a tabulated list of names included in Col. Reid's report.}

  This report was written by the commander of Company G, Captain H. J. Reid, who was later promoted to Colonel.  I'm assuming it was written after the war from his personal records or from official records of this unit.  The purpose of this report is to give an accounting of each soldier that enlisted, transferred, deserted, or died under his command.  It was probably used by veterans to apply for their pensions.  In Captain Reid's words,
          "I have tried to give a plain statement of facts from the data I
            had in possession....and to account for every one who ever
            belonged to the Black Hawk Rifles."  

For a complete history of the 22nd Mississippi Regiment from Dunbar Rowlan's history, go to  Twenty Second Mississippi




~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"SKETCH OF THE BLACK HAWK RIFLES"
by Colonel H. J. Reid

    In December 1860, after the election of Mr. Lincoln was an assured fact, Mississippi, closely following South Carolina, held an election for delegates to a State convention, which convened in Jackson in January 1861, passed the ordinance of secession, thereby resuming here{sic} State sovereignty. Volunteers were called for and organized into the "Mississippi Army." These troops were transferred to the service of the Confederate States after its formation. When the United States authorities attempted to provision Fort Sumpter in Charleston harbor in April 1861 the effort was resisted by the Confederates, and led to the capture of the fort by Gen. Beauregard. Mr. Lincoln issued a proclamation April 17th calling for 75,000 volunteers "to put down the rebellion," then the martial spirit of Mississippi reached its zenith and military companies were rapidly formed and services tendered to the State. The first regiments organized including the (18th) Eighteenth volunteered for twelve months, but as longer service was deemed necessary regiments were enlisted for three years or the war and from and including the 19th--(Mott's) the term was for that time.

    The "Black Hawk Rifles" was organized at Black Hawk, Carroll Co., Miss., the 28th of April 1861. H. J. Reid was elected Captain, G. W. Standley, 1st Lieutenant; J. D. Usher, Sr., and J. R. Ware, Jr., Second Lieutenants; W. J. Bell, Orderly Sergeant.

    The company was mustered into the service of the State of Mississippi the 30th of same month with thirteen commissioned officers and fifty one privates, total 64--but so many changes occurred in the original company--many leaving it in their great eagerness to get into active service "before the war ended," joining companies that were getting into Confederate service, that it is unnecessary to give a roster until it was mustered into Confederate service. At that time arms for companies could not be obtained while in State service, as evidenced by the following reply to the captain's application.


Headquarters Army Mississippi
Jackson, June 26th, 1861
CAPTAIN H. J. REID,

Mississippi Army.

Dear Sir: --I am sorry to inform you that it is utterly impossible to give you any arms whatever until your company is ordered into the field. The flint lock muskets we are having altered to percussion which we are sending as fast as altered to Corinth to our troops now camped there.
Yours truly.
S. G. FRENCH, Lieut-Col., and Chief of Ordnance.

    The company drilled steadily for three months using shot-guns in the manual of arms. The captain and junior second lieutenant had been in the service during the war with Mexico, and the other lieutenants had been students at the Kentucky Military Institute. Recruits came into the company and took the places of those who had left it. The company desirous of getting into the service in a regiment that Col. Dan R. Russell was raising, determined to start on the 30th July to join it at Iuka, and soon as it was known that the company would leave Black Hawk that day a number of recruits came from Holmes county and joined and a number of the Carroll county boys joined at Vaiden as it was going to Iuka. Arriving the evening of 31st July it was soon learned that Col. Russell had completed the organization of his regiment the previous day. Two other companies, one from Amite county and one from Lafayette, came a few days after to join Col. Russell's regiment. So Capt. Reid and Capt. Nix of the Amite Company secured camp equipage, arranged for commissionary supplies, went to Richmond and obtained from the war department an order to have their companies mustered into Confederate service independent companies, and the Black Hawk Rifles was mustered in on the 6th day of September 1861, "For the war," with Seventy-eight officers and men:

ROLL OF BLACK HAWK RIFLES INTO CONFEDERATE SERVICE
 
SEPT. 6TH 1861. 

H. J. Reid, Captain
G. W. Standley, 1st Lieutenant
J. D. Usher, 2nd Lieutenant
J. R. Ware, 2nd Junior Lieutenant
W. J. Bell, Orderly Sergeant
N. W. Truitt, Sergeant

     
W. J. Ware, Sergeant {4}
R. L. Harris, Sergeant
I. R. Heggie, Corporal
E. F. Moore, Corporal
D. Lagrone, Corporal
J. W. Robinson, Corporal
       


