Chapter 1

To Virginia and First Manassas

            On May 3, 1861, the 2^nd Mississippi was formally organized at Corinth with the election of regimental officers.  As previously observed, the volunteer companies comprising the regiment had previously been assigned to the Second Regiment, Mott’s Brigade, State Army.  William C. Falkner [12] was elected colonel.  Bartley B. Boone and David W. Humphreys were elected lieutenant colonel and major, respectively.

            The new regiment was immediately transported by rail to Virginia and arrived in Lynchburg on May 9^th.  On May 10^th, the 2^nd Mississippi, with 784 officers and men [13] was mustered into Confederate States service for one year.  The arrival of the 11^th Mississippi on May 13^th would begin an association between the two regiments that would last almost continually for the remainder of the war.  The regiment took the train from Lynchburg to Strausburg, marched about 18 miles from Strausburg to Winchester, and once again boarded cars for Harpers Ferry, arriving in camp on May 21^st. [14]

            A May 23, 1861 Inspector General report on the conditions at Harpers Ferry was not very complimentary to the Second in comparison with its “sister” regiment, the Eleventh:

            The two regiments from Mississippi have with them their tents and camp equipage, but are not satisfied with their arms, which are chiefly of the old flint-lock musket altered into percussion. As usual with troops of this description, they all want rifles. They were informed that, for the present, they must rest contented with such arms as it was in the power of the Government to give them. One of these regiments (the Eleventh), under the command of Colonel Moore, is very superior to the other (the Second), under Colonel Falkner. The latter is badly clothed and very careless in its appointments. The officers are entirely without military knowledge of any description, and the men have a slovenly and unsoldier-like appearance. The other regiment seems to take much pride in its appearance, and is endeavoring to improve itself by military exercises...

            Exposure to many cold, rainy nights had caused some severe colds among the men from the extreme South, and there were some cases of the ordinary camp diseases, but nothing very serious. The clothing of the troops is not abundant, and, in the regiment from Mississippi, under Colonel Falkner, almost every necessary is wanting. They seem to have come away from home without making proper preparations in this respect, and, indeed, it would seem that they expected to receive on their arrival in Virginia all the appointments of a soldier. [15]

            Although the 2^nd Mississippi was criticized both for its lack of military bearing and readiness during its early existence in the training camps, once the fighting began, the regiment would gain a reputation as one of the best combat units in what was to become the Army of Northern Virginia. [16]

            General Joseph E. Johnston arrived to take command of the forces gathering at Harpers Ferry on May 23^rd.  The 2^nd and 11^th Mississippi were initially placed in a brigade with the 4^th Alabama, Turney’s 1^st Tennessee [17] and Imboden’s Staunton (Virginia) Artillery Battery, all under the command of Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee.  Because the Harpers Ferry position was exposed to Federal attack, on June 15^th Johnston pulled the army back to Winchester, located about 30 miles to the southwest in the Shenandoah Valley. [18]

            By the end of June Colonel Falkner wrote in his regimental report,

The Regiment is well posted [?] in battalion drill.  It can perform all battalion maneuvers at quick or double quick time!  The measles and mumps have been among my men for two months, but now the Regiment is fast improving and in 10 days will be all right again.  We have 200 convalescent, who will report for duty in a few days.  We are all satisfied and anxious to serve our country to the best advantage.” [19]

            The Federal commander in the east, Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, was under increasing pressure from the Lincoln administration to take the offensive, with short-term enlistments soon expiring for many of his volunteer units.  He therefore marched his green army out of Washington on July 16, 1861.  His objective was General Pierre G. T. Beauregard’s equally inexperienced Army of the Potomac at Manassas.  The Confederates had decided to stand and fight and rely on reinforcements by rail from Johnston’s Army of the Shenandoah to arrive in time to tip the balance in their favor. Portions of Johnston’s army, including the 2^nd Mississippi, left Winchester for Manassas on July 18^th.  The troops marched to Piedmont where they boarded trains for the trip to Manassas on July 20^th, arriving there the same day.  Unfortunately, only part of the brigade could fit into the available railway cars.  Only the 4^th Alabama, 2^nd Mississippi, and two companies (A and F) of the 11^th Mississippi found room. [20]

            Sunday morning, July 21^st found the 2^nd Mississippi, 4^th Alabama, and the two companies from the 11^th Mississippi formed in reserve behind the Confederate line along Bull Run.  The balance of Bee’s Brigade was still in transit to Manassas or stuck at Piedmont.  By coincidence, both Beauregard and McDowell arrived at almost identical battle plans.  Each intended to feint an attack with their left, but strike the main blow with forces massed on the right flank.  Had both been completely successful, the armies may very well have simply pivoted around each other allowing an unobstructed march into the respective enemy’s capital!  As it turned out, the less successful commander in actually implementing his plan would win the battle.  When McDowell’s attack began on the Confederate left, Beauregard thought it was only diversionary and sent only two incomplete brigades, Bee’s and Colonel Francis S. Bartow’s, to that sector.  “Double-timing” almost four miles, Bartow and Bee neared the Stone Bridge when they learned that Brigadier General Nathan “Shanks” Evans was being pressed on the left.  Another two miles at the double-quick brought them up to Evans who was determinedly holding his ground against an overwhelming Federal force at Matthews Hill.  The blow falling on the Confederate left was no feint. [21]

