The War for Southern Independence:
30th
Mississippi Infantry
(from Dunbar
Rowland’s "Military History of Mississippi,
1803-1898"; company listing courtesy of H. Grady
Howell’s "For Dixie Land, I’ll Take My Stand’)
Company A -- Neill Guards (raised in Carroll County, MS)
Company B -- True Mississippians (raised in Lafayette
County, MS)
Company C -- Choctaw Planters (raised in Choctaw County,
MS)
Company D -- Dixie Heroes (raised in Attala County, MS)
Company E -- Yazoo Greys (raised in Yazoo County, MS)
Company F -- Capt. Allen’s Company (raised in Sunflower
County, MS)
Company G -- Capt. Young’s Company (raised in Attala
County, MS)
Company H -- Carroll Minute Men (raised in Carroll County,
MS)
Company I -- Buckner Rebels (raised in Carroll, Holmes,
& Yalobusha Counties, MS)
Company K -- Dixie Boys (raised in Carroll County, MS)
Colonels -- G. F. Neill, resigned, May, 1863; Junius
I. Scales, captured at Chickamauga. Lieutenant-Colonels --
Junius Irving Scales, promoted June 18, 1863; Hugh A.
Reynolds, killed at Chickamauga; James M. Johnson, wounded at
Resaca.
Majors -- Hugh A. Reynolds, promoted June 21, 1863; James
M. Johnson, promoted; John K. Alien. Adjutant -- Hobson
Powell, killed in battle. Surgeons -- P. W. Peeples, George R.
Griffith, -- Lauderdale. Chaplain -- W. T. Hall. Quartermaster
-- T. S. Thredgill. Commissaries -- F. F. Gillespie, Charles
Arnold. Sergeant-Major -- H. S. Smith.
Color Bearers -- Samuel Redus, killed at Murfreesboro;
Edward Hope, wounded at Franklin.
Whole number, including field and staff officers, 763.
No official rolls in this department. Above data obtained
from State register of original commissions, Sykes' Brigade
Order Book, and E. A. Smith's "Record of Walthall’s
Brigade."
This regiment was raised by G. F. Neill, of Carrollton,
under authority from President Davis, for service during the
war; organized at Grenada and field officers elected April
12-14, 1862. The companies were all organized early in the
year in the period when the twelve-month regiments were
reorganizing, and doubtless included a considerable number of
men who had experience. The regiment was particularly noted
during the following three years for "dash, brilliancy,
and courage."
Its service began when General Beauregard, with a great
army at Corinth, was awaiting in his fortifications the slow
advance of the army under General Halleck. May 11, the
Thirtieth was reported, a new regiment, at Corinth. It was
assigned with the Thirty-seventh and Forty-first Mississippi,
to the brigade of Gen. Patton Anderson. Corinth was evacuated
May 29 and the army fell back to the vicinity of Tupelo.
General Bragg took command and in July transferred the main
part of the army to Chattanooga, whence they marched across
Waldron Ridge and into Kentucky in September. The Thirtieth
was then in Anderson's Division, Hardee’s Corps, which was
distinguished in the battle of Perryville, October 8. Anderson
had four brigades, under Thomas M. Jones, John C. Brown, D. W.
Adams and Samuel Powell, but the organization is not given in
the official reports, until November, when the army had
retreated through Cumberland Gap to Chattanooga. The Thirtieth
was then in Jones' Brigade. Early in December Anderson's
Division was broken up and the Thirtieth transferred to Polk's
Corps for assignment to a new brigade under Col. E. C.
Walthall, who was soon promoted as Brigadier-General. The
brigade, then including the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-seventh,
Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth Mississippi and Forty-fifth Alabama,
was commanded at Murfreesboro by Gen. Patton Anderson.
Lieutenant-Colonel Scales commanded the regiment. The brigade
was formed in line of battle, mainly in a dense cedar forest,
December 28, 1862. On the right extending to Stones River, was
Chalmers' Brigade, and on the left the other brigades of
Withers' Division, Manigault's and Deas'. In the Federal line,
posted along the edge of a dense cedar brake, was Negley's
Division of Thomas' Corps. Withers' Division, according to the
plan of battle, was the last to attack. Deas was driven back
in confusion, and Manigault, after two repulses, was put out
of the battle for the day. "Anderson's left, being now
moved forward immediately after the right of Manigault, was
quickly engaged with the strong force in front. No brigade
occupied a more critical position, nor were the movements of
any invested with more important consequences. Opposite there
were three batteries strongly supported by infantry. The
capture of the batteries and rout of the supports was a
necessity. Anderson was, therefore, directed to take the
batteries at every cost. Stewart's Brigade had been moved up
into the woods within close supporting distance. In rapid
succession Anderson threw forward his regiments from left to
right, and terrific was the fire to which they were subjected.
Time and again checked, and almost recoiling before the
tremendous fire, the regiments were as often rallied by their
gallant and determined officers." (Withers.) The
Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth were forced back in confusion upon
his line, Stewart reported. Stewart was then ordered forward.