     PRIVATES
Ames, John
Baldridge, I B
Ball, W H  {2}
Baldrige, W C
Beard, M M
Beck, J W
Blair, W
Braswell, A
Bryant, A W
Byrd, L S
Cain, M
Canterberry, E
Carpenter, N
Catron, F
Chadwick, J W
Chapman, J
Cheek, J
Chew, T H
Clark, G F
Clement, S
Cole, R E  {1}
Coleman, Jerry
Conger, B N
Craig, C 
Duffy, M A
Duren, A J
Goodman, S
Grubb, J R
Haney, Wm
Harris, H J
Heggie, A L
Hines, E. W
Hirsch, I E
Hobbs, J A
Hobbs, W W
Hooker, H H
Howell, A S
Jordan, J H
Jordan, P L
Jordan, W H 
Lane, W C
Marshal, H J
Marshal, S F
McCool, J H
McCorkle, A J
McGehee, W M
McLeod, R 
Melton, H M
Merriwether, T N
Nevel, W A
Noel, R R
O'Keefe, M
Pate, A S
Phillips, G C
Powers, J H
Powers, J P
Purcell, J S  {3}
Robinson, C H
Rogers, J J
Smith, A G
Spier, W H
Standley, B F
Turner, M
Webster, W M
Wright, D C

    Col. D. W. C. Bonham, commanding at Memphis, order the captain to report at Memphis with his company, where it joined the regiment afterwards numbered and known as the "22nd Mississippi," and at that time commanded by Col. Bonham, it being the fourth regiment organized for three years of the war. The company letter in the regiment was "G" by which it was afterwards known.

    The first accession to the company after entering Confederate service was at Memphis, Sept. 20th, T. L. Bamberg, of Carroll county, was mustered in. At Union City, Tenn., Sept. 27th, C.J. Coleman and Dr. B. F. Kittrell joined. Cal. {Calvin J.} Coleman{see note below} was a member of the company from its organization, but was absent when it was mustered in at Iuka. Dr. G. C. Phillips was detailed to act as assistant surgeon of the regiment, he had been on guard the night before he was detailed and while on post had given up his gun to Col. Bonham, and the boys told him the Colonel thought he would make a better surgeon than soldier. October 14th at Fulton, Ky., J. T. Gardner and L. M. Gardner joined. On 17th M. Cain died, first death in the company, but a few days after J. Cheek died at Union City where he had been left sick. Dr. B. F. Kittrell was detailed into the medical department of the regiment, and M. M. Beard detailed as nurse in hospital. A. L. Heggie was very sick and was discharged from service. Was at Camp Beauregard near Feliciana, Ky., from 1st November to December 25th 1861.  R. E. Cole{1}, J. Chapman, and J. H. McCool died.  Lieut. J. R. Ware tendered his resignation. Dr. G. C. Phillips was appointed assistant surgeon and as Dr. Meares, regimental surgeon, had accepted another position, was acting surgeon and Dr. B. F. Kittrell was detailed as acting assistant surgeon. W. C. Lane was detailed in quarter master department as clerk, and John Ames as wagoner.
{Dunbar Rowland's history of regiment list Colonel  Bonham as one of those who died of pneumonia.}

    At Bowling Green, Ky., from Dec. 29th '61 until Feb'y 12th '62, here A. M. McBride came and was mustered in, had belonged to the company while in State service; he took sick, was, furloughed, and died at home near Vaiden April, '62. Wm. Blair was dropped from the company roll as unfit for a soldier. As the company passed through Nashville on the retreat Feb'y 16th '62 Serg't R. L. Harris was in hospital there too sick to be moved and was captured. Geo. F. Clark had been sent on to Winchester, Tenn., when he died soon after.  He was from Yazoo county. H. H. Hooker was taken sick after leaving Nashville, stopped with some citizen friend, near Lavergne and either died or was killed while returning to his command. He was from Holmes county. Capt. Reid was taken sick at Athens, Ala, and granted sick leave. The casualties of the company in the battle of Shiloh were Felix Catron mortally wounded, died while his father was taking him home; Jerry Coleman wounded in knee, died at home soon after, from it; E. Canterberry severly wounded, and afterward discharged. M. Turner severly wounded, and furloughed, did not return, reported to have joined a North Carolina regiment. The slightly wounded, Lt. G. W. Standley, orderly sergeant, W. J. Bell, L. S. Byrd, P. L. Jordan, R. McLeod, R. R. Noel, J. J. Roger, W. H. Speir. After the battle of Shiloh was at Corinth until May 29th. In April Phil Chew, a boy of fifteen years, and J. W. McCorkle joined the company. Sergeant Harris captured at Nashville, was paroled and soon after exchanged and took his place in the company.

    A number of the company were sick and sent south to hospital, among them, W. C. Baldridge who died at Columbus, Miss., S. Clement died at Aberdeen and C. H. Robinson died at home at Black Hawk. W. H. Jordan, W. H. Ball{2} and M. O. Keife were discharged and also Corporal E. F. Moore. The command to which the company belonged was on rear guard and left the earth work at Corinth about one o'clock the morning of May 30th crossed Tuscumbia river and halted to guard the bridge until Sunday, 1st June, 5 p.m. then made a night march of twenty-six miles, and ten the next day to Town Creek, near Baldwyn. Only two of the company, J. R. Grubb and W. A. Nevel, broke down on this forced march, but they came up Monday evening. Mr. Richard Davis, of Holmes, was along with the company on this march and aided many of the tired boys by carrying their guns and knapsacks on his pony during the night. From Tupelo via Pontotoc and Abbeville to Vicksburg where Breckinridge's Division arrived June 29th. Lt. J. D. Usher was severly wounded, and Sergeant N. W. Truitt slightly while on picket duty south of the city the night of July 7th, '62. S. Goodman, Jesse H. Jordan and P. L. Jordan exchanged into a cavalry company and in lieu company "G" got J. M. G. Howell, G. Simmons and A. Bishop and J. H. Spann was transferred to Co. "G" from the Duck Hill Company in 15th Mississippi.

