Our Confederate Soldiers
Of
Simpson County Mississippi
Taken at Richmond, Virginia, July 12, 1862, Private F. L. Riley, Company B, Westville Guards, 16th Mississippi Infantry. He is armed with a Model 1822 or 1842 Musket or Rifled Musket. His uniform is typical of Mississippi units of this period, a gray frock coat adorned with one inch dark horizontal bars across his chest and a white star on his head gear. This was taken a couple of weeks after fighting at Malvern Hill, VA. and a month and a half before fighting at the Second Battle of Manassas VA.
WESTVILLE MAP (First Simpson County Seat)
This site maintain by David Upton, Formally of Simpson County, Mississippi
Special Thanks to Bill and Ken Barron for their gracious donation of information of not only their ancestors from Simpson County but a large amount of data used throughout this web site referenced to the James Hays McLendon - Thesis- University of Texas - 1936.
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Military Units of Simpson County 1835-1860.
The military activities during the early part of this period were more or less passive, but there was an unsuspecting and insufficient preparation for the requirements of the coming conflict. The Simpson County Militia, the "26th Regiment of the Mississippi Militia", kept it's organization completed and a few of the election returns for regimental officers are available.
On July 31, 1835, an election was reported for Colonel of the County Militia. Martin Varnell polled 81 votes and 21 were cast for W. H. Hill. In 1839, the 26th Regiment of Mississippi Militia elected John Berry Lieutenant Colonel and Henry M. Hargis Major. The returns were signed by James M. Dampeer, Colonel, 26th Regiment.
On October 6, 1858, the following officers were elected by the Simpson County Militia:
Colonel
M.K. Strickland (146 votes), John Massey (146 votes), R. B. Failes (14 votes)
Lt. Colonel
A. G. Smith (78 votes), (blank) Safford (3 votes)
Major
G. W. Norwood (136 votes)
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In Early 1861 Mississippi ask that her counties provide companies of volunteer soldiers to provide for the defense against the expected invasion of Federal soldiers of the Union States. Mississippi was part of the newly formed Confederate States of America (six states) and was preparing to help defend their independence and her sovereignty.
After President Abraham Lincoln declared war on the rebellious states, asking for 75,000 troops to invade the Confederacy, five more states succeeded. Enlistments of volunteers flooded the enrollment centers. Many had to be turned away.
As the war continued many companies from Mississippi were sent to the East to fight with Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. The call for companies of men continued throughout the war. Many fought not only in Mississippi but in every major area of the war..
This is not the complete listing of all Simpson County men that join the Confederate forces, it is a growing list. Some of these men came from the surrounding counties close to the old County Seat of Westville. Some names are misspelled or listed twice but that was because many men at that time could not write and had to rely upon the mustering officer to spell their names.
***Some names appear in other companies. For example Robert Mangum, Private of Co. B, 16th was discharged Nov. 7, 1862 for being too young (under 18). His name appears again on the rolls of Co. A, 4th Miss. Cav. which was organized in Nov. 1863.
The Confederate Companies of Simpson County
(select a company)
Simpson Greys, Company A, 39th Mississippi Infantry
Westville Guards, Company B, 16th Mississippi Infantry
Pearl River Guards, Company F, 39th Mississippi Infantry
Simpson Fencibles, Company H, 6th Mississippi Infantry
Duncan Rifles, Company A, 3rd Battalion, Hardcastle's 33rd , and 45th Mississippi Infantry.
Minutemen, Company E, 1st Battalion, Mississippi State Troops, Infantry.
Company A, 1st Battalion, Mississippi State Troops, Cavalry.
Home Guard, Barnes' Company, Cavalry.
Confederate Soldiers From Simpson County
Dedicated to those Simpson County men who served in other Confederate units
Terrell Dragoons, Company A, 4th Mississippi Cavalry
30 Day Militia, (1st Mississippi State Battalion, Infantry?)
The above page was compiled from the information found at Simpson County Cemeteries
Simpson County Confederates Buried at Beauvior Confederate Cemetery, Biloxi Mississippi
Bell Issac W., Co. A 4th Mississippi Cavalry
Buckley, Thomas J., Co. C, Wood's Cavalry
Dampeer, S. T., Private Co. A, 39th Mississippi Infantry
Everett, John E., Private Co. H, 6th Mississippi Infantry
Flowers, Willis E., Co. D, 9th Mississippi Cavalry
Harris, Amos R. A., Co. A, 30th Alabama Infantry
Overby R. V.
Prestridge, George W., Co. C, 6th Mississippi Infantry
Stukey, E. D, Co. F, 4th Mississippi Cavalry
Thompson, James T., Co. D, 56th Alabama Infantry
Thurman, Daniel Co. A, 8th MS Regt. d.01-15-1929
Please if there are any questions, corrections, or any additional information that could be added please contact David Upton at dupton@bak.rr.com
Another photograph of an unknown Mississippi soldier wearing the same uniform as Private F. L. Riley. Mississippi uniforms early in the war were not uniform across the state or by regiment. In the first year of the war each company had their own uniform style as each county or company interpreted the state regulations. Multiple photographs of Mississippi soldiers from the same company are rare and this two soldiers as most probably both Westville Guards from Simpson County, Mississippi.