Category: Civil War in My Delta
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Forgotten Heroes at Rich: Richard Harris and Henry Lucas
Richard Harris joined Company I of the 3rd Regiment U.S. Colored Cavalry on January 6, 1865 at Vicksburg. He was enrolled the following day for 3 years or the war. On his enrollment papers, he listed his age as 30 and height as 5’9. Harris was born in Crawford, Georgia as a slave before moving…
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River of Death: Chickamaugua and the 44th Mississippi (Chapter 4)
After their defeat at Murfreesboro, the men of the Army of Tennessee slogged southward. Major Thompson retained command of Blythe’s regiment. According to company records, they marched from January 4th to Shelbyville which was about 25 miles. They then marched about 28 miles to another location and then back to Shelbyville. It was here that…
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Comes a Preacher: Jaquess Family in Tunica County
After the Civil War, a man came to live in Tunica County with his family who was bigger than life. His name was James Frazier Jaquess. He also brought his son William Garrison Jaquess along. Although he would not remain in Tunica County long, his family would live out their lives here and become prominent…
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Life and death of a Partisan
On March 16, 1863 the 3rd Iowa Cavalry marched into the small settlement of Mound Place in Northern Coahoma County. They were led by Major John Willock Noble who stationed his men at Hunt’s Mill. Hunt’s Mill was a saw mill at the center of this farming community. Even though the area was occupied territory,…
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Michael Deering
Helena, Arkansas About three years before the Civil War there was a famine so desperate that thousands of the Irish people came to the United States to earn a livelihood. Among these people was a young man from the north of Ireland named Michael Deering. He had been educated by the Catholic Church as a…
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The Swamp Fox: From Missouri to Memphis
In the early days of April 1862, a small and tired group of Missourians marched into Helena. They must have seemed like a strange site to the citizens of the river town since they were the first organized body of Confederates they had seen since hundreds of their men had marched off to war in…
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John Smith Phelps: Military Governor of Arkansas
John Smith Phelps was born in Sinsbury, Hartford County, Connecticutt on December 22, 1814. He graduated from Trinity College and was admitted to the bar in 1835. Soon after, the Phelps family moved to Springfield in Greene County, Missouri. Mr. Phelps married Mary Whitney and together they would have five children. They were John Elisha,…
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Blythe’s Regiment, From Kentucky to Stones River (Chapter 3)
On June 27, 1862, Braxton Bragg took over the Army of the Mississippi at Corinth. Whatever his critics might say, he did a miraculous job rebuilding the beaten force that had retreated from Shiloh in April. By July, the Army of the Mississippi numbered around 36,000 men and were healthy and ready for action. Because…
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Mississippi Swampers: Company B, 44th Mississippi Infantry Roster (Chapter 2)
Officers: Robert H. Humphreys – Captain: Age 30, June 11, 1861- killed at the Battle of Shiloh April 6, 1862. James Moore – 1st. Lieutenant: Age 25, June 11, 1861- promoted Major, promoted Lt. Colonel May 8, 1862, wounded September 14, 1862 at Munfordville, Kentucky, died September 15, 1862. Robert George Kelsey – 2nd Lieutenant:…
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Mississippi Swampers are Born: Battle of Belmont and Shiloh (Chapter 1)
The Mississippi Swampers were organized at Memphis, Tennessee on June 11, 1861. It’s origins go further south though. Robert J. Humphreys was the popular sheriff of Tunica County, Mississippi and had served from 1853 to 1860. He decided to organize a company to defend the county and the new Confederate States of…
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