    At the battle of Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 5th, 1862 G. Simmons was killed. The wounded were Serg't. N. W. Truitt, severly in foot. L. S. Byrd, and M. A. Duffy. Near Jackson, Miss., Sept. 1st, W. H. Jordan and W. H. Ball{2}, who had been discharged from the company, rejoined and R. Matthews and J. D. Smith came to the company from the camp at Brookhaven, Miss. At the battle of Corinth, Miss., in the attack on the outer works of the Federals October 3rd, when the 22nd Mississippi captured the 20-pounder Parrot gun "Lady Richardson," A. S. Howell and J. H. Powers were killed, and A. J. McCorkle, M. S. Street and D. C. Wright wounded. In November at Holly Springs and Abbeville, Miss., Dr. Phillips having been promoted to surgeon of the regiment, Dr. B. F. Kittrell was appointed assistant surgeon, W. C. Lane was acting adjutant under Col. Lester. B. N. Conger was killed in a collision on railroad near Duck Hill as he was returning to his company from a visit home. Capt. Reid was promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy of the regiment Now.{sic- Nov.} 12th. G. W. Standley became captain; J. D. Usher, 1st Lieutenant; and at Grenada, Miss., in December, B. F. Standley was elected lieutenant to fill vacancy caused by Lt Ware's resignation in 1861, and in January '63. D. C. Wright was elected to fill vacancy caused by promotions mentioned--not having been in command of company, do not know the exact time that members joined thereafter--but give a list of all who joined after Sept. 6th, 1861, to end of war.
Barrentine, H. J. {5}
Bishop, A.
Bryan, W. R.
Byrd, I. E.
Carpenter, A
Carpenter, O.
Chew, Phil
Cooley, H. W
Galey, W.
Galey, Jim
Gilbert, John
Hall, W.
Howell, J. M. G.
Jackson, W. A.
James, R. C.
Kittrell, "Buck"
Lane, L. O. 
Marsh, J.
Matthews, R. 
McBride, A. M.
McCorkle, J. W.
McLeod, G. W.
Minyard, A.
Minyard, O.
Nevel, F.
Pate, J. L. C.
Rigdon, J.
Simmons, G.
Smith, G. L.
Smith, J. D.
Spann, J. H.
Speir, S.
Street, M. S.
Ware, E. T.

    Left Grenada for Jackson, Miss, January 31st, 1863, and was in camp there until February 11th, moved to Edwards, and the company with Co. "K" was detached to go with Col. J.A. Orr to Greenwood, but stopped at Snyder's Bluff and returned to regiment February 25th at Edwards, and found that Gen. W. S. Featherston had been assigned to command the brigade. Serg't Truitt, by reason of his wound in the foot, could not march, was detailed into the hospital service. From Edwards went via Vicksburg and Snyders, and up the Sunflower river, to Deer Creek, and fought the gunboats under Commodore Porter nearly a week. From thence up the river Yazoo on steamboat to Fort Pemberton April 1st, 1863. From there April 20th to Grenada thence to Vicksburg, May 2nd, 1863, where we marched and counter marched, to Edwards, down to Lanier's place west of Big Black, until 13th of May--here W.M. Webster exchanged into artillery and the company got E. T. Ware. The company had no casuatlies in the battle of Baker's Creek on May 16th, the first firing of the enemy was on the regiment soon after daylight, and a few in the regiment wounded. Capt. Standley and Serg't Bell left the company in the evening and went with the main army into Vicksburg but got out before it was surrounded, they were courtmartialed the next August at Newton, Miss., but the finding of the court was never promulgated, and they returned to duty in March, 1864 by order of War Department. The company was with Gen. Loring's division and arrived at Crystal Springs, 4 p.m., Sunday, 17th after a long and tiresome all night march Saturday night, and steady tramp Sunday. Some of the boys broke down but all came up in a few days, "Little John" Powers and some others being fatigued stopped to rest, when a negro man with an ox team having a load of meat taking to the yanks came along, the boys captured it, bringing it to the camp at Steel's Creek where we halted on 19th. The boys were highly commended by the General. passed through Jackson, 20th, and in a few days went on to Canton and from there to Benton and back to Canton, camping on Panther Creek until 30th June when a move was made to Birdsong's Pond in Hinds county, staying there until the night of July 5th when information of the surrender of Vicksburg which had reached us in the evening was found to be true.