            Bee brought his units into battle array extending Evans’ line comprised of the 4^th South Carolina and Wheat’s 1^st Louisiana Special Battalion (the famed Louisiana Tigers).  The 2^nd Mississippi and the 4^th Alabama came next from left to right and were soon joined by Bartow’s 8^th and 7^th Georgia regiments, respectively, with the 7^th being held somewhat to the rear in reserve. [22]   Colonel Falkner was detached with Companies A, C and K in an attempt to silence or force back an enemy battery.  Therefore, only seven companies of the 2^nd Mississippi were initially put into the battle line. [23]   The line began a general advance, but the Federal weight in numbers eventually became overwhelming.  Forced to withdraw, the regiments of Bee’s Brigade became separated and the 4^th Alabama suffered particularly heavy losses.  Only two companies of the 2^nd Mississippi – B and G – under the command of Captain Hugh R. Miller and a remnant of the 4^th Alabama were still with Bee when the incident arose that gave birth to the legend of how “Stonewall” Jackson got his nickname.  Bee fell mortally wounded while leading these men against the advancing Federal line. [24]

            The remainder of Evans’ and Bee’s brigades drifted to the rear of Jackson’s line, deployed in battle formation on the reverse slope of Henry House Hill.  Here they were met by reinforcements from other parts of the field and coming straight off the cars at Manassas Junction.  Seven companies of the 2^nd Mississippi not with Bee reformed and Colonel Falkner reported to Beauregard for assignment.  These companies were placed in line to the left of an ad hoc battalion assembled by Colonel William “Extra Billy” Smith.  This battalion was made up of the one still organized company of the 4^th South Carolina, the two companies of the 11^th Mississippi, and three companies of his own regiment, the 49^th Virginia.  This command extended Jackson’s line to the left.  Soon the just-arrived 6^th North Carolina State Troops joined on the 2^nd Mississippi’s left, reaching almost to the Sudley Road and forming the extreme left of Beauregard’s new line.  It was approximately 1:00 p.m. when the 2^nd reentered the battle that soon became a confused melee of infantry, cavalry and artillery.  Major Chase Whiting (later promoted to Major General), who assumed command of Bee’s Brigade after he fell, gave credit to the 2^nd Mississippi for the capture of Rickett’s (Battery I, 1^st U. S. Artillery) Federal battery.  He reported,

Deprived of their leader with most of their field officers shot, the Brigade still enticed [entered?] the fight directed by the commanding General in person.  The Second Mississippi in particular, seven companies strong, charged with other troops and captured Rickett’s Battery, all the horses of which they killed with their musketry.  The honor of this brilliant feat of arms they share with a portion of the Eleventh under Lieutenant-Colonel Liddell, the Sixth North Carolina which lost its Colonel, [Charles F.] Fisher, and a portion of Colonel Hampton’s Legion. [25]

            The unit usually given credit for the capture of Rickett’s Battery is the 33^rd Virginia of Jackson’s Brigade, made possible due to the confusion caused by their approach in blue Virginia militia uniforms.

            Colonel J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the 1^st Virginia Cavalry, wrote in his report, “Just after the cavalry charge [against the New York Fire Zouaves] our re-enforcements arrived upon the field and formed rapidly on right into line.  The first was Colonel Falkner’s regiment (Mississippians), whose gallantry came under my own observation.”  Although Stuart does not mention the capture of the battery, Captain John M. Stone of the Iuka Rifles, Company K, 2^nd Mississippi, did write of having overrun a Federal battery during the fighting. [26]

            Attack and counterattack continued until 4:00 p.m. when the continual arrival of fresh Confederate reinforcements allowed the Southern battle line to overlap the Federal right flank.  A general advance was ordered, rolling up the Union line and putting McDowell’s green troops to disordered flight.  Captain Stone, who would eventually replace Colonel Falkner as the 2^nd Mississippi’s commander, penned the following in a letter to his mother after the battle, “The highest ambition of my life has been realized.  I have been in one great Battle for the rights of my Country.”  Little could Stone have known that he would later lead the regiment on numerous other bloody fields, many of which would make First Manassas pale in comparison. [27]

            The 2^nd Mississippi officially reported losses of 25 killed, 82 wounded and 1 missing at First Manassas.  Although reports do not give the regiment’s strength, based on statistical estimates derived from the bimonthly muster rolls and the fact that Colonel Falkner earlier reported about 200 convalescents in camp, the regiment may have numbered 550-600 troops in the field on July 21^st.  Company G claimed to have carried the largest number of men into battle – 68 rank and file – when compared with the other companies in the regiment. [28]

               Following the battle, Johnston’s and Beauregard’s commands were merged under General Johnston.  A Mississippian, William Henry Chase Whiting, was promoted to brigadier general and given command of Bee’s former brigade.  The 2^nd Mississippi saw no further action for the rest of 1861.  The regiment went into winter quarters on the lower Potomac with the other units in the brigade (see Figure 10). [29]