"Anderson's right," Withers continues, "quickly
rallying and pressing forward vigorously, attacked and drove
back the enemy. This completed the rout of his first line and
the capture of the batteries." Our loss, however, was
very heavy, the Thirtieth Mississippi alone having, within the
limits of an acre, 62 officers and men killed and 139
wounded." General Anderson said: "The
Twenty-seventh, Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Mississippi, all
participating, but the Thirtieth suffering more severely than
the others, captured a battery of from four to six guns, near
a log cabin in the edge of the cedars, on the right of the
Wilkinson pike, and not far from a well used by the
enemy." (See Twenty-ninth Regiment). January 2 the
brigade crossed the river to support Breckenridge, and, said
Bragg, "this noble brigade drove the enemy back and saved
all the guns not captured before its arrival." The
casualties of the regiment, in the four days' battle, were 63
killed, including Lieuts. T. W. Boone, G. W. Hope, W. J.
McGuire, J. C. McIntyre, D. R. Patton and E. R. Ridus, and 146
wounded.
Surgeon George R. Griffith was left in charge of the
seriously wounded when the army retreated. Griffith reported,
in February, sixty-eight of the Thirtieth in his care, and
seventy of the other four regiments of the brigade. Bragg
retired to the line of Duck Creek, and the brigade was in camp
near Shelbyville and Lewisburg until the retreat to
Chattanooga. Before the army retreated into North Georgia,
Walthall’s Brigade was sent to Atlanta, July 25, and the
Thirtieth was stationed at the railroad bridge over the
Chattahoochee River.
In the Chickamauga campaign Walthall's Brigade and Govan's
Arkansas Brigade constituted Liddell's Division of W. H. T.
Walker's Corps. On September 18 Walthall attempted to force a
crossing at Alexander's bridge over the Chickamauga but
finding the bridge destroyed, crossed at Byram's ford and
marched up toward Lee & Gordon's mill Next day they
countermarched down the creek, and went into battle in the
woods after Ector's and Wilson's Brigades had been defeated.
By a gallant charge at an opportune moment in the general
confusion they ran over King's Brigade of United States
regulars and captured nearly one entire battalion, as well as
detachments of other troops and Battery H of the Fifth United
States Artillery. Lieut.-Col. H. A. Reynolds, of the
Thirtieth, field officer of the day, succeeded in removing one
of the guns, but the others were left when the brigade was, in
its turn, driven back. The regiment was again in line of
battle in the evening, when Capt. Samuel Young, Company G, was
killed. Next day they marched four miles up and down the line
under orders before going into the fight on the Chattanooga
road north of General Thomas' main position. Here they were
fiercely assailed, particularly by batteries of artillery from
front, left and right, and were forced back with heavy loss.
Colonel Scales, Captain Gibbs and about twenty men were
captured, and Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds temporarily in
command of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, was mortally wounded.
"No braver man or better soldier fell upon the field of
Chickamauga than this faithful and accomplished officer, whose
loss is deeply deplored throughout this command," wrote
General Walthall. "In his death the service sustains a
heavy loss. Major Johnson, of the Thirtieth, was wounded about
the same time, but his wound being slight he did not quit the
field." The total casualties of the regiment in the
three-day battle were 5 killed, 76 wounded and 38 missing.
Among the prisoners reported by the Union commander were
Gen. Dan W. Adams and Col.. J. I. Scales, Thirtieth
Mississippi. Among the 2,005 Confederate prisoners there were,
according to Federal reports, representatives of thirteen
Mississippi regiments.
Major James M. Johnson commanded the regiment in the battle
of Lookout Mountain November 24, 1863. Under orders from
General Walthall to support the picket line, they were under
arms an hour before day. The firing on the picket line became
general about nine in the morning, and Companies I and C,
under Lieut. W. T. Loggins, of C, were sent forward, soon
after which, as the picket line on the left gave way, the
whole remainder of the regiment deployed as skirmishers to
support it. But, though they checked the Federal advance at
first, the weakness of their line was soon seen and they were
brushed to the rear, though many officers and men clung to
their posts in the rocks until surrounded and captured. The
command could not be rallied until after it was driven past
the Craven house, after a fight of about three hours. Later
the remnant of the regiment advanced to the line below the
cliff in support of Pettus' Brigade, and aided in holding the
enemy in check until after dark, when the brigade was moved to
McFarland's Spring. Next day they marched three or four miles
to the right of the line on Missionary Ridge, where they were
not directly attacked, but late in the evening, under the
command of Colonel Brantley, behaved with coolness in
resisting the Federal advance after the line had been broken
to their left. The casualties on Lookout Mountain were 7
wounded and 13 officers and 129 men missing, many of the
latter undoubtedly killed and wounded.
In January, 1864, Lieut.-Col. James M. Johnson was in
command of the Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Twenty-fourth
Regiments, in winter quarters near Dalton.