    In trenches in Jackson near the Moody place from 9th to 17th of July when the army retreated east. A number of the boys left the command after the army got out of Jackson and went home but returned while the army was at Newton in August. While at Newton L't. Usher was ordered to report to Gen. Pillow, and with him went W. C. Lane, and they were assigned the duty of catching deserters, stragglers, and returning them to the army. In September moved to Enterprise* where Co. "G" was detailed to guard the railroad bridge over the Chickasawha river at Shubuta until December when it rejoined the regiment at Goodman. Here H. J. Barrentine{5} was discharged and John Gilbert conscripted and sent to the company from the camp at Lexington was discharged as being unable to perform service as a soldier. Left Goodman the 4th of February 1864 for Canton, crossed Pearl River the night of 5th or morning of 6th at a ferry about ten miles north of Jackson. Here A. Minyard, O. Minyard, A. Carpenter, W. A. Jackson deserted. Arrived at Morton ahead of Sherman's army and was in his front to Meridian, at that place, W. Haney deserted. At Demopolis until 1st of April and moved to Monticello{sic}, Ala., remained there until May 7th going thence by railroad toward Blue Mountain, and May 11th, after several days' very hard marching, after leaving the cars, arrived at Rome, Ga., and went immediately on to Resaca, in the engagement there on 13th W. J. Bell, orderly sergeant, was killed. In the campaign from that place to Atlanta, J. A. Hobbs was killed at New Hope and Corporal David Lagrone and R. McLeod were killed at Atlanta.
{* Enterprise, MS was location of a Texas Hospital established during seige of Vicksburg and later a cemetery.}

    Lt. J. D. Usher and W. C. Lane, who had been on detached duty, returned to duty with the company while it was near Marietta. C. J. Coleman{see notes} was badly wounded, losing one of his eyes in the trenches at Atlanta, W. M. McGee was slightly wounded, quite a number were sick and were sent to hospital among them, I. R. Heggie seriously ill with pneumonia, A. Braswell deserted after a fight he had in the trenches with Tom Merriwether. In the movement in Sherman's rear toward Florence, Ala., several of the boys were taken prisoners, I. E. Byrd, A. Bishop, J. W. Chadwick, C. Craig and L. M. Gardner. I do not know the number of men in the company at the battle of Franklin, but the company was small and the following were killed, Sergeant R. L. Harris, Corporal J. W. Robinson, Owen Carpenter, Wm. Galey, Rob't C. James, Henderson M. Melton, Thos. N. Nevel. Wounded, L. O. Lane. The company and regiment got to the enemy's works but all efforts to hold them were unavailing, and Lt. J. D. Usher was captured there. In the last day's fight at Nashville M. A. Duffey was taken prisoner. He was of northern birth, but had cast his fortune with his southern friends, was a brave and gallant soldier. At Pulaski Thos. L. Bamberg was severly wounded.

    After disastrous Tennessee campaign the company was with the troops collected under Johnston to check Sherman's march toward Virginia, and in the last engagement of the two armies at Bentanville {sic, Bentonville}, N.C., W. Harvey Speir was killed. He was one of the company from its organization in the State service. W. A. Nevel and M. S. Street were wounded,{.} At the surrender 26th of April 1865 at Greensboro, N. C., a company roll was made showing those present for duty, and accounting for all who were not there. I have a copy of that roll, but I know it is not exactly accurate as it does not mention several I know belonged to the company, towit: H. J. Barrentine{5}, H. W. Cooley, M. A. Duffy, John Gilbert, "Buck" Kittrell, and Wm. Blair. I have added those names to it. Some reported wounded but the battle at which it occurred is not named. S. Speir is reported as having died from wound received, but I can not say at what battle he received it, possibly may have been Franklin.

    I gave the roll showing the status of those then living that belonged to the company as made out by the company officers on the 26th of April, '65, and I follow it with the names of those who had been promoted out of the company, resigned, killed, died, discharged, dropped, and were not on the roll as members of the company so as to account for all who ever belonged to Co. "G".

ROLL OF COMPANY "G",  APRIL, 26TH 1865.
GREENSBORO, N. C.
Captain G. W. Standley
Lieut. B. F. Standley
Lieut. D. C. Wright
Sergeant H. J. Marshall
Sergeant W. J. Ware {4}
Sergeant L. S. Byrd
Corporal J. W. Beck 
Corporal A. J. McCorkle
Corporal J. S. Purcell  {3}
Ames, J.
Beard, M. M
Bryant, A. W.(Drummer)
Chew, T. H.
Chew, Phil
Harris, H. J.
Hines, E. W.
Jordan, W. H.
Lane, W. C.
McCorkle, J. W.
Matthews, R.
McLeod, G. W.
Noel, R. R.
Pate, A. S.
Powers, J. P.
Rogers, J. J.
Smith, A. G.
Truitt, N. W.


    The following were reported as captured and in prison--Lt. J. D. Usher, I. B. Baldridge, I. E. Byrd, A. Bishop, J. W. Chadwick, C. Craig, L. M. Gardner, E. T. Ware, and the name of M. A. Duffey though not on the roll ought to be mentioned among the prisoners.

