Coahoma Invincibles: Company B, 11th Mississippi

The Coahoma Invincibles were organized in Friars Point in Coahoma County, Mississippi.  Their officers were Captain Samuel N. Delany, First Lieutenant L.D. Suddoth, Second Lieutenant Tidinee L. Johnson, and Third Lieutenant John F. Cox. Samuel N. Delany listed his profession as lawyer; Lt. Johnson was a farmer; and John F. Cox was a lawyer.  Among the other men were listed every profession from doctor, editor, and laborer.  They came from all backgrounds and walks of life.  Their choice to enter this company would bring them together into history though.  Many of these men would never return to Friars Point or see the mighty Mississippi River flow by again.  They would die in far off Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

This company was designated as Captain Delany’s Company, 1st Regiment, 4th Brigade, Mississippi Volunteers.

On April 1, 1861, the company was ordered to Corinth where a new regiment was formed.  This new regiment would be named the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry and the Coahoma Invincibles would become Company B on May 4th.  Field officers of this new regiment were Colonel William H. Moore, Lt. Colonel Phillip E. Liddell, and Major Samuel F. Butler.  In Company B, there were also changes.  First Lt. Suddoth left the unit.  The Company officers of Company B, 11th Mississippi on May 4th were Captain Samuel N. Delany, 1st Lt. John F. Cox, 2nd Lt. Tidinee L. Johnson, and 3rd Lt. Howell Hopson.  Companies of the Eleventh Mississippi Infantry were as follows:

• Company A – University Greys, Lafayette County
• Company B –  Coahoma Invincibles, Coahoma County
• Company C – Prairie Rifleman, Chickasaw County
• Company D – Neshoba Rifles, Neshoba County
• Company E – Prairie Gurds, Lowndes County
• Company F – Noxubee County, Noxubee County
• Company G – Lamar Rifles, Lafayette County
• Company H – Chickasaw Guards, Chickasaw County
• Company I – Van Dorn Reserve, Monroe County
• Company K – Carroll County Rifles, Carroll County

Soon after organization, the men of the 11th Mississippi were ordered to Virginia and arrived at Harper’s Ferry on May 19th.  They were mustered into Confederate service on May 13th. The 11th withdrew from Harpers Ferry to Winchester,Virginia with the rest of Joseph Johnson’s Army.

In the company records for the time dating April 27 to June 30, 1861:

“Remarks General- The condition of the company as to uniforms and clothing is very good. Conditions as to drill and discipline creditable.  Acting under orders from headquarters, I issued fifteen muskets belonging to the sick of the company, also twelve cartridge boxes and caps, together with the baggage to the camp at Harper’s Ferry to be transported to Winchester, Virginia, which together with a portion of the baggage was lost or stolen as the company have never been account to for them.  I made every effort to find the guns, but without success.  The company drew thirty six pari of shoes, low quarter brogans. Eleven pair of which were lost with other baggage in it’s removal rom Harper’s Ferry to Winchester, Virginia.       Samuel N. Delany, Captain Commanding Company B, 11th regiment Mississippi Volunteers”

The First Battle of Bull Run takes place on July 21st, but only companies A and F participate. The Eleventh goes into winter quarters with the rest of the army at Camp Fisher, Virginia and are presented with their Confederate colors on November 6, 1861. Colonel Moore is forced to resign after accidentally shooting himself.  Moore returned home to Mississippi and helped raise the 43rd Mississippi.  He died November 9, 1862 from wounds received at the Battle of Corinth.  On April 26, 1862, the 11th is reorganized and the new regimental officers are Colonel Phillip F. Liddell, Lt. Colonel Samuel F. Butler, and Major Taliaferro S. Evans.  The entire regiment re-enlisted for the war and mustered 504 men. Company officers also change and the original officers are voted out and return home.  New Company B officers, as of April 21, 1862, are Captain James K. Morton, 1st Lt. William D. Nunn, 2nd Lt. Thomas F. Nealey, and 3rd Lt. George W. Morton.

The 11th Mississippi participates in the Battle of Seven Pines.  On June 27, 1862, the 11th charged and broke the center of the federal line at the Battle Gaines Mill losing 18 men killed, 142 wounded, and 3 missing out of 400 engaged.  Lieutenant Thomas Nealey was among the killed of the 11th.  Overall casualties of Company B at Gaines Mill were 2 killed; 1 mortally wounded; and 11 wounded.

