Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-06-03
THE NOXUBEE RIFLES
IN THe FIRST sATrLC or MANASSAS

Russell. T., absent sick.
Rives. j. Il.
Shaw. r. N.
Shaw. T.
Spoon, II, G., absent sick
Slmmon,, W. Fl killed, shot through the
hip.
Stewart. c.. j.
Spann, j. r.. absent sick,
Smith. W. II.
Sanders, b. ID.
Thomas. Il. A..
Tsrrant, Y. W.
Vick@rs, r. H., absent.
Vogel, A.
Wood, n. J..
Walker, G.
Williams, D. A.
Welsh, |.
Wlllbanks, T. A., killed. shot through
the head.
Windham, o. =. II.
Windham, Il. p, absent sick.
Mindham, I X.
1t is our melancholy duty to announce
that W. II. Simmons 7. A. Wilbanks,
Fl. II. Ccckrill of the Noxubee Rifles
are no more. They have nobly laid
down their lives upon their couutry's
altar on the bloody field of Manassas.
After a rapid and e~xhausting march
from Winchester OF three days duration.
having but one meal in the interval, the
Noxubee Rifles and the University
Grays of the nth Mississippi Regiment
arrived near the field Of battle on the
afternoon of the Goth of July At four
o'clock on the following morning they
were conducted to the position assigned
to them on the scene of action BY their
gallant Lieut.. Colonel Liddell. and no.
bly, did these two brave companies from
Mississippi bear the heat and burden of
that fearful day, and fatally did they
pour tho leaden messengers OF death
into the thinning ranks of the invading
foe. With the address and intrepidity
Of veterans they shot down the heroes OF
q battery Of flying artillery which was
on the point of being opened upon them,
then charged the battery and took it.
Unmindful Of the heat and dust and
smoke. Of thirst and hunger and fla
tigue. and of the turmoil and carnage of
that bloody day, our own brave Rifles
laid their sickles into the harvest of
Death like men, gathering many q sheaf
for his dismal granaries ere nightfall-
when thousands Of the enemy lay biting
the dust under the victorious folds OF
our glorious Til color. and the grand
army of the North was scattered to the
, four winds in ignomihious and disor-
derby rout, as if an eagle had huttercd
the harmless tenants OF a dove cote.
In the halo of this grand victory died
u friends. Simmons, Wilbanks and
Cockrell. fhey are gone. but their
memories will be cherished in the hearts
of a grateful people, They are dead.
yet they live in the influence on their
country's welfare of their noble and
ennobling example.
How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
BY all their country's wishes blessed,
When spring with dewey fingers cold
Returns to deck the hallowed mold:
She then shall dress a sweeter sod
Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
BY fairy hands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dirgc is sung.
Their honor comes to pilgrim gray
To bless the turf that wraps their clay:
And Freedom shall at times repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there.
The death of Harrison Cockrell was
peculiarly affecting. His father, James
Cockrell, was carried off suddenly by
disease soon after he left for Virginia
he came back and paid the last tribute
of respect to the memory of his father,
and then returned to his company,
where on the battlefield he was so soor
to ] Din his father in the spirit land.
THE WOUNDED.
Tn following members OF the com
pany were wounded in the battle; D.A.
Hardesty, j, Dorroh. w. A, May,
DR. H. A Minor, Andy Moore, W. j,
Davis. T. F. Barnhill, VIM. Eddings,
- Jones. A. II. Gavin. j. d. Nash,
Louis Holberg, Laban Freeman.