    The following had been wounded and were absent on furlough: Thos. L. Bamberg, W. R. Bryan, C. J. Coleman, J. M. G. Howell, L. O. Lane, S. F. Marshall, W. A. Nevel, J. L. C. Pate, S. Street.

    Absent without leave: N. Carpenter, I. R. Heggie, W. M. McGhee, T. N. Merriwether, G. L. Smith, J. H. Spann, M. Turner.

    At hospital: W. H. Ball {2}, J. Rigdon

    The four following names had written after them words that did not belong to the military vocabulary: A. J. Duren, "hospital rat"; J. T. Gardner, "hospital rat"; W. W. Hobbs, "played out"; J. Marsh, "played out".

    Deserted: A.Braswell, A. Carpenter, W. Haney, W. A. Jackson, A. Minyard, O. Minyard, J. D. Smith.

    J. R. Grubb was with command in North Carolina, though the roll does not say on duty but I think he was present.

    Ike E Hirsch was reported as having died at Columbus, but that was an error for he was alive afterward and in business in Sidon.

    I have tried to give a plain statement of facts from the data I had in possession, i.e. a copy of the roll of Sept. 6th, '61, a company pay roll of 1862, and the copy of the roll made April 26th, 1865, and to account for every one who ever belonged to the Black Hawk Rifles after it became Co. "G" of the 22nd Mississippi. The roll made at Greensboro, N. C. April 26th, left out some names that ought to have been on the roll as I have previously stated, and {had}names of some who belonged to the company while in State service on the roll. Having in my possession the original roll of the company while in State service I have corrected that error, and believe I have given the names of every one who belonged to, and did service in Co. "G".

    The company was mustered in with total 78. During service 34 new names were on roll but of these four were exchanges, leaving recruits, 30; two(2) who were discharged, rejoined, 2. --110.

    Promoted out of company, 3; resigned out of company, 1; killed, 18; died from disease, 10; discharged permanently, 8; dropped by the captains, 3; accounted for by roll 26th of April, '65, 67. --110.

THE END



ERRATA.

Page 1, line 4--"Here" should be "her."
Page 6, line 8--"Monticello" should be "Montevallo."
Page 7, line 5 from bottom--Had, should be before "names."

 

NOTES:
    My ancestor was Richard W. Cole, who lived in Black Hawk, MS, in 1860.  He enlisted in the 5th Mississippi Cavalry and was killed at Battle of Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864.  Every member of Richard Cole's family, except for one, had some connection to Company G, 22nd Mississippi Regiment.  The soldiers who were related to Richard W. Cole and Robert E. Cole are detailed below. 
{1} Robert E. Cole was Richard Cole's eldest son.  He died at Camp Bueregard, KY, and was buried at Black Hawk, MS.
{2} William Hines Ball was married to Richard Cole's daughter, Vina Jane Cole.  They had one child before the war and one in 1864.  His personal records from National Archives list him missing & in hospital on several occasions.  His name also appeared on a roll of a Georgia militia during seige of Atlanta.
{3} James Slicer Purcell married Richard Cole's daughter, Frances Melissa Cole, and later moved to Louisiana.
{4} William J. Ware later married Richard Cole's daughter, Virginia "Jennie" Cole, and later moved to Texas.
{5} Henry Jackson Barrentine's daughter Martha Jane would later marry Richard W. Cole's youngest son, Richard Bascum Cole, who was too young to enlist.  Richard B. Cole would move to Texas and have 12 children and many descendants of the Cole family.

Cpl. Benjamin N. Conger was killed in collosion of two trains at Duck Hill at 2:30am on 19th October, 1862, which killed about 35 soldiers.  Not sure if they are related, but 3rd Lt. W. W. Conger served in Company A of 30th Mississippi, which was also raised in Carroll County like the Black Hawk Rifles.

NARA records state Calvin J. Coleman enlisted on 30 April, 1861 at age 24.  He was wounded in the head--this text says he lost an eye--and sent to hospital on 20 August 1864.  He is not to be confused with another soldier named Jerry or Jeremiah Coleman.


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A Surgeon's Report of the Deaths at Camp Beauregard

   In 1910, Mrs. George Fuller of the Daughters of the Confederacy placed ads in the "Confederate Veteran", the Memphis Commercial Appeal and other newspapers requesting veterans to contact her about their experience at Camp Beauregard, KY.  From this, she published a booklet  entitled "A History of Camp Beauregard" on the history of the camp and the soldiers who died there during the winter of 1861-62.  The funds raised from the sale of the book purchased a monument that was erected in 1920.
   The Tilghman-Beauregard Camp of the SCV re-published Mrs. Fuller's book in the 1970's.  The money from this book was used to make an addition to the monument.
   Among the many letters that were published in this book were some from veterans of the 22nd Mississippi Regiment.  One letter listed the names of the members of Company G who died there.  Included in the name was Private Robert E. Cole.
   The following letter was written by the Surgeon of the 22nd Mississippi Regiment in the 1920s.  It gives a detailed account of the suffering that they experienced.   The letter ends with his remarks that these men should be honored as much as any soldier who died in the field of battle.


