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Roster and History
of
Company
C
Based on "Military Annals of Carroll County". "Military Annals of Carroll County" documents the service of the citizens of Carroll County, Mississippi during all the wars prior to World War 1. This small printed booklet may be found at Carroll County or Leflore County Public libraries. This rosters includes the names of residents of Carroll Country whose were listed as members of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry, Confederate States.Click to go to one of the following rosters. Brief History Roster of Co. C Casualties at Battle of Collierville, TN Click for links to other pages: History of 5th Mississippi Cavalry Click for Roster of Company G & K |
The following text are excerpts from the booklet "Military Annals of Carroll County", pages 48-50, that includes additional names not mentioned in the roster of names.
A Brief History of
COMPANY C, 5th MISSISSIPPI CAVALRYThe main part of this company served a year as Captain W. Berry Prince's company, and spent the time in the Delta counties, guarding the citizens of that portion of the State against raids of Yankees made for the purpose of plunder. The company had one severe fight in Coahoma county, near the home of General James L. Alcorn, and a number of the men were wounded and several captured. Messrs. J. F. Bole and Charles Chadwick were so severely wounded that they never recovered from it. Although Mr. Bole lived to a good old age, yet his sufferings were great. The others who were wounded I have forgotten.
After serving their State a year, the company organized for service in the Confederate army. W. H. Curtis was chosen captain, E. Crippan first lieutenant. Lieutenant Crippen was succeeded by C. J. Liddell, James Flowers second lieutenant and J. C. Ferguson third lieutenant, and John B. Garrett first sergeant. In a few months Captain Curtis resigned and Lieutenant Crippen became captain. Col. George organized the regiment at Grenada, and this company became Company C, and very soon this regiment became a part of the army commanded by General Forrest.
North Mississippi, West Tennessee and North Alabama were the principal parts of the field in which he operated with his command. The Federal army in his front lived in constant dread, for well they knew that the mighty wizard would play them a trick when they least expected. On all marches and raids made by General Forrest the boys of Company C were along to yell when necessary and charge upon every line. At Collierville, Fort Pillow, Memphis, Brice's Cross Roads, Harrisburg, New Albany, and in North Alabama, the Fifth could be seen moving in unbroken columns upon the enemy and dealing death to the enemy who dared stand in their front.
At Collierville Colonel J. Z. George, obeying the orders to charge through the town and take certain lines of its entrenchments, found himself opposed by superior numbers, and had advanced so far that he could not retreat. After the capture of Colonel George the regiment had several commanding officers, but none of them served long. Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Barksdale, who properly was the second officer of the Third Mississippi Cavalry, commanded the regiment very gallantly and acceptably until he was killed. Major Peery commanded it awhile later.
The officers of Company C remained with their company closely and were present to lead them whenever the call to arms was sounded. A list of the killed and wounded has not been obtained as yet. Mr. Cole of Black Hawk was killed at Collierville, J. H. Stanford was killed at Harrisburg, and Alex. McCune. When the number and the severity of the battles that the company took part in are considered it is a matter of surprise that so few of the men were killed in battle. Captain Crippen, William Morehead, John Shumake, Mike O'Keefe, P. H. Cain, Geo. W. Purcell, A. L. Heggie, I. A. S. Bryan and A. S. Bryan are among the survivors.NOTES:
A. This list may not be complete. Since the book only provided names of soldiers who resided in Carroll County, other soldiers may have joined this unit and their names are not included.
B. "Mr. Cole of Black Hawk" refers to Private Richard W. Cole. His NARA service records show that he was killed in action at the Battle of Fort Pillow, TN on April 12, 1864 and not at Collierville.
C. The largest battle in Shelby Country, TN, was at Collierville on October 11, 1863. General Chalmer's attack included the 7th TN, 18th MS, 2nd Missouri, 2nd Arkansas, and 3rd MS and attempted to attack the fortification held by 66th Indiana Infantry Regiment. The 5th Mississippi Cavalry was part of Chalmer's command but they stayed at Wyatt to guard the crossing at the Tallahatchie. During the battle a train pulled into town carrying General Sherman and his staff. The Confederate attack managed to capture several wagons filled with supplies but failed to take the fort. Chalmers cavalry division returned to Mississippi. The 5-day raid ended with a skirmish at Wyatt on 13 October, which involved the 5th Mississippi Cavalry. The Battle of Collierville mentioned in this text refers to the battle on November 3, 1863; Chalmer's second attempt to capture the fort & supplies. Colonel J. Z. George was captured as he and the 5th Mississippi Cavalry were leading the attack against the Union defenders entrenched behid the railroad embankment. The casualties recorded in the National Archives from the Novermber 3rd battle are listed below.
D. The original Captain of Company C was W. Berry Prince. Don't confuse him with Major Wm. Perry, who took command of the regiment after Col. Reid was killed at Fort Pillow.
Revised 2019 to correct my error.
E. Private William Alexander McCain (also listed as McCane) of Carroll County enlisted in Company I of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry. He was listed as Absent on February 10, 1864 and later listed as a Deserter. The Union records listed him as a Prisoner held by provost guard in Memphis. He died in a hospital on April 26, 1864.
The 2008 Republican Presidential candidate John McCain also had an ancestor William A. McCain. I thought for sure that the above soldier was his ancestor but after further research and discussion with genealogists, I concluded that John McCain's ancestor did not serve in the 5th Mississippi Cavalry. The confusion was perpetuated by Dr. Henry Gates on his PBS TV program "Finding Your Roots. See link: McCain.
F. Could not verfiy the name Alex McCune in NARA records or other lists. This is not a reference to Alexander McCain, as he served in Company I.