Monument of the 11th Mississippi at Gaines Mill

Although taking no active part at Malvern Hill, the regiment lost 1 killed and 20 wounded from artillery.

On August 29 and 30, the 11th participated in the Battle of Second Manassas or Bull Run.  They suffered 4 killed and 55 wounded. After this battle, the regiment participated in the engagement at South Mountain.  According to regimental records, they launched a bayonet attack to turn back federal troops who were forcing a passage.  General Robert E. Lee regrouped his Army of Virginia along Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland.  September 15th saw the regiment positioned near Dunker Church where they threw back an enemy advance at dusk .  Colonel Liddell was mortally wounded here and Lt. Colonel Samuel F. Butler took control..  The Battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862.  Here is record of what happened that day taken from the Mississippi at Antietam Blog- The Epitaph: Tombstones, Mausoleums, Monuments, and Memorials to Civil War Soldiers:

At Antietam the 11th Mississippi was brigaded with the 2nd Mississippi and a regiment from Alabama and North Carolina as part of Colonel Evander M. Laws Brigade of Brigadier General John Bell Hood’s Division.  On 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 the cornfield.  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 Corp.  Supported on the right by the 21st  Georgia of Trimble’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.” (Text from the War Dept tablet #330).  Both the 2nd and 11th Mississippi was in the thick of the fighting on land in and around D.R. Miller’s famous cornfield at Antietam on September 17,1862.  The 11th Mississippi battle flag was captured by the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.  The 2nd lost 27 killed and 127 wounded while the 11th lost 8 killed 96 wounded.  The 11th’s losses included Colonel Phillip F. Liddell (mw), Lt. Colonel Samuel F. Butler (mw) and Major Taliaferro S. Evans, killed.

The 11th Mississippi only went into the Battle of Antietam with about 200 men. The color bearer was also killed and that is how the flag was captured.

Captain Morton of Company B was killed, but the Coahoma Invincibles lost less than the other companies because of their location in the regiment.  They had only one other casualty who was mortally wounded.

Monument at Antietam

Company records for that time contain the following report:

“The Ordinance sergeant of the company was killed in the Battle of Manassas on the 30th of August, 1862, and the company papers lost.  The Captain of the company was killed in the battle of September 17,1862 at Sharpsburg, Maryland.”

On September 18th, the company officers changed again after the death of Captain Morton.  William D. Nunn moved to Captain; George W. Morton became 1st Lt; John J. Ashe became 2nd Lt; and Henry C. McCloud was 3rd Lt.   New field officers were Colonel Francis M. Green, Lt. Colonel William B. Lowry, and Major Reuben D. Reynolds.  The 11th was detached form Law’s Brigade and sent to Richmond and then down to North Carolina.  It was here that the 11th joined a new brigade led by General Joseph Davis. Other regiments in the brigade were 2nd Mississippi, 42nd Mississippi, and the 55th North Carolina.  The brigade was placed in Heth’s Division of A.P. Hill’s Corp.  With the Army of Northern Virginia, the regiment marched into Pennsylvania and took part in the Battle of Gettysburg.

There are two monuments of the 11th Mississippi Infantry at Gettysburg.  Both were dedicated in 2000 by the 11th Mississippi Memorial Association.

From the monument with a bronze statue of Color Sergeant William O’Brien on West Confederate Avenue.

“The 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, under the command of Col. Francis M. Green and Major Reuben O. Reynolds, formed west of the tree line on Seminary Ridge behind Major William Pegram’s Battalion of Artillery and immediately south of McMillian’s Woods on July 3, 1863.  Shortly after 3:00 pm, Color Sergeant William O’Brien of Company C, memorialized on this monument, raised the colors and the regiment stepped forward.  Although clusters of men reached the stone wall near Brian’s Barn, the attack was driven back with heavy loss, and the remnants of the regiment reformed in this vicinity.”