In the Atlanta campaign Walthall's Brigade was in Hindman's
Division, commanded by Gens. John C. Brown and Patton
Anderson, Hood's Corps, commanded after July 27 by Lieut.-Gen.
Stephen D. Lee. After Walthall was promoted to command of a
division of Stewart's Corps, Colonel Benton commanded the
brigade until he died, after which Colonel Brantley was the
Brigadier-General. The Thirtieth was consolidated with the
Twenty-ninth throughout the campaign. Colonel Brantley
commanded them when they left camp at Dalton May 7 to go into
line at Alt's Gap, and at the battle of Resaca, May 14-15,
when the two regiments, except three companies in the
trenches, were placed behind the battalion of artillery on the
hill which they defended. Here they were exposed to the fire
of twenty-four Federal cannon. In front the Federals assaulted
with great determination. Three times Brantley was required to
sally out and drive them from a lodgment obtained near the
Confederate batteries. The battle raged through the 15th,
when, Brantley said, "the artillery firing was the
heaviest I have known during the war." Lieut.-Col. J. M.
Johnson was wounded on the first day, Major J. K. Allen on the
second. Adjutant Powell was specially commended for gallantry.
The casualties of the Thirtieth were 10 killed and 29 wounded.
At Cassville, May 19, the regiment was under fire of artillery
and had 1 killed and 1 wounded. They were not seriously
engaged, though skirmishing was constant and heavy during the
operations of the New Hope Church and Kenesaw lines. July 28,
on the Lickskillet road, the regiment joined in the attack on
the Federal lines, losing (with the Twenty-ninth) 6 killed, 19
wounded, 6 missing. The total effective of the two regiments
was 277. Lieut.-Col. James B. Morgan (Twenty-ninth) was in
command at the close of the campaign. The last battle was at
Jonesboro, August 31, when the brigade lost heavily in an
attack upon the Federal line. Sergeant-Major H. L. Smith,
Lieutenant McMath, Lieutenant Hawkins, were among the severely
wounded. Lieut. Simmons was killed; in all 39 killed and
wounded.
Brantley's Brigade shared the operations of Lee's Corps
during the October, 1864, campaign against the Chattanooga and
Atlanta Railroad, the investment of Resaca and the holding of
Snake Creek Gap against Sherman's army while Hood retreated
behind the mountains. Brantley's men were engaged in sharp
skirmishing at the gap October 15. Thence they moved to
Gadsden, Ala., and crossed the Tennessee River on the last
days of October. The division was then commanded by Gen.
Edward Johnson. They encountered Schofield's troops at
Columbia, and on the 29th were taken by General Hood to aid in
the intended rear attack at Spring Hill. Schofield fell back
to Franklin, on the Harpeth River, and Hood ordered an assault
on the works. November 30 Brantly's Brigade suffered more than
any other in the terrible night battle along the Federal
parapets, losing 76 killed, 140 wounded, 21 missing. As
Brantley's Brigade approached the works in the darkness the
men were met with a deadly volley that seemed to sweep away
half their numbers, but they responded gallantly to the order
to charge, and entered the ditch just outside the parapet,
which for hours they struggled to gain. Union and Confederate
troops, Mississippians, Ohioans, Illinoisans, Indianians,
fought hand to hand in the dark for possession of the parapets
and their flags. Part of a Michigan regiment came out to the
ditch and opened a deadly fire along its length. Lieut.-Col.
J. M. Johnson, commanding the regiment, was wounded and Major
J. K. Allen was missing. Company E was almost entirely
destroyed (see Twenty-ninth Regiment sketch). The Federal
troops were concentrated at Nashville, under General Thomas,
and Brantley's Brigade was encamped in Hood's line about that
city, December 2-15. December 15 Thomas attacked and
Brantley's Brigade was sent to the support of Stewart's Corps,
which gave way. Next day, the 16th, they were moved to the
right of Lee's Corps and repulsed the Federal attack. But the
left gave way, General Johnson was among the captured, and
Lee's Corps yielded to the common fate. The army crossed the
Tennessee December 26 and moved to Tupelo, Miss., for winter
quarters.
The brigade was furloughed until February 12, 1865. Under
orders for the Carolinas 152 of the brigade assembled at
Meridian February 14. They started east on the 18th and were
detained some time at Montgomery by the Mobile campaign. In
March they proceeded to Augusta and thence to North Carolina.
April 3 the aggregate present of the brigade was 283.
Organization of the army near Smithfield, N. C., March 31,
1865, Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Regiments consolidated under
the command of Capt. R. W. Williamson.
April 9 Brantley's Brigade was consolidated in the
Twenty-fourth Regiment, Col. R. W. Williamson commanding. This
regiment, with the Twenty-second Alabama, consolidated from
Deas' Brigade, and the Thirty-seventh Alabama and Fifty-eighth
North Carolina, representing consolidated fragments of other
brigades, constituted the brigade of
Gen. W. F. Brantly, in D. H. Hill's Division of S. D. Lee's
Corps. The army was surrendered April 26, 1865, and paroled at
Greensboro.
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