1861
Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)
The regiment was sent to reinforce the endangered left flank. It arrived at the scene of the fighting around 11, crossing Young’s Branch and forming a defensive line that was supported by two batteries. Under heavy small arms and artillery fire that mortally wounded General Bee, the regiment fell back with heavy losses and reformed behind Jackson’s Brigade. It then joined Jackson in the attack on the Union batteries. Major Whiting gave the 2nd Mississippi credit for the capture of Rickett’s Federal Battery. The regiment lost 25 men killed, and 82 men wounded. Colonel Falkner and Sergeant Major John Blair were wounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Bartley Boone was captured.
1862
Battle of Seven Pines
The regiment was only lightly engaged, but Lieutenant D.H. Miller was killed.
Battle of Mechanicsville
Marched from Ashland and rebuilt the bridge over the Totopotomoy but was ordered to bivouac and never joined the battle.
Cold Harbor (Gaines’ Farm)
Advanced through wood and swamps for an hour with Whiting’s Division, then charged and routed the Federal defenders, the division capturing 14 artillery pieces and the better part of a regiment. The regiment lost 21 men killed and 79 wounded.
Battle of Malvern Hill
The regiment lost 1 man killed and 10 wounded from artillery fire without firing a shot in return.
Second Battle of Manassas
The regiment was on the left of the division line when it was attacked at sunset. The division counterattacked, and Law’s Brigade captured three Federal colors and a piece of artillery. The regiment “became entangled” with the 33rd New York of King’s Division until the 1st Texas moved up in relief.
Second Battle of Manassas (day 2)
Advanced to Groveton, then attacked a Federal battery by Hogan’s House. In the two days of fighting at Manassas the regiment lost 9 men killed, including Captain George Latham and Lieutenant William Ralston, and 69 men wounded.
Battle of South Mountain
Marched from Hagerstown to Turner’s Gap along the National Road, arriving around 3 p.m. Launched a bayonet attack to turn back Federal troops who were forcing the pass.
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)
Attacked at dawn by Hooker’s Federal First Corps, Hood’s Division counterattacked in the cornfield. The regiment drove back the 6th Wisconsin and nearly captured six guns of a Federal battery that had been abandoned by their crews. The 2nd Mississippi lost 27 men killed and 127 wounded. The wounded included Colonel Stone, Lt. Colonel Humphreys and Major Blair. Lieutenant William C. Moody took command as the highest ranking unwounded officer.
From the first of two brigade tablets on the Antietam battlefield:
September 16, 1862.
On the evening of the 16th, Law’s Brigade advanced from the fields in front of the Dunkard Church to a position in the East Woods, on either side of the Smoketown Road, where it supported the skirmishers of Wofford’s Brigade in resisting the advance of Seymour’s Brigade.
The engagement ceased at dark. At 10 P. M. the Brigade was relieved by Trimble’s Brigade of Ewell’s Division, and withdrawn to the woods west of the Dunkard Church.
From the second brigade tablet:
September 17, 1862
Law’s Brigade advanced from the woods at the Dunkard Church at 7 A.M. and relieved Trimble’s Brigade across the Smoketown Road south of this point. Gradually gaining ground to the left, its center on the open ground and its right in the East Woods, it assisted in repulsing the advance of Ricketts’ Division, First Corps. Supported on the right by the 21st Georgia of Trimble’s Brigade and the 5th Texas of Wofford’s Brigade, it advanced to the northeast corner of Miller’s Cornfield and the woods adjacent, from which it was dislodged by the advance of the Twelfth Corps. It withdrew to the fields south of the Dunkard Church and was not again engaged.
1863
Battle of Gettysburg (day 1)
The regiment was commanded by Colonel John M. Stone and was in the second brigade in the line of march to move toward Gettysburg. They ran into Federal cavalry northwest of town and deployed into line of battle, slowly pushing forward until encountering Union infantry. Colonel Stone was wounded crossing a fence along the Chambersburg Pike and Lieutenant A.K. Roberts was killed trying to capture the flag of the 56th Pennsylvania. A Federal gun and limber was captured on the Chambersburg Pike. Every field officer but two became a casualty and Major Blair took command.
The regiment again moved forward in a flank attack, part of it advancing through the Railroad Cut that paralleled the Chambersburg Turnpike. But Federal troops charged the Cut and enfiladed the regiment. There was a vicious fight for the regiment’s colors. All of the color guard were killed or wounded, the colors themselves pierced a dozen times and the flagstaff hit and splintered. The flag was finally taken from Color Corporal William Murphy, who was in the process of ripping the flag from the shattered staff.
The fighting briefly ended as Major Blair handed his sword to Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin and surrendered 7 officers and 225 men of the 2nd Mississippi.
Later in the day a detachment of the regiment under Lieutenant A.K. Roberts captured the colors of the 149th Pennsylvania south of the Chambersburg Pike. Roberts was killed. Private Henry McPherson, who had taken the Federal colors back to the safety of the Confederate lines amid heavy Federal fire, turned down the offer of a promotion to take the place of Lieutenant Roberts, choosing instead a furlough.
Battle of Gettysburg (day 2)
The badly battered and reduced regiment spent the day in reserve, collecting discarded weapons from the battlefield. Men of the 2nd who had been detached as wagon guards arrived at the end of the day, boosting the depleted numbers.