August 17, 1914
Mrs. Geo. T. Fuller 

Dear Madam: 
   I am in receipt of your favor of the 7th instant in behalf of the Confederate monument to be erected to the memory of the Confederate dead at Camp Beauregard, Ky.
    I can add but little to the facts contained in your printed circular except to correct a few errors as to my Regiment the 22nd Miss. Inf., which at that time was called Bonham’s Miss. War Regiment. We, the Black Hawk Rifles, had enlisted at Iuka, Miss., for the war, early in September, 1861. We were assigned to Col. Bonham’s War Regiment, then at Memphis, Tenn. Col. Bonham having been commissioned by Pres. Davis to raise a regiment for the war. Our company filled his regiment.
    The field officers were appointed by Pres. Davis; Col., D. W. C. Bonham* , Lieut. Col. Frank Schaller (a Frenchman); Major Chas. G. Nelms; Surgeon Dr. John Meyers; Ass’t Surgeon Dr. G. C. Phillips; Quartermaster Wm. Jane; Adj. Wm. Burke. In a few days we were ordered to Columbus to reinforce Gen. Polk, but without leaving the train we were ordered back to Union City. In a week or ten days we were ordered to Camp Beauregard to protect Gen. Polk’s right. In a few days there were between 6 and 7000 troops assembled there; all new and fresh from home, except the 1st Missouri and 9th and 10th Arkansas, who had seen service before crossing the Miss. River.
    Col. John S. Bowen of the 1st Missouri Regt., a graduate of West Point, was made a Brigadier General and placed in command of the Brigade on Gen. Bowen’s staff and Dr. Phillips became acting surgeon and afterwards full surgeon of the 22nd Miss. Regt. { Phillips became sugeon for the Company}
    The measles had gone through the regiment before it was made up of the companies then composing it, in many cases leaving some broncial or intestional {sic} trouble, rendering them easy marks for pneumonia and typhoid fever. The weather became cold and rainy, then sleet and snow. The drilling and picket duty to most of the men was very hard, and the diet was not what they were accustomed to. It was mostly fresh beef and flour, no vegetables, with plenty of coffee, tea, tobacco and whiskey. Soon typhoid fever and pneumonia broke out among the men. There were 75 cases of typhoid fever and typhoid pneumonia in my hospital tent during one month. I speak only of our own regiment. It was as bad or worse than other regiments. Then the most terrible disease, cerebrospinalmeningitis broke out, killing nearly every case attacked, and frequently in a few hours. In one instance the men in a certain mess had just come in from drilling, and whilst waiting for their dinner to cook, one of them commenced to talk queer, then jerk his head back and fell over in convulsions. One ran to the Surgeon’s quarters and burst in his tent, saying - “Come, Dr., quick, one of our men has that thing.” When we reached the tent another one of the men had been taken in the same way and in three hours both were dead. The drs.{sic} were all at sea. None of us had ever seen a case of this disease. We knew the brain and spinal cord were affected, but who so many similar cases? This was an epidemic and more fatal than yellow fever. We knew that a disease very similar in symptoms to this attacked the new recruits in the French Army during Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, but this did not help us, as no remedy was known for it.
    Col. Bonham* sent for me and asked if nothing could be done to stop this high death rate among his men. It was worse than a battle. The men became depressed and gloomy, each one feared that he would be the next one taken and if so it meant death. Men in apparent perfect health, on going to bed, would be taken in the night, and by the next night might be dead. I advised the Col. to move his camp, if only half a mile, and to have his commissary issue corn meal, bacon, dry salty meat, turnips, potatoes, onions and cow peas as rations to the men, that this was an experiment, but I could advise nothing else. This was done and for the two weeks afterwards that we remained there, (being then ordered to Bowling Green, Ky.) we had no more of this terrible disease and typhoid fever and pneumonia fell very markedly. The troops remaining there continued to suffer.
    These men, who suffered and died at Camp Beauregard, were just as brave and patriotic as their comrades and friends, who fell upon the great battlefields of the War Between the States, and in whose honor and memory beautiful and noble monuments have been erected. They too should be honored in the same way. It was no fault of theirs that they did not live to be killed at Shiloh, Vicksburg or Franklin, where so many of the regiment were killed, and whose resting places are marked by headstones and beautiful monuments - erected by loving descendants and friends in memory of their heroism, courage and glorious death. 

I am Very respectfully yours, 

G. C. Phillips M. D.  
Ex Surgeon  
22nd Miss. Regiment 
Confederate Infantry 
{ * Col Bonham was also one of the casualties of that winter}

Camp Beauregard was abandoned by the Confederates soon afterwards.  All buildings, earthworks, and rail were completely destroyed.  All traces of the camp are now gone---except for the monument erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

Grateful acknowledgement of Chuck & Oleen Pollard of Kentucky for the donation of this book.
   




