Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-04-06
Barksdale's, POsey's and Davis Brigad
at Gettygburg.

this week was in the nature OF reserve
copy"
Barksdale's, Posey's and Davis Brigades
at Gettysburg. 4
The following correspondence ana
data make an important contribution
to State history, and will be of special
interest to the survivors OF the com
mands named;
"GETrYsRURG PA, March ., l9Ol.
s,NIY DEAR Col. PowEB-As the Con-
federate member of the Gettysburg Bat
tlefield and Park Commission it falls to
my lot to prepare the inscriptions to be
placed on the historical tablets which
the government is erecting to the Con-
federate troops on this field. Can you
procure and send to me the number OF
men in that brigade at Gettysburg? |
shall be greatly obliged to have this
soon, for we wish to erect the tablet to
that brigade, among others, this spring
1t contained four regiments-the 18th,
With, 18th and 21st.
81 should like, also, to have the num-
Der at Gettysburg in Posey's brigade,
composed of the 18th, 10th, 18th and
10th regiments. And also the number
in the I'd, nth and 42d regiments OF
Davis brigades (Which also had the 55th
North Carolina in it, whose numbers l
have,)
"No troops were better or brayer
than the Mississippians. l used to fight
with the I'd and 1lth regiments in Bees
and Laws brigades. Yours truly,
OWN. NJ. ROBBINS, Maj. 4th Ala"
None of the official reports of Gettys
burg give the total strength of the
Mississippi brigades as they entered the
fight. But very fortunately we have
copy of the Mobile Evening News o
Sept. II, 1868, that contains the desired
information in the following very in
teresting communication;
"ENTERpRIsE, Miss, Sept. s, 1868
'.MR. EDITOR: The following circum
stances attending the fall of Brig. -Gen
William Barksdale, at the battle
Gettysburg, related by his adjutan
general, Captain John A. BardsdalC
will be of interest to his friends:
} 'Gen. Barksdale was struck twice
first in the shoulder and afterward
4 the chest. When last wounded he sal
e to Boyd "a courier, / am killed. IeI
/. NV wife and children that died figh
r ing at my post just at this time Boy
e was wounded in the leg, which made
t impossible for him to render Gel
Barksdale anv assistance. lie, ther'
fore, left him, the enemy not BEN
more than twenty yards distant II
causeiof my not being with him at I'll
yards from where he was struck II
horse was killed under me. was WI
him at the time and remarked TO nj
l. that was on foot, He told me 10
IT bacI, to a battery, about 25O yards al
y order il to the front. This did, al
y returned as rapidly as possible Nh
d within forty yards of the brigade 81
le Gen. Barksdales horse galioping oV
3s the field without a rider, and the m
50 falling back, while the enemy was
at vancing. To 90 to him was imposslol
H. The last words of this ardent patrl
~ gallant man and dying hero that e'
y" fell i,pon the ears of his own count
ne men should nerve and incite them
"a his own high standard Of duty
,%' % The ordeal through which his origi
~. nassed In this fight may be Judged wi
Nv il is told that of 1920 bayonets carr
into If. 73O were lost in killed, woun'
S. and missing. '" ~,
"W. R. B. are the initials OF VIM
nd Barltsdale, and he doubtless ootal
the figures quoted in the letter Il
which the foregoing extract
copied.
I'M. Having referred Maj Robbins lie
ay to Mr.. Allen j. Hooker, he says;
son "The official reports do not
TO fine numbers in Mississippi hriga
Ied 1t is possible that some OF the surv'
)rd. NAV be able to furnish this. /
10C the casualties at Gettysburg;
.ree Barksdale's Brigade.
Killed, staff, /.
age 18th Mississippi: Killed 2S' wou'
'"" l37-total, l65'
nth Mississippi; Killed 40 "ou'
sun 18O-total, 200.
18th Mississippi: Killed 49, Wou
,o s2-total, l0O
ED. 91st Mississippi: Killed TO- won
,,. s7--total, 1903.
see" Grand totals: Killed lO5, wou
b5O captured and missing 92; tota
Engaged in battle of July I'd
Posey's Brigade.
u TO 19th Mississippi: Killed o. woun
~ total, I.
n ~ 10th Mississippi: Killed ?, woun'
,,aht total 10.
ngn' 10th Mississippi: Killed 4, woun'
hoon total, "a.
Dee peen 4sth Mississippi: Killed 6, woun
we're total, 80.
,,,;ne mi Grand totals: Killed 10, wound
total, s3.
Engaged on July ad' held In r
IDLE on Sd. .,v.,n,a.
.nn is Cd Mississippi; Killed 40, wound
= the total, 232.
: ra., m nth Mississippi: Killed 49, wo
:. - 170-total, 202'
w De, 42d Mississippi: Killed CO. VIC
'hu AZ 205-total, 265.
lnehes 55th North Carolina; Killed o9''
hoihe' ed 15o--total, 1893.
sxiihe' Grand totals: Killed $50, We
,dna,n ,na 7t7; total, so7.
'ccom' This brigade was engaged iii
.'o a,oi 49, - third days, July l and 3.
''ie - The brigade casualties at det'
give Mississippi first and fourth
$. Pettigrew's North Carolini'
ice has Q. DAVIS Mississippians.
,hener, Q Daniels North Carolinians'
PORTING a, Barksdale's Mississippiahs
Orange Dr.. j. r. Prince, Captain li'h
uncing s;npi, in a letter to this Writer
j pris. that Lieut.. Hester, who was O
der OF at the stone wall, Informed h
during his Imprisonment re
Federal officer told him tHest
- - ;. the dead o. Mississippi wer'
I,v.ooS ns., b higher up the Heights than
r :, M M any other command
, ueorn Ds. Prince wrote me that ne