Battle of Gettysburg (day 3)
Sixty survivors of the regiment took part in Pickett’s Charge, led by Lt. Colonel Humphreys. Only one man made it back from the charge unwounded.
The official casualties for the regiment at Gettysburg list 56 men killed and 176 wounded, No mention is made of the large number of men captured at the Railroad Cut on July 1. Colonel Stone was wounded but would resume command of the regiment. Lt. Colonel Humphreys was killed, and Major Blair was captured. Captain John Buchanan was wounded and captured and Lieutenant Moody, who had commanded the regiment at Sharpsburg when all higher ranking officers had become casualties, was wounded in the leg and captured on July 3.
Major Blair, still a prisoner, was promoted to lieutenant colonel effective July 3 and Captain Buchanan of Company B, also still a prisoner, to major
Williamsport
Reached the Potomac to find that high water made the fords unusable. A defensive line was set up incorporating the wagoners, the sick and lightly wounded, which held off the probing Union cavalry. Three men were wounded, one mortally, and two captured.
Falling Waters
Heth’s Division served as rear guard at the Potomac ford, with the 2nd Mississippi anchoring the right flank of the line. Federal cavalry attacked the rear guard as the last Confederates were crossing the river to safety. The regiment lost two men killed, six men wounded, two of whom were captured, and twelve unwounded men were captured. The 2nd Mississippi thus took part in the opening and closing fights of the Gettysburg campaign, losing 85 to 90 percent of its strength.
Bristoe Station
The regiment lost 8 men killed, 38 wounded and 2 missing.
Mine Run Campaign
1864
The Overland Campaign
In the month of fighting between the Wilderness and Cold Harbor the 2nd Mississippi would lose 24 men killed and 107 wounded.
Battle of the Wilderness (First Day)
Moved up the Orange Plank Road to meet Federal forces moving through the wilderness. The regiment was on the left of Heth’s Division, north of the Plank Road, and held off a series of attacks by Hanco*ck’s Federal Second Corps. The brigade was relieved at dusk by Thomas’ Brigade of Wilcox’s Division and moved south of the Plank Road.
Battle of the Wilderness (Second Day)
The Federal pre-dawn attack broke the Confederate line and swept away most of the rest of Heth’s Division, but the 2nd, 11th, 29th and 42nd Mississippi held the line for two hours until Longstreet’s reinforcements reached the battlefield and launched a counterattack. The brigade reformed and attacked when Longstreet was wounded and his attack stalled. It pushed back Federals threatening an Alabama brigade, then built and defended a log barricade until withdrawn to Lee’s defensive line.
Battle of Talley’s Mill (Beaver Dam Station)
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The regiment was positioned on the east side of the Confederate lines, successfully fighting off attacks by Burnside’s Ninth Corps.
North Anna
Repelled a Federal demonstration at Jericho Ford
Battle of Cold Harbor
Stationed on the far left of the Confederate line near Bethesda Church.
April 1865
Siege of Petersburg
Weldon Railroad (Ream’s Station)
Marched three miles in intense heat to counterattack Federal forces that had seized the vital railroad line. The brigade formed on the west side of the railroad and attacked southward, driving two lines of Federals until reaching the main enemy line which badly outnumbered the Confederates and was reinforced with artillery. The Confederates broke off the attack and dug in. Major Buchanan was wounded in the hand.
Weldon Railroad (Globe Tavern)
Davis’ Brigade attacked what was thought to be weakened Federal defenses but were thrown back, leaving the Federals in possession of the Weldon Railroad. The regiment lost 5 men killed and 31 wounded in the two day battle. Lieutenant Colonel Blair, Major J.H. Buchanan and Lieutenant Story were wounded.
Squirrel Level Road (Jones’ Farm)
In a raging downpour Heth launched a number of uncoordinated attacks against what he mistakenly thought was a hanging Federal flank. The attacks were beaten back by the well entrenched Federals, and the regiment lost 3 men killed, 25 wounded and 2 missing.
Hatcher’s Run (Burgess’ Mill)
The regiment helped turn back a flanking attack that attempted to seize Boydton Plank Road, losing 2 men killed.
1865
Hatcher’s Run
Lieutenant Colonel Blair was captured. Captain William P. Harvey of Company K was the last remaining captain in the regiment and took command.
Fort Stedman
Supported Gordon’s attack on the fort with a demonstration at Hawks’ Farm
Hatcher’s Run
The Confederate defensive line collapsed after the defeat at Five Forks. The 2nd Mississippi was positioned near Burgess’ Mill near Hatcher’s Run. The regiment was trapped between the Union breakthrough and the Run, which was swollen by heavy rains and impassible. Most of the regiment was taken prisoner on the bank of Hatcher’s Run, although a few men attempted the swim. Before the 97 (or 99) survivors of the regiment surrendered, Private Nathaniel M. Bynum (one of five Bynum brothers in Company A) tore the colors from their staff and hid them under his coat.
Appomattox Court House
Surgeon James Holt, Quartermaster Sergeant J.M. Cayce and 18 enlisted men surrendered with Lee, probably all men who had been on detached duties from the regiment at the time of its capture.