Roster of the
BLACK HAWK RIFLES
22ND MISSISSIPPI, Company G
by Colonel H. J. Reid

(Obtained from Greenwood Leflore Public Library)
{transcribed by Steve Cole- related to Pvt. Richard E. Cole}
{Data from Sketch of Black Hawk Rifles by Colonel H. J. Reid.}

  
    This roster of Company G was compiled fom "Sketch of Black Hawk Rifles" written by Colonel H. J. Reid.  I extracted each name from text and tabularized them in alphabetical order with officers listed first.  Following each name is information about individual taken from Colonel Reid's history.  The *  denotes individual was Present at final surrender in 1865.   Also, see Officer Roster for headquarters staff and all companies of 22nd Mississippi from Rowland's unit history.

     To quickly search list for a name, use "Find in Page" or "Text Search" pull-down menu of your web program.
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(A little side note:  Don't confuse Colonel H.J. Reid of 22nd Miss with Lieut.-Col. Wiley M. Reed of 5th Miss Cavalry, who is referenced elsewhere on my website.)

OFFICERS & NCO's
Beck, J W Pvt    * Promoted to Corporal
Bell, W J Orderly Sergeant  Courtmartialed Newton, MS Aug, 1863
Killed Resaca, GA May 13, 1864
Bonham, D. W.C. Colonel Died of exposure Kentucky  Dec 1863
Byrd, L S  Pvt    * Promoted to Sergeant
Wounded  Baton Rouge Aug 5, 1862
Harris, R L  Sergeant Sick at Nashville in 1861, 
Captured & paroled. 
Killed Franklin Nov 30,1864
Heggie, I R  Corporal  
Kittrell, B. F."Buck" Dr.  
Lagrone, D  Corporal Killed Atlanta, GA July, 1864
Marshal, H J  Pvt    *
Promoted to Sergeant
McCorkle, A J  Pvt    *
Wounded Corinth Oct 3 1862
Promoted to Corporal
Moore, E F Corporal Discharged
Phillips, G. C. Dr.  Promoted to Regimental Surgeon Nov, 1862
Purcell, J S Pvt      * Promoted to Corporal
Robinson, J W Corporal  Killed Franklin Nov 30, 1864
Truitt, N W Sergeant Wounded Vicksburg July 7, 1862
Wounded in foot Baton Rouge Aug 5, 1862
Reid, H. J.  Captain  *
Lieut.-Colonel
 Promoted into regimental staff Nov. 12, 1862
Standley, G. W 1st Lieutenant    *
Captain
 Promoted Grenada, MS Dec 1862
Courtmartialed Newton, MS Aug, 1863
Standley, B F  Pvt      * Promoted to Lieut.   Grenada, MS Dec 1862
Usher, J D 2nd Lieutenant  Severly wounded Vicksburg July 7, 1862
Captured  Franklin Nov, 30 1864.
Resigned in 1861 and again Jan 1863
Ware, J. R.  Sergeant   *  
Wright, D C Pvt Wounded Corinth Oct 3, 1862  *
Promoted to Lieutenant

   PRIVATES

Ames, John             Pvt    *
Baldridge, I B          Pvt     Captured

Baldrige, W C         Pvt     Died, Illness Columbus, MS 1862
Ball, W H                  Pvt     Ill, Discharged 1861
      "                                    Rejoined Jackson, MS Sept 1, 1862
Bamberg, Thos. L.  Pvt     Wounded severly Pulaski, TN 1864
Barrentine, H. J.      Pvt     Discharged Dec 1863
Beard, M M             Pvt    *
Beck J W                Pvt     <See Officers>
Bishop, A.               Pvt     Captured Florence, AL 1864
Blair, W                   Pvt     Discharged, unfit
Braswell, A             Pvt     Deserted after a fight with Merriwether, Atlanta, 1864
Bryan, W. R.           Pvt     Wounded
Bryant, A W           Drummer  *
Byrd, I. E                Pvt     Captured Florence, AL 1864
Byrd, L S               Pvt     <See Officers>

Cain, M                    Pvt     Died Kentucky Oct 14, 1861
Canterberry, E        Pvt     Wounded, Discharged Shiloh April 6, 1862
Carpenter, A.          Pvt     Deserted Jackson, MS Feb. 6, 1864
Carpenter, N           Pvt     Absent without leave
Carpenter, Owen    Pvt     Killed Franklin Nov 30, 1864
Catron, Felix           Pvt     Died Shiloh April 1862
Chadwick, J W       Pvt     Captured Florence, AL 1864
Chapman, J             Pvt     Died, illness Feliciana, KY Dec, 1861
Cheek, J                  Pvt
Chew, Phil               Pvt     age 15 *
Chew, T H               Pvt    *
Clark, George F      Pvt     Died Winchester, TN Jan/Feb 1862
Clement, S               Pvt         Died of Illness Aberdeen, MS 1862
Cole, Robert E.       Pvt     Died, illness Feliciana, KY Dec 3, 1861
Coleman, C J "Cal"  Pvt     Severly wounded, lost eye Atlanta 1864
Coleman, Jerry        Pvt     Died of wounds Carroll County, MS
Conger, B N             Pvt     Killed on railroad Duck Hill, MS 1862
Cooley, H. W.          Pvt
Craig, C                   Pvt     Captured Florence, AL 1864