From the monument near the Brian Barn:

 

“July 3, 1863. The 11th Mississippi Infantry regiment, with its ranks growing thinner at every step, advanced with the colors to the stone wall near the Brian Barn.  The regiment was here subjected to a most galling fire of musketry and artillery that so reduced  the already thinned ranks that any further effort to carry the position was hopeless, and there was nothing left but to retire.  Report of Brig. General Jospeh R. Davis”

• Combatants – 393
• Killed in action/died of wounds – 110
• Wounded/wounded captured – 193
• Captured unwounded – 37
• Non-Casualties – 53

Major Reynolds was among the wounded in that battle.  Captain William D. Nunn was killed, 1st Lt. George W. Morton severally wounded, and 3rd Lt. Henry McCloud wounded.  Morton would resign because of these wounds on July 15th.  Other casualties at Gettysburg were 6 killed; 2 mortally wounded; 1 wounded and captured; 3 wounded; and 4 captured unwounded. The battle flag of the 11th was again captured.

General Robert E. Lee withdrew his battered army southward from this defeat.  On the morning of July 14th, two Union cavalry divisions attacked the rearguard division of General Henry Heth still on the north bank of the Potomac River.  So fast was the attack that they captured over 500 men, but Lee made his escape.  It was here that 2nd Lt. John Ashe was captured along with five of his men.  Ashe would be eventually exchanged March 3, 1864 from a Federal prison and rejoin the command.

The 11th Mississippi was forced to regroup after this bloody battle around Orange Court House for the rest of 1863.  That changed in May, 1864 when General U.S. Grant launched his campaign against the army of Robert E. Lee.  On May 5th, the Battle of the Wilderness took place.  The 11th was on the left of Heth’s Division, north of the Plank road and held off a series of attacks by Hancock’s Second Corps. They were behind a log barricade on the 6th.  From May 12th to the 21st, they participated in the battles of Spotsylvania Court House. Colonel Green died May 15, 1864 from wounds received May 12th.  The regiment reported 14 killed, 55 wounded, and 6 missing during these engagements.  The men then participated in the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 3rd where it lost 6 killed, 31 wounded, and 4 missing.

From June 9, 1864 to March 25, 1865, the 11th Mississippi participated in the Siege of Petersburg.  On August 18, 1864, the regiment took part in the Battle of Weldon Railroad. They took part in a counterattack which broke two Union brigades, then dug in a held the ground gained.  The 11th lost 10 men killed and 30 wounded.

From the Company Records: August 1864:

“Returns to the trenches around Petersburg from north of the James River. Remaining in the trenches till the 18th when we were moved out on the Weldon Railroad and attack the enemy.  Engaged him again on the next day (19th) on the same field called the Battle of Davis Farm. Loss in the company- one killed, two severely wounded, one slightly wounded. On the 20th, moved back to our former position in the trenches where we remain for the remainder of the month admiring sky rockets and dodging mortar shells.”

During the months of September and October, the 11th participated in a number of battles including Peeble’sFarm, Davis Farm, and Boyden Plank Road.  Major Reynolds was promoted to Colonel and Captain George W. Shannon was promoted to Lt. Colonel.  Officers in Company B were Captain John J. Ashe, who had been promoted, and 1st Lt. Henry C. McCloud.

On March 25, 1865, the 11th took part in the skirmish at Hawks Farm.  Colonel Reynolds was severely wounded , loosing his right arm.  Lt. Colonel George Shannon assumed command.  The 11th only numbered 64 men at the time of this battle.

On April 2, 1865, the Petersburg lines broke and collapsed.  The 11th was flanked on both sides and retreated to Hatcher’s Run, which was too high to cross.  Lieutenant Colonel Shannon and most of the regiment were forced to surrender, although a few escaped. 1st. Lt. Henry C. McCloud entered a hospital with a wounded leg on April 5, 1865.  Captain John Ashe and 10 men were captured at Hatchers Run.  The last flag of the 11th Mississippi was captured at Hatchers Run by the 123 Ohio. On April 12, 1865, General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. None of the 11th were there though.  Hatchers Run had ended their combat service.

