Unit
History
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With
the Civil War looming on the horizon, the young men of Lafayette
County, Mississippi, organized a militia company in December
1860. The unit was formed in Oxford, Mississippi, and practiced
military maneuvers and rifle tactics. The company decided to
adopt the nickname, "Lamar Rifles" in honor of L.Q.C.
Lamar, who was a popular local congressman. They also adopted
the motto, "Semper Paratus," or "Always Ready!".
The Lamar Rifles were enlisted into the Mississippi state service
in February 1861 after Mississippi seceded from the Union and
started organizing it's forces. After
war was declared, Governor Petus ordered the Lamar Rifles to
Corinth where the company was mustered
in on April 26, 1861. On May 4, 1861, the Lamar Rifles were
mustered into the 11th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Regiment
and designated Company G.
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Private
William H Delbridge |
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Shorty
after that they were transported to Virgina, where on
May 13, 1861, the regiment was mustered into the Confederate
States army for one year. In April 1862, the regiment
was remustered into the Confederate service for three
years or the war. The regiment was primarily composed
of men living in the northern Mississippi area. Most were
sons of prosperous professional men, planters, and merchants
and many were also students at the University of Mississippi.
The
11th served for the duration of the Civil War and participated
in nearly all of the major campaigns in the East. Battles
include First Manassas, Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Second
Manassas, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Falling Waters, Bristoe
Station, Wilderness, Talley's Mill, Spotsylvania Court
House, Hanover Junction, Bethesda Church, Weldon Railroad,
Davis' Farm, Hawke's Farm, and Hatcher's Run. In all,
the Lamar Rifles participated in 30 battles.
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When
first mustered into service, the Lamar Rifles uniform
consisted of gray frock coats with red trim on the collar
and cuffs, and eight red chest bars with buttons at
each end. They also wore gray trousers with red stripes
down the legs. They wore "Hardee" style black
hats with one side turned up and with a brass infantry
bugle on the front. Most were armed with 69 caliber
smoothbore weapons, such as the 1842 Springfield musket
and 1816 Springfield conversion muskets. Most of the
men were Southern born. 86 were from Mississippi, 13
from North Carolina, 8 from Virginia, 8 from Alabama,
8 from Tennessee, 4 from South Carolina, 4 from Georgia,
1 from Ohio, 1 from Illinois, 2 from Ireland, 1 from
Germany, and 3 were of unknown nativity.
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The
Lamar Rifles in Oxford, Mississippi shortly after forming
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Company
G Statistics
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Total
Soldiers Who Served: 139
University of Mississippi Attendees or Grads: 16
Average Age: 21.2 years
Oldest 42
Youngest: 16
Average Height: 5ft, 8-3/4in
Tallest: 6ft, 2in
Shortest: 5ft
Married:
3
Single: 136
Killed/Died of wounds: 32
Died of disease: 9
Died of unknown causes: 1
Wounded/Wounded and captured: 48
Captured/Surrendered unwounded: 11
Missing in action: 0
Discharged - Disabled/Conscript Act: 25
Transferred: 1
Resigned/Retired: 1
Deserted: 3
Non-casualty/Incomplete record: 8
Casualty Rate: 72.7%
OCCUPATIONS
Total: 139
Student: 47
Planter/Farmer: 51
Clerk: 20
Merchant/Salesman: 5
Professor/Teacher: 3
Mechanic: 3
Lawyer: 3
Medical Student: 2
Deputy Sheriff: 1
Minister: 1
Physician: 1
Telegraph Operator: 1
Tombstone Agent: 1
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Private Walter S Buford
Private Franklin L Hope
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Private
Goodloe W Buford Jr |
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The
regiment earned a hard fighting and dependable reputation,
but they were also somewhat unruly. For these reasons
they were often put in positions of vital military importance.
During the Battle of Gettysburg the 11th filled the
left flank of Pickett's charge and was one of only a
few units to breach the Union lines. The 11th's soldiers
were also reputed to have been excellent marksmen, and
the men of Company G considered among the finest. Because
of this prowess, they were often deployed as skirmishers
for the regiment. Company G was the last company of
the Confederate army to cross back into Virginia after
the Battle of Gettysburg.
July
3, 1863 during the Pickett/Pettigrew charge at Gettysburg,
the 11th Mississippi had 386 men present in the ten
companies and regimental staff. The 11th suffered a
total of 336 casualties during this charge (87% of the
men fell). The 11th Mississippi Regiment sustained the
highest casualty percentage of any regiment at the battle
of Gettysburg, North or South.
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In
the Lamar Rifles, there were 68 men wounded in action, accounting
for 105 total wounds. At their first battle, Seven Pines, 86
men were present for duty. By Gettysburg only 34 men were in
the ranks, and at their last battle, Hawkes Farm, 26 men remained.
Of the men that were in any battle, 20 were never wounded; 30
were wounded more than once; one man was wounded eight times;
and one man made it through twenty-five battles without sustaining
any wounds.
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Companies
in the 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment
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Company
A - The University Grays
Company B - The Coahoma Invincibles
Company C - The Prairie Rifles
Company D - The Neshoba Rifles
Company E - The Prairie Guards
Company F - The Noxubee Rifles
Company G - The Lamar Rifles
Company H - The Chickasaw Guards
Company I - The Van Dorn Reserves
Company K - The Carroll County Rifles
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Soldiers
from Mississippi regiments frequently wore a star on their
uniforms as a symbol of their identity. To these men the
star represented sovereign states rights. As the war progressed,
Mississippians adopted the eagle as their official symbol
and placed this effigy on their belt buckles and cartridge
box plates.
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For
a complete book written on the history of the 11th Mississippi
Regiment, look to: Duty,
Honor, Valor. The Story of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry Regiment
by Steven H. Stubbs.
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