The weekly clarion., 1876-10-18
RELIGIOUS z-sr.RYoF
DAVIS MISSISSIPPI BRIGADE,
BY
Rev. 7. D. WitherspOOn. D. D.
No. I-coxrOsrrros OF THE BnueADK.

From the PontOsoc Weekly Folio.l
The Brigade of Mississippi Volunteers,
which, under the name of Davis Brigade,
made for itself such an honorable repu-
tation in the Army OF Northern Virginia.
was first organized in the autumn of the
year 1862 1t consisted at that time OF
the I'd, 1lth and 42d Regiments of Mis-
sissippi Volunteers and the Doth Regi.
ment Of n. G. State Troops. To these
Regiments was added in the Spring OF
1864 the 26th Mississippi Regiment,
which had just been transferred from the
Army of Tennessee. Soon afterwards
the 54th North Carolina Regiment was
transferred to Cooks North Carolina
Brigade, of the same Division, and its
place supplied by the 1st Confederate
Battalion.
As finally organized, therefore, the
Brigade consisted of the I'd, 11th, 26th
and AID Mississippi Regiments and the
1st Confederate Battalion. At its first
formation, in 1862, it became a part OF
Helh's Division of Gen. A. p. Hills
(Sd army Corps, and it is remarkable
fact that, amidst all its long campaigns
and bloody battles, it never had change
of Generals. General Joe. L. Davis,
from whom it received its name, con-
tinued its Brigadier until he gave up his
sword and signed the parole of his men
at AppOmattox Court House. Major
General Harry Heth was spared as its
gallant and efficient commander of Di-
vision through the perils to which his
valor exposed him.
Lieut-General A. P. Hill, its Corps
commander at the organization, held and
filed with distinction his pest as one of
the Lieutenants of the great commander,
until in the very last struggle when the
lines were broken before Petersburg and
the fortunes of war were lost, he fell gal
lantly but vainly, standing in the ever
widening breach in cur thin and wasted
ranks. His place as Lieutenant General
was never filled, and thus it occurred
that the Brigade had never any Brig
adler but Gen. Davis, any Major
General but Gen. Heth, any Lieutenant
General but Gen. Hill, any commanding
General but Gen. Lee.
| OF the troops which composed the
Brigade, two regiments, the I'd and
11th Mississippi, entered the Army OF
Northern Virginia at the very begin
ming of the war. They were among the
first troops organized in the State They
were sent to Virginia in April, 1861,
were among the first Western troops
that reached Harper's Ferry and CO op-
.erated in its defence. Their history is
identified with that of the Army OF
Northern Virginia, and extends through
the whole period of the existence of that
body of patriot soldiers whose superior:
the world has never seen. These two
regiments formed part Of the immor.
tai ''Third Brigade" which was com
manded first by the lamented General
Bee, and was led by him in that bril-
liant charge at the First battle of Ma
nassas which ended in victory, but cos
the Southern Confederacy his valuabl,
life.
The 42d Mississippi Regiment was OF
ganized in the summer of 1862, by tn
gallant Gel. Hugh X. Miller, of Pou6o
toe, VINO naq Deen Tor twelve month
Captain of Company G. of the Cd Mi:
sissippi. Immediately ON its organiza
ton it was order into camp of instruction
at Richmond, Va, and there RENAME
: until the organization of the Brigade, S
that its first active service in the fel
was rendered after the period when tn
Brigade was organized. The 26th Mi
sissippi Regiment had served since tn
! ! beginning of the war in the army {
Tennessee, and when it entered tl
J Brigade in 1864 it had already an illu
trious record for gallantIy and hercisl
9 in the field.
Q OF the 1st Confederate Battalion, pr
vious to its admission to the Brigade,
!, am not able to speak with confdenc
+ except to say that it also had done Sc
I vice in the western, army having bee
u if mistake not, connected with Fla
= nigan's Florida Brigade.
4 of the character of the men compC
= ing the Regiments shall speak in Il
article which follows this. It may
- proper fer me now to allude to my m
Al tive in writing these, and the sources
70 information upon which | rely.
"a As to the motives which prompt 1
bt to write, | may say that this is depa
in ment of Army History as yet almost I
81 touched. OF the valor of our men
m battle of their hardihood in the endI
Is anee of privations and suffering;
4 their patience in hospital, and their 1
he shaken fidelity in imprisonment and l
IN der torture, We hear great deal;
10 of that religious faith which underlay
II. this heroism and devotion, which nery
N the arm to do and dare, to suffer a
IN. wait, we hear almost nothing.
IN Many have undertaken to record
incidents of camp life which throw lii
ito upon the characters of our soldiers
10. men. None has yet essayed to gatl
'ev up the incidents which illustrate tn
~ religious character and experience.
a.. distinguished chaplain of the Army
nj Northern Virginia, few years ago,
in. posed such a work. It is to be h0l
,ev that be will yet be spared to carry
an, resolutions into effect.
I'D Meanwhile ! propose, in my hun
ave- way, to contribute towards this object
,cb narrating the incidents and scenes wi
IA passed under my personal Ohserva
ern during four years of army life.
ub- As to sources of information, / n
pro rely, in great measure, upon pers
,eo- "reminiscences. It was my privilege t
,nly associated with the men Of this Brig
rol, frst as private soldier and then as c
for lain, from the time they left their he
ame in Mississippi to try the fortune of
Ieed soldier, until the day when we laid
lext our arms together at Appomattox q
and House. was with them in the c
rm. and on the march, In the bivouac
ewes on the battle field. Ny mission cs
and me to stand with them amidst the red
next hail Of battle, and then to follow I
,ful, when wounded or diseased to the
YOU pitfalls provided for them in the rear.
,iau- To no other in connection with
rate- army such manifold sources of info
E of ton open as to the army chaplain.
tented with the men in camp; he
ded with them on the march; bivoua
long with them beneath the stars;
male with them on the battle feld-ioine
min corps In bearing of the wounded
, IN the day was done-accompanied
be- in the night to the temporary shelf