Roster of the Coahoma Invincibles: Company B, 11th Mississippi

Company Officers

1.  Samuel N. Delany- Captain- dropped April 21,1862
2. John F. Cox – 1st Lt.- dropped April 21, 1862
3. Tidinee L. Johnson – 2nd Lt.- dropped April 21, 1862
4. Howell Hopson – 3rd Lt. – dropped April 21, 1862
5. William D. Nunn – Captain – killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
6. George W. Morton – 2nd Lt. – severely wounded at Gettysburg and resigned July 15,1863
7. John J. Ashe- Captain – captured at Falling Waters, Maryland on July 14, 1863, captured at Hatcher’s Run April 2, 1865
8. Henry C. McCloud – 1st Lt. – wounded at Gettysburg July 3, 1863, in hospital wounded April 5, 1865
9. Thomas F. Neeley – 2nd Lt. – killed June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill
10. James K. Morton – Captain – killed at Antietam on September 17, 1862
11. L.M. Suddoth – 1st Lt. – never mustered into service before regiment left for Virginia

Enlisted and Noncommissioned

1. Aason, S.B.
2. Alley, William T. – Captured and patrolled April 10, 1865
3. Alston, James W. – furloughed December 29, 1864; admitted to hospital in Meridian, MS with a wound; paroled in agreement between Generals Camby and Taylor.
4. Barham, Nicholas – discharged July 29, 1862
5. Bartley, James – wounded at Gettysburg  July 3, 1863 and captured
6. Bass, James
7. Beirne, Joseph W. – transferred to navy
8. Bell, John – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill.
9. Berry, Marshall – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill and died in July 1862
10. Best, Issac – discharged July 25, 1861
11. Bosley, Robert –
12. Bristwiser, William T. – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill and discharged
13. Campbell, Peter – sent to hospital September 26, 1862
14. Canfield, Council C. – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill; captured at Gettysburg
15. Chambers, Columbus C. – wounded in hospital in April 1865
16. Chambers, Henry W. – Corporal – captured July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg; drowned at Fort Delaware Prison Nov. 1, 1863
17. Champion, George R. – discharged October 31, 1861
18. Chappell, James L. – wounded in the eye December 11, 1861
19. Colburn, Thomas – captured May 5, 1864 at Wilderness
20. Hopson, John – surrendered in Arkansas in 1865
21. Cox, Benjamin – died July 15, 1861 of measles at Winchester
22. Cravens, James C. – deserted September 1862, may be in Helena, Arkansas
23. Cravens, R.
24. Crenshaw, Robert A. – killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
25. Curry, Thomas – captured at Suffolk, Virginia
26. Curry, William T. – discharged in 1862
27. Damerael, Zedrick – deserted in July 1863
28. Danes, J.W. – died August 21, 1861 of typhoid fever
29. Davis, Daniel – discharged October 31, 1861
30. Dawson, Thomas – captured at Jackson July 1863
31. Dobson, John – detached as teamster April 1864
32. Eason, Samuel B.- discharged 1862
33. Edwards, Francis M. – detailed as nurse at Camp Wider April 3, 1863
34. Edwards, John – deserted Feb. 1864, in Coahoma County
35. Ellis, John – in hospital on June 23, 1864
36. Emmons, John – AWOL in 1864
37. Ferguson, William – wounded June 27,1862 at Gaines Mill; discharged
38. Flynn, Martin – wounded August 18, 1864 and captured
39. Franklin, J.D. – captured at Sharpsburg September, 1862
40. Garner, John R. – 1st Sergeant – captured at Falling Waters on July 14, 1863; exchanged; wounded August 18, 1864
41. Garner, Marcellus – wounded at Petersburg; leg amputated April 9, 1865
42. Garner, Septimus – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill; admitted to hospital April 5, 1865.
43. Glenn, Thomas B. – Ordinance Sergeant- detached
44. Grubbs, John S.- Corp.- wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill; captured at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863
45. Hale, Samuel
46. Haskins, William B. – died at Fredericksburg on April 20, 1862
47. Hemphill, S.N. – captured April 3, 1865 at Hatchers Run
48. Henderson, James – Sergeant; captured at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
49. Henderson, Pleasant – deserted September 1863
50. Hibbler, W.J. – discharged March 18, 1864
51. Hickcox, Benjamin – transferred to 5th Missouri Infantry
52. Hoine, James – wounded and captured at Gettysburg July 3 ,1863; exchanged; captured at Petersburg on April 12, 1865
53. Hopson, John L. – arm amputated August 30,1862 after being wounded at Battle of Manassas.
