The Civil War in Mississippi
Mississippi 11th Infantry Regiment HISTORICAL NOTES:
This regiment was ordered to Corinth in April, 1861, and the regiment was organized May 4. Being transported to Lynchburg, Va., the regiment was there mustered in the provisional army for one year by Major Clay May 13, and on the 19th they arrived at Harper's Ferry. The Inspector-General reported from Harper's Ferry May 23 that the Mississippians were clamoring for rifles in place of the old muskets they had. The Eleventh, he said, took pride in its appearance and was soldierly. Subsequently Liddell was in command of the regiment and the brigade was commanded by General Whiting. General Lee wrote July 25, 1861, that he regarded the brigade as a Mississippi brigade, commanded by a Mississippian. In June they accompanied Whiting's division in the movement to Staunton to reinforce Jackson in the valley, soon returning with Jackson to Ashland to attack McClellan. In the seven days' battles before Richmond the brigade, under Col. E. M. Law, was in Whiting's division with Hood's Texas brigade. The division marched as the advance of Jackson's army (see Second Regiment) and later in the evening of June 27, in the battle of Gaines' Mill, made the famous charge across the ravine held by the Federal infantry and artillery, sweeping the enemy away and winning the victory. (No regimental reports, see Second Regiment for synopsis of Whiting's report.) "Colonel Liddell led his distinguished regiment to the close of the action," Whiting wrote. The loss of the Eleventh was 18 killed, 142 wounded, 3 missing, the most severe of any in the division except the Fourth Texas. The retreating Federal army was overtaken at White Oak swamp June 30, where the regiment was under fire. At Malvern Hill, July 1, under artillery fire, they lost 1 killed and 20 wounded. | |
|