Duffy, M A              Pvt     Captured Nashville, TN Dec 1864
    "                                    Northern birth. "brave and gallant"
Duren, A J             Pvt     "hospital rat"
Galey, Jim             Pvt
Galey, Wm            Pvt     Wounded Franklin, TN Nov 30, 1864
Gardner, J. T.        Pvt     "hospital rat"
Gardner, L. M.       Pvt     Captured Florence, AL 1864
Gilbert, John          Pvt     Discharged Lexington, MS Dec, 1863
Goodman, S          Pvt     Transferred to Cavalry
Grubb, J R             Pvt     Transferred to NC unit.

Hall, W                  Pvt
Haney, Wm          Pvt     Deserted Meridian, MS 1864
Harris, H J            Pvt     * Ill & Captured Nashville, TN Jan/Feb 1862
Heggie, A L         Pvt     Discharged, Illness 1861
Heggie, I. R.         Pvt     Seriously ill, pneumonia Atlanta 1864
Hines, E. W          Pvt    *
Hirsch, Ike E         Pvt     Erroneously reported died at Columbus
Hobbs, J A           Pvt     Killed New Hope, GA May, 1864
Hobbs, W W         Pvt     "played out"
Hooker, H H         Pvt     Killed Nashville, TN Feb 1862
Howell, A S           Pvt     Killed Corinth Oct 3, 1862
Howell, J. M. G.     Pvt     Wounded

Jackson, W. A.      Pvt     Deserted Jackson, MS Feb. 6, 1864
James, Rob't C.    Pvt     Killed Franklin, TN Nov 30, 1864
Jordan, Jessia H   Pvt     Exchanged to cavalry
Jordan, P L            Pvt     Exchanged to cavalry
Jordan, W H           Pvt    *  Discharged 1862
    "                           Rejoined Jackson, MS Sept 1, 1862

Keife, M. O.           Pvt Discharged 1862
Kittrell, "Buck"       Pvt

Lane, L. O.           Pvt     Wounded Franklin, TN Nov 30, 1864
Lane, W C            Pvt    * Clerk with Quartermaster

Marsh, J.              Pvt     "played out"
Marshal, H J         Pvt     <See Officers>
Marshal, S F         Pvt     Wounded
Matthews, R.         Pvt     Transferred to company
McBride, A. M.     Pvt
McCool, J H          Pvt     Died, illness Feliciana, KY Dec, 1861
McCorkle, A J       Pvt     <See Officers>
McCorkle, J W      Pvt   *
McGehee, W M     Pvt     Absent without leave
McLeod, G. W.      Pvt    *
McLeod, R             Pvt     Killed Atlanta, GA July 1864
Melton, H M           Pvt
Merriwether, T N   Pvt     Absent without leave
Minyard, A.            Pvt     Deserted Jackson, MS Feb. 6, 1864
Minyard, O.           Pvt     Deserted Jackson, MS Feb. 6, 1864

Nevel, W A           Pvt     Wounded Bentonville, NC April 1865
Nevel, Thomas     Pvt     Killed Franklin Nov 30, 1864
Noel R R               Pvt    *

O'Keefe, M            Pvt

Pate, A S                Pvt  * 
Pate, J. L. C.          Pvt     Wounded
Phillips, G C           Pvt     <See Officers>
Powers, J H           Pvt     Killed Corinth Oct 3, 1862
Powers, J. P.          Pvt   * "Little John"- story at Jackson, 1863
Purcell, J. S.            Pvt     <See Officers>

Ramberg, Thos. L.  Pvt     Severly wounded Pulaski, TN 1864
Rigdon, J.                 Pvt
Robinson, C H         Pvt     Died, illness Black Hawk, MS 1862
Rogers, J J              Pvt   *

Simmons, G.           Pvt     Killed Baton Rouge Aug 5, 1862
Smith, A G              Pvt    *
Smith, J. D.             Pvt     Transferred to company Deserted
Smith, G. L.             Pvt     Absent without leave - AWOL
Spann, J. H.            Pvt     Transferred into company AWOL
Spier, W Harvey     Pvt     Killed Bentonville, NC April 1865
Spier, S                  Pvt     Mortally wounded - possibly ?
Standley, B F         Pvt  *   <See Officers>
Street, M. S.           Pvt     Wounded Bentonville, NC April 1865

Truitt, N. W.            Pvt   *  <See Officers>
Turner, M               Pvt     Wounded (re-enlisted N. Carolina) Shiloh 1862

Ware, E. T.            Pvt         Transfered into company at Edwards, MS May16, 1863
Webster, W M       Pvt         Transferred to artillery at Edwards, MS May 13, 1863
Wright, D C           Pvt   *  <See Officers>

Davis, Richard        Civilian     Assisted with march June 1862





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