54. Hopson, Joseph -Sergent
55. Hurst, George W. – Corporal – wounded at Gettysburg July 3, 1863; captured at Winchester July 22, 1863
56. Irvin, Robert – killed June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill
57. Johnson, Archibald – captured April 4, 1865 at Hatchers Run
58. Kelly, Charles – transferred August 23, 1864
59. Kober, Christopher – deserted March 25, 1865
60. Lawler, Jack – discharged July 22, 1862
61. Lawrence, Louis – Killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
62. Leftwich, Grandison – died in hospital 1865
63. Magner, Mat. L
64. Martin, M.V. – sick at Camp Fisher Sept. 10, 1861
65. Matthews, Archibald
66. Maynard, Charles E. – Sergeant; captured April 4, 1865 at Hatchers Run
67. Maynard, William M. – killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
68. McCloud G. F. – wounded at Gettysburg July 3, 1863; died September 8, 1863 at Richmond
69. McHenry, Alkana – wounded at Gettysburg and died July 10, 1863
70. McLaine, James H. – deserted January 1863, in Helena
71. McLaine, Alexander – discharged October 29,1861
72. McMahan, John C. – captured April 4, 1865 at Hatchers Run
73. McMullin, Latham – wounded April 3, 1864;  captured Feb. 19, 1865
74. McMullins, Henry – present in 1864
75. McMullins, Richard – furloughed August 1863
76. Miller, George – parolled at Memphis June 5, 1865
77. Moneghan, George M. – Corp.
78. Montroy, Henry C. – wounded at Seven Pines and disabled
79. Montroy, John B. – wounded August 18, 1864; captured at Hatchers Run April 4, 1865
80. Moreland, Mark – discharged June 8, 1861
81. Morton, John P. – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill and discharged
82. Musgraves, Thomas D.-  killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
83. Nutall, Charles – discharged July 8, 1862
84. O’Brien, Patrick – deserted March 24, 1865
85. Peacock, John C. – died at hospital July 2, 1861 with measles
86. Pervis, William A. – wounded June 27,1862 at Gaines Mill; disabled, captured at Senatobia May 13, 1863
87. Porter, Benjamin F. – killed August 18, 1864 at Weldon Railroad
88. Powers, William H. – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill; transferred to navy
89. Reid, Harrison – captured at Falling Waters July 14, 1863
90. Richardson, F.N. – killed July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg
91. Richardson, Hopkins – killed July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg
92. Richardson, Joseph – Sergeant; captured May 6, 1864 at Wilderness
93. Richardson, Morgan – detached as camp guard at Camp Winder
94. Riley, B.F. detached at Camp Winder
95. Ross, Frederick – Sergeant
96. Ruse, Jacob
97. Sanguinette, John – wounded June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill and captured; exchanged; captured at Falling Waters July 14, 1863; exchanged; captured at Hatchers Run April 1865
98. Sargent, Abner – Corporal; deserted March 24, 1865 and took oath
99. Shadle, Joseph – captured at Sharpsburg and died of disease in prison
100. Sharp, James C. – Corporal – captured April 2, 1865 at Petersburg
101. Shaw, W.W.
102. Shelby, F.E. – discharged
103. Sikes, John Taylor – on detached service; AWOL; surrendered in agreement between Taylor and Camby
104. Sims, Benjamin – Corporal; wounded at Petersburg July 3, 1864 and died July 5 at Petersburg
105. Skipper, James – discharged
106. Smith, John P. – wounded June 27,1862 at Gaines Mill and died in hospital December 1862
107. Smith, Lucius B. – died of disease  October 1, 1862
108. St. John, Benjamin – Sergeant – Ordinance Sergeant; killed August 30, 1862 at Battle of Manassas
109. St. John, Eldridge – Corporal; wounded and captured at Falling Waters July 14, 1863
110. Thomas, Edward – captured in Jackson, MS on July 30, 1863 ( not a member probably)
111. Tomlin, N.B. – captured at Vicksburg ( not a member probably )
112. Tucker, Thomas – killed accidentally by discharge of a pistol July 23, 1861 at Manassas Junction
113. Ward, William W. – wounded at Gettysburg July 3, 1863; deserted in July 1864
114. Watson, Elijah – captured at Hatchers Run April 4, 1864
115. Webb, David H. – transferred May 15, 1862
116. Webb, Martin V. – captured at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
117. Wells, Robert – discharged January 1862
118. Wells, Thomas – discharged August 31, 1861
119. Wright, William – wounded July 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill; exchanged; wounded and captured at Falling Waters on July 13, 1863; died